NASW Ohio - Region One

There’s plenty happening at NASW Ohio this week! Connect with fellow social workers, earn a free CEU, strengthen your advocacy skills, and get involved in your local community.

Join us for our Legislative Advocacy Committee on Monday, a free behavioral health access CEU on Wednesday, our HB 68 training for Cincinnati-area practitioners on Thursday, and the Region 1 Heal Together Race for Sickle Cell 5K in Toledo on Saturday.

There’s a place for you to learn, advocate, connect, and get involved with NASW Ohio. Find details and registration at naswoh.org/events.

Join NASW Ohio for a FREE 1 CEU webinar on Wednesday, September 16 from 12:00–1:00 p.m. ET! Advancing Access to Behavioral Health Care: Evidence-Based Insights and Actionable Solutions, presented by Mitzi Moody, JD, MSW, LISW-S, will explore why finding an available provider is only one part of accessing care. Learn how factors such as health literacy, cultural norms, affordability, service availability, and provider behavior can create barriers—and gain practical strategies for helping strengthen the pathway to behavioral health care.

Register at naswoh.org/calendar.

The deadline for nominations for the NASW Ohio 2026 Awards is a little over 2 weeks away! Don't miss this opportunity to recognize the excellence in your network. Submit your nominations at naswoh.org/awardnominations

Student of the Year - no membership requirement; students who graduated in spring 2026 are eligible
Emerging Leader
Outstanding Service to NASW
Social Worker of the Year
Lifetime Achievement
Agency of the Year

Good luck on the 2026 Fall semester, social work students!

Joining NASW while you are still a student allows you to build your resume with committee engagement, network with experienced social workers, and attend free trainings to expand your competency and expose you to the breadth of social work career paths. Students can join for a full year for only $60! Learn more at socialworkers.org/membership

Social work educators: bring NASW Ohio into your classroom this fall! NASW Ohio staff are available for in-person and virtual classroom presentations. We can connect with your students about NASW, professional involvement, advocacy, careers in social work, and staying connected to the profession after graduation. Invite us to your class by filling out our speaker request form: naswoh.org/speakerrequest.

Congratulations to Dr. La’Shardae Scott, DSW, MSW, CHES, on her nomination to NASW’s National Committee on Women (NCOW)! Dr. Scott currently serves as a NASW Ohio Region 1 (Toledo Area) Co-Director and is a dedicated leader and advocate whose work addresses health disparities, sickle cell disease, infant mortality, mental health, and equitable access to care. The National Committee on Women works to ensure women’s issues are represented throughout NASW policies, programs, advocacy, and social work practice. We are excited to see an Ohio leader nominated to bring her experience and perspective to this important national work. Congratulations, La’Shardae!

Have you registered?

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Join NASW trainers Sydney Renner and Kristin Bruce for our Navigating New Laws training in Toledo on Friday August 7th! This is our last scheduled training for the NW Ohio area, so don't miss you chance for 6 free ethics CEUs! CEUs available for social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy, and chemical dependency licensees. We ask for a $20 deposit to hold your seat that is refunded upon attendance. Learn more and register at naswoh.org/event/NNLToledo87

Check out who we're endorsing this election!

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Join us this year!!!

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🏃🏾‍♀️💜🎉 READY... SET... HEAL TOGETHER! 🎉💜🏃🏽‍♂️

The countdown is ON! 🚨 Join us for the Heal Together Race for Sickle Cell 5K, where every step brings hope, raises awareness, and supports individuals and families impacted by sickle cell disease. ❤️🩸

📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026
🕗 8:00 AM
📍 Ottawa Park | Toledo, Ohio

We're proud to partner with Toledo Roadrunners 🏃🏽‍♀️ and Second Sole 👟 to bring you an incredible race-day experience!

🌟 Race Day Highlights:
🏃🏽‍♂️ Timed 5K Run & Community Walk
🎨 Face Painting
🏰 Bounce House
🎶 Live DJ & Entertainment
🛍️ Local Vendors & Community Resource Fair
🎟️ Amazing Raffles & Giveaways
🍔 Delicious Food & Refreshments
🍌 Healthy Snacks & Hydration Stations
💜 Sickle Cell Education & Health Resources
👨🏾‍👩🏽‍👧🏾‍👦 Family-Friendly Activities for ALL ages...and so much more!

Whether you're a runner, walker, supporter, survivor, caregiver, or simply someone who believes in making a difference, this event is for YOU! Together, we can raise awareness, inspire hope, and create lasting change for warriors living with sickle cell disease. 💪🏽💜

👟 Grab your family, friends, coworkers, church members, and teammates—let's fill Ottawa Park with love, purpose, and community!

🎯 REGISTER TODAY!
👉 https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Toledo/HealTogetherRaceForSickleCell5KRunWalk2026

💜 Every step matters. Every warrior matters. Together, we Heal Together! ❤️🩸

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Today, the newly elected NASW Ohio Chapter Board of Directors came together for our 2026 Leadership Retreat! It was a full day of planning, collaboration, leadership development, and setting priorities for the year ahead. We're excited about the passion, experience, and fresh ideas this group brings as we work to strengthen the social work profession and advocate for Ohio's social workers and the communities they serve. Keep an eye out for new programming, advocacy initiatives, networking opportunities, and professional development opportunities from this incredible leadership team. The future of NASW Ohio is bright, and we can't wait to share what's ahead!