Mississippi Advocacy

NASW Mississippi Legislative Agenda 2023

Adopted November 5, 2022 NASW MS Board of Directors

1. Maintain social work licensing law with current language in the law.
2. Oppose changes in the composition and scope of practice of the MS Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage & Family Therapists.
3. Change the wording of the state law to absolutely require full funding of the Mississippi Adequate Education Program (MAEP) using language the MS Supreme Court could use for ruling purposes.
4. Support postpartum Medicaid expansion in the state of Mississippi.
5. Support adequate funding for all services that affect the mental health of children in school settings with the hiring of social workers.
6. Support and advocate for legislation to include accountability and transparency act for law enforcement officers to be required to wear body cam and to create a citizen review panel for internal investigations.
7. Support legislation involving disenfranchisement, voting rights, and the ballot box.
8. Support legislation that addresses systemic public health, clean water access, and economic inequities in the American Rescue Plan.
9. Support proposed legislation to expand police reform bills locally and nationally that includes social workers hired to address mental health and homelessness issues.
10. Support continuation of Medicaid expansion to meet the healthcare needs of the people in Mississippi
11. Monitor and review the ongoing proposed interstate compact agreement for social workers.

* NASW MS Advocacy Day at the MS State Capitol is held on February 16, 2022

NASW-MS Supports an Inclusive Flag for Everyone

NASW-MS strongly supports changing the state flag of Mississippi to move forward in the best interest of all Mississippians. The outcry for a change in the state flag has permeated in the state for almost two decades. Thus, the issue of a new state flag can no longer continue to be ignored, dismissed, or deflected.

Read the full statement

Advocacy Letters

• Read our letter in opposition to SB 2113 "Critical Race Theory; prohibit."