"Current Events"" Session: Crisis and Responsibility: Social Work’s Ethical Imperative in Today’s Policy Landscape

Join SSWR's Social Policy Committee for a critical conversation examining how current federal actions are reshaping, and in many cases weakening, the social safety net. Social workers are charged to acknowledge and address social injustices, identity-related systemic biases, structural discrimination, and oppression. Our efforts in this moment will be recorded in history, and political social work is urgently needed to champion social justice for the most marginalized among us. Ten years ago, there were ten social workers serving in Congress; today, there are only two. Legislative advocacy is paramount, and the spirit of social work must remain centered.

This session will invite conversations across SSWR members grounded in our Code of Ethics to advance social work science, policy, and practice that matter in this current time. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics mandates service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of relationships, integrity, and competence. These values guide our shared dialogue:

- Service (improving well-being). As harmful policy shifts threaten SNAP, Medicaid, the ACA, and the broader safety net, compounded by untenable government shutdowns, this session invites candid discussion about teaching and practicing social justice-centered policy in today's climate. Social work scholars will consider how our research, ethics, and collective advocacy can shape policy as a professional imperative.

- Social Justice. Attempts to achieve racial equity remain dire. Members of our community, including students, faculty, and scholars, face direct attacks through compromised student visa approvals, unwelcoming immigration policies, and the on-the-ground terror of ICE actions that suppress political participation.

- Dignity and Worth of the Person. We are called to actively honor the dignity and worth of all persons. It is unacceptable for our community to minimize or normalize any form of oppression, especially racism and sexism. A shared commitment to humanity is both immediate and required.

- Importance of Relationships. We are responsible for nurturing relationships as a source of collective strength. Current immigration policies and deportation practices disrupt these connections and undermine the well-being of families and communities.

- Integrity. We must refuse to minimize or become complicit in harmful narratives, including the horrific misinformation and exploitation. Our responsibility is to protect and advocate for all who are vulnerable to trauma and egregious harm.

- Competence. There has been a troubling decline in preparing students for critical macro and policy practice. At the same time, scholars are pressured to dilute language in funding proposals that center the voices and experiences of populations facing racial and other inequities. Senior leadership must support those who push back on these narratives in their respective roles.

Recognizing the profound impacts of this political moment on teaching, scholarship, and funding, we are charged with identifying remedies to mitigate and halt the structural harms facing marginalized individuals and communities. Together, we will explore how social work researchers and educators can uphold our Code of Ethics, advance social justice, and strategically engage in the policy arena. Participants will consider how academics can mobilize evidence, ethics, and advocacy to influence policy outcomes and protect vulnerable communities.

We welcome you to join this timely discussion and to help promote policy agendas aligned with our core mission and shared commitment to equity and justice.