The Association of VA Social Workers is a 501 (c)(6) non-profit organization that offers a number of benefits to VA Social Workers. At a very low cost, membership dues support the Association's capacity to carry out its mission to promote and enhance the effectiveness of Social Work in service to veteran beneficiaries. (click here for more information)

Click Image to download AVASW Benefits of Membership flyer and share with other VA social workers.

The organization:

• provides  members a  venue for  professional connectedness
• offers a forum for sharing ideas and expertise
• provides  on-line access for members to contact officers about questions in the social work profession
• gives members access to the Members Only section of the website
• includes members' names in the on-line Membership Directory
  
• provides  members a business/professional tax deduction for membership dues  through the Association’s  501 (c)(6) non- profit  status (please consult with your tax advisor to determine whether this applies to you)
• gives  members an opportunity to visibly display their social work pride by offering  quality and reasonably priced AVASW merchandise
• show-cases VA social workers and  their special contributions to veterans, families and their organizations in the AVASW Newsletter
• links  members to  low cost or free resources for continuing education through the website
• supports VA social workers through an efficiently run, volunteer based, non-profit organization
• serves as  a public relations organization for VA social workers
• supports  and  directly contributes  to national humanitarian projects  (see History of the AVASW and click here for most recent contribution)
• organizes  and supports  networking events at national  social work meetings (e.g.  paying for refreshments, providing space for vendors to display their products for a fee, and sponsoring no host receptions)
• advocates for Social Work  as a profession in organizational structures including centralized social work departments with the leadership of a Social Work Chief
• provides information and guidance to social work leaders who are planning and organizing the re-constitution of a centralized Social Work department within their VA organizations
• educates the public, Congress, non-social workers within the VA system and health and mental health organizations on social work , veterans’ issues and issues that impact VA social work 
• advocates for VA social workers on issues of interest and concern to VA social workers with VACO, Congress, and NASW
• maintains an ongoing national presence by representing  the Association at national social work meetings (e.g., SSWLHC, NASW summit)
• defers  travel  costs of social workers receiving special national awards, such as the National  Social Worker of the Year
• honors “our own” through the AVASW Hall of Fame and featured on the website
• helps and supports other federal organizations in establishing social work associations (e.g. helping the DOD set up an Association of Military Social Workers)