I would like to know why Forensic Social Work is not recognized by NASW. My source for this information came from David W. Springer and Albert R. Roberts text on "Handbook of Forensic Mental Health with Victims and Offenders" 2007.
My first of two practicums in my MSW program is in forensic social work...am I wasting my time if this area is not supported in curricula and in our field?

Erika,

I am not sure what you mean when you say that forensic social work is not recognized by NASW. Can you explain?

Thanks,
Linda

Hi Erika,

I am a forensic social worker at a psychiatric hospital in Canada and a member of the U.S. based National Organization of Forensic Social Work (NOFSW).

I am not a member of NASW myself, but my limited understanding of this organization suggests that it represents the interests of all members and maintains a code of ethics, but it does not "recognize" (your term) or "approve" (my term) any particular field of social work. As long as your educational institution is accredited by CSWE, your are eligible for licensure in whatever state you wish to practice, regardless of your field of interest or practice.

I hope that NASW members may be able to add to this and clarify this issue with first hand knowledge.

Tom from Canada

Tom,

Yes, you are correct, and that is why I asked what Erika meant by "recognized by NASW." I just did a search of the NASW site and found several references to forensic social work, including the fact that forensic social work is included in the newest edition of THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SOCIAL WORK, published by NASW Press.

I am wondering, Erika, if maybe you are misunderstanding something that you read. I have not seen the non-support of forensic social work in NASW or in the field in general.

Linda

I don't think that recognition is the issue. NASW has traditionally created subsections for specialties as there has been a demand. In part this was a response to counteract the development of independent sub-specialty groups. I am not currently a member but there used to be practice groups (or special interest groups) in school social work and eap. At one time you paid a small extra fee to join a specialty group and they had their own journals as well.