Legislative Education Advocacy Day (LEAD)

NASW Kansas is committed to working across sectors and advocating policies, legislation, and programs that promote justice and advance the practice and profession of social work.

For the past 25 years - NASW-KS in collaboration with the Kansas Council on Social Work Education educates over 300 social workers from across the state on the most critical and current issues in the field. The 2024 LEAD (legislative education advocacy day) will once again occur at Washburn University in the morning with the afternoon set aside for meetings with legislators and observing committee meetings.

Social work students travel from across Kansas representing each of the graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. Professional social workers are also encouraged to attend and 2.5 CEU's are available for the morning session.

We at NASW-KS want to think broadly and lay a vision for the future of social work. We want to reimagine this field and continue to work towards the day when individuals and communities have equitable resources. One, where policies, laws, and institutions do not exploit, oppress, or further perpetuate harm. However, we cannot do this alone. We need incoming social work professionals and students like you with bold visions to help lead the way!

Advocacy Day Tool Kit - Check back for updates

The Morning Program:

8:30 - Pastry/Fruit Buffet

9:00 - 11:30 - Advocay Skills Training

Washburn University, 1700 SW College Ave, Topeka Memorial Union, Washburn Room A and B - https://www.washburn.edu/about/visit/index.html

Kansas Chapter encourages participants to eat lunch at Washburn University Memorial Union through purchasing food or bringing your lunch due to limited food options near the State Capitol.

Afternoon Program:

12:45 Group Photo in Front of the Capitol (East Side off of SW Jackson)

1:30: Legislative Committees

2:30: Kansas Senate Convenes into Session

Meeting with Legislators (appointments will be made by attendees)

The afternoon is on your own and is focused on meeting with your legislators and attending legislative committee meetings.

This is one of the most important parts of the day for participants to visit the offices of their house and senate representatives and watch a legislative committee meeting or live proceedings on the floor. Kansas Chapter will direct participants once they enter the State Capitol. Participants who come over to the Kansas State Capitol to observe, learn, or meet with their elected officials will receive a Social Work Month memento gift.

Please contact your legislator prior to Advocacy Day to set up a meeting with them.

The following two websites provide their contact information:

https://openstates.org or http://www.kslegislature.org

Address - State Capitol, SW 10th and Jackson entrance is through the Visitor Center on the NORTH side of the capitol. Parking map and locations - https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-parking/11708

Advocacy Day Sponsors

For the past 20 years - NASW-KS Chapter together with the Kansas Council on Social Work Education has come together for networking and advocacy training. Each year social work students have traveled from across Kansas representing each of the graduate and undergraduate programs of professional social work education. This year the event will be virtual. Professional social workers are also encouraged to attend and 3 CEU's are available for the morning session.

Check your email and look at your spam folder as zoom credentials have been emailed out and will be emailed out several times if you have registered.

Virtual Event 

8:15 am - Please LOG IN AT THIS TIME 

Check your email and look at your spam folder as zoom credentials have been emailed out if you have registered.

8:30 am - 

The morning will begin with singer/songwriter and social worker Joy Zimmerman.

8:45 - 11:30 am - Annual Advocacy Day Skills Training 

Please join together with social work students, faculty, and social workers from across Kansas. The event will focus on what is happening in the Kansas Legislature and strategies for social workers to advocate for change.