Instructor James Andrews is running for Region IV Representative for OH/PA on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Read his personal statement:
"I wanted to share that I am running as a national candidate for Region IV Representative for OH/PA on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). Serving on the national NASW Board would be a natural next step in my volunteer leadership and service with NASW, NASW-PA and in the social work profession.
An important national issue today is the national conversation on hatred, racism and social justice. The NASW Code of Ethics states that “Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients.” Social work is uniquely positioned to contribute to this national conversation on hatred, racism and social justice. Social work is about service to others and often providing a voice to those whose voice has been silenced. I will work to ensure our profession’s seat at the various policy and legislative tables where this national conversation will be taking place on the topics of hatred, racism and social justice. I often tell my students not to ask for permission but rather to insist on being heard and moving past those who refuse to hear or listen. Yet such advocacy also requires attentive listening for other’s perspectives and views. It will be my goal to collaborate and partner with OH/PA social workers along with my NASW Board colleagues to ensure the voice of social work is heard and respected in this national conversation on racism and social justice as Section 6 of our Code exhorts us to do.
As part of this effort, the enhancing and heightening of social work’s professional image is critical to that national conversation. Social work as a profession suffers from a lack of clarity in the public’s mind as what a social worker actually is and does. This lack of clarity stems in part I believe, from the reality that our BSW, MSW and DSW education and field training enables us to function in many varied roles as administrator, business owner, child welfare worker, diplomat, executive, law enforcement, legislative aide, legislator, policy maker, security, soldier, therapist/clinician, trainer and many other roles too numerous to list here. Social workers are prepared to tackle many of the economic, political and social problems that face our nation and world today. Problems, such as economic issues, hatred, human trafficking, immigration, mental illness, hyper partisanship, poverty, racism, social injustice, stagnating wages, substance use, and many, many others as well. While our professional education and training makes social workers flexible and versatile professionally, it also means that the public does not see a uniform or consistent role that the social worker fulfills and contributes to society. The profession of social work needs to have more media exposure through print, radio, television, film and internet-based forms of news and media to increase our social currency and clout to effect social change.
This among many other reasons is why I have decided to run for the national Board of my profession’s premier professional association, NASW. I’ve had the honor of serving NASW and the social work profession as Past-President of the NASW-PA Chapter, past-Chair of the Professional Standards Committee, and currently serving on the Clinical Care, Conference, Communications, Legislative, and Social Justice NASW-PA Committees. I’ve also had the privilege of serving as a Delegate in the 2008, 2014, 2017, 2020 NASW Delegate Assemblies.
These opportunities for service have all been an honor. I view being a professional social worker as an expression of my life’s purpose of service and teaching. If you are a member of NASW or know a colleague who is, please share this with them. I am asking for your vote if you are an NASW member and to pass this on to someone you believe is an NASW member so they may consider my candidacy and consider voting for me."
James H. Andrews, LCSW (PA), LICSW (MA), BCD
Past-President NASW-PA 2007-2009
Clinical and Forensic Social Worker
Social Work Professor
Pronouns: he/him/his/himself