NASW – Iowa Chapter
Newsletter
August 2026 EDITION
Land Acknowledgement
“We acknowledge that the NASW Iowa Chapter is located on the ancestral land of the Ioway and Meskwaki Nations. We recognize these Indigenous peoples long-standing presence and ongoing contributions to our community. As an institution, we are committed to decolonization and supporting Indigenous rights in our education programs and community partnerships.”
LETTER FROM NASW-IA SECRETARY
Dear Iowa Social Workers,
As I begin my term as Secretary, I am grateful for the work that we do daily to strengthen individuals, families, and communities.
As a master’s student at the University of Iowa, it has been a great privilege to learn alongside passionate professionals in the field. Growing up in an underserved community, I learned early that meaningful change often begins with one person who believes in you. Whether through your work in advocacy, behavioral health, case management, community engagement, or the many other spaces we are in, we have the opportunity to be that person everyday.
Our profession continues to face challenges and growing community needs, and as we persevere, I hope you remember to care for yourself with the same compassion you extend to others. By investing in our own well-being and continuing to support the next generation of social workers, we not only strengthen our profession, but also, our communities.
Thank you for your commitment to social work and NASW Iowa. I’m excited to dive into this role and everything NASW Iowa has to offer.
All my best,
Madeline True-Canales
NASW-IA Secretary
IN OUR COMMUNITY
On August 27 at 4:00 pm, Iowa HHS is hosting a virtual Behavioral Health Town Hall. This is a critical meeting for social workers to get updates on the next phase of the 2025-2027 Statewide System Plan which will include a discussion of how safety-net funding allocations will shift in the upcoming fiscal year.
Join the meeting
https://hhs.iowa.gov/events/behavioral-health-town-hall-14
IOWA NASW NEWS
NASW Iowa 2026 Symposium - Registration open!
We're pleased to announce Jonathan Singer, PhD, LCSW as our keynote speaker on Friday, September 18. Keynote Topic: The Ethical Use of AI in Social Work: Practical Strategies for Real-World Settings (6 CEUs, including 3 Ethics)
Date: Thursday–Friday, September 17–18, 2026
Location: DMACC FFA Building, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ankeny Conference Center is the official hotel of the 2026 NASW-IA Symposium
2502 SE Hulsizer Rd.
Ankeny, IA 50021
P: 515-965-2400
Email: hiexankeny@gmail.com
Use this link to receive the NASW-IA Symposium rate at the Holiday Inn Express Ankeny
https://tinyurl.com/NASWiaHotel2026
**Hotel reservations must be made by Sun. 8-16-26 to receive NASW-IA Symposium pricing**
Preparing for Your Licensure Exam? NASW-IA Has You Covered.
NASW Iowa Chapter has partnered with several trusted resources to provide exclusive access and discounts to help you prepare for licensure exams:
Association for Advanced Training in the Behavioral Sciences (AATBS)
AATBS is a leading provider for behavioral and mental health professionals. Our partnership provides discounted exam prep and continuing education.
Access your member discount here.
https://www.triadhq.com/partners/nasw-iowa-chapter-members
Licensure Exam Prep Webinar
Dawn Apgar, PhD, LSW, ACSW is the author of social work exam study guides from Springer Publishing. Her webinar will touch on ALL categories of the ASWB exam! As a member, you are eligible for the discounted webinar rate!
August 25, 2026. Register here.
https://tinyurl.com/NASWExamPrep2026
PassItPro
This self-paced online exam prep provider is another great option for all ASWB exam levels — and registrations from Iowa directly support the NASW-IA Chapter! Visit PassItPro. https://passitpro.com/
MEMBER BENEFIT
Did you know…
CE tracking can be a pain, but you probably already know that. 😅 What you may not know is that NASW has a CE tracker that is only $25 for members! It automatically loads completed CEs from the NASW Online CE institute and can recognize CE documents you upload to let you know what your outstanding CE needs are in real time. Learn more.
https://www.socialworkers.org/Careers/Continuing-Education/CE-Tracker
IOWA EVENTS AROUND THE STATE
Social Work CEU Events
September 17 and 18, 2026 - Symposium - DMACC FFA Building, 1055 SW Prairie Trail Pkwy, Ankeny, IA 50023 - 9/18/26 is also available virtually
December 4, 2026 - The Art of Clinical Supervision: The Secret to Successful Mentoring and Communication Webinar - With Dr. D. - Zoom
To register and find more events visit: https://naswia.socialworkers.org/Events/Events-List-View
NASW-IA Committee Meetings
Iowa PACE - Third Tuesday of every month from 6-7p of every month via Zoom. Topics covered: State candidate endorsement and elections. Contact Tony Raymer at tony.raymer@gmail.com for additional information.
Help NASW-IA Support candidates Iowa Candidates
Iowa PACE, the NASW Political Action Committee in Iowa, endorses and donates to candidates that support policies that put our social work values into practice. Though you can donate easily to both Iowa PACE and NASW PACE (for federal candidates) at your membership renewal, you can donate anytime to Iowa PACE using this link:
https://tinyurl.com/iowaPACE
Together Social Workers make a difference. We can't do it without your support. Please donate to Iowa PACE.
(You will need to log in as an NASW member to donate to Iowa PACE.)
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Michael Henning
Mental Health Therapist
NASW Northwest Branch Chair
Michael decided to step into the Northwest Branch Chair role because of his beliefs in NASW and his desire to support fellow social workers and clients. “I really want to focus on developing meaningful connections, learning from others, and fostering a strong sense of community across our region.”
Initially exploring other paths, Michael’s social work journey began in college after a conversation with a vocational advisor who realized his interests aligned well with social work. After taking a course at the University of Iowa, he fell in love with the profession and never looked back.
His early career experience spanned from working with individuals with serious mental illness transitioning to independent living to men’s mental health residential facilities. These formative experiences solidified his passion for mental health and gave him a lasting, deep sense of humility that he has continued to carry throughout his life. “I realized that I learned just as much from my clients as they learned from me.”
Today, he works with a diverse client base in Sioux City. To combat the waves of burnout in the profession, he practices the mindfulness and self-reflection skills he teaches his clients.
Outside of clinical practice and his new board role, he is committed to community advocacy. He serves on the planning committee for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) walk in Sioux City and is an active participant with the ACLU of Iowa.
Fun Facts
- Why choose? Coffee, energy drinks, and water are the trifecta at his desk on the days when he needs that extra boost.
- In high school, he started his wrestling career in the 119-pound weight class and finished in the 215-pound class at only 175 pounds himself!
- Book recommendation: “Officer Involved” by Bill Zahren (Suspense based in NW IA!).
We are excited to have Michael’s passion, experience, and commitment on the NASW-IA Board!
CHAPTER OFFICE HOURS
The NASW-IA Chapter is staffed by 2 employees, neither of whom are full-time. This means our staffed office hours are somewhat irregular. This is particularly true during the legislative session. The best way to reach our executive director, Denise Rathman, is to send an email and let her know the best times to call you.
Exec.naswia@socialworkers.org
If you call and get voicemail, please be sure to leave a message, so she knows how she can be of assistance.
Contact Us
515-277-1117
Nasw.naswia@socialworkers.org
Naswia.socialworkers.org
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https://bit.ly/NASW-IowaChapterLinkedin