Policy Resources

The Grand Challenges for Social Work sets a domestic policy agenda and creates common ground for social workers and allied professionals to solve through interdisciplinary science and community action at local, regional, and national levels.

The GCSW policy goals are to:

  • communicate GCSW policy recommendations widely, with a planned and systematic strategy;
  • stimulate policy innovations at local, state, regional, and national levels;
  • implement quality applied research on GCSW policy innovations; and
  • embed positive social changes that reach millions of people in the United States.

Here are a few resources that can help inform and advance your work in the policy arena:

2024 Policy Recommendations for Meeting the Grand Challenges for Social Work
Ahead of a major election year, several of the Grand Challenge networks have created briefs detailing policy recommendations for making progress in various Grand Challenge areas. These briefs can be helpful tools to focus policy advocacy and communicate about solutions with various stakeholders. Take a look and share these with your networks, colleagues, professional organizations, and legislators.

The Social Worker’s Guide to Effective Policy Advocacy: Writing & Placing Op-Eds
This webinar discussed and provided tips for writing op-eds as a strategy to influence policy and policymakers. Watch the recording of the webinar and see sample op-eds here.

2016 Policy Briefs
Policy briefs were developed by members of the Grand Challenges networks for the 2016 Social Innovation for America’s Renewal, a policy conference organized by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in collaboration with the American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare. Policy briefs continue to be written and are available by searching for “policy recommendations” in Publications.

2017 Policy Action Statements
Several policy action statements were developed by members of the Grand Challenges networks for the 2016 Social Innovation for America’s Renewal, a policy conference organized by the Center for Social Development at Washington University in collaboration with the American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare. Policy action statements continue to be written and are available by searching for “policy action statement” in Publications.

The Grand Challenge to End Homelessness: Policy Proposals for the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
The Grand Challenge to End Homelessness network developed Policy Proposals for the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election. With homelessness rates rising in major cities, it seems this decades-long crisis has no end in sight. We respectfully disagree. The authors of these essays—all nationally known experts on the topic—demonstrate how such an end could be achieved.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
NASW has developed a policy agenda, which asserts the association’s advocacy priorities for each legislative cycle. NASW’s policy agenda is consistent with the NASW policies in Social Work Speaks, which is developed by members of the association at Delegate Assembly.

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)


CSWE advocates for issues important to social work education by interacting with the U.S. Congress, the various agencies within the federal government, and other organizations throughout the social work and higher education communities. Visit the website to learn about its current advocacy and policy efforts.

Better Social Policies for a Better America: Agenda for Progress
A summary of research and engagement to inform federal policy for the March 2019 Social Work Day on the Hill.

Out Now: 2024 Policy Recommendations for Meeting the Grand Challenges for Social Work!