The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was created through the conglomeration of seven separate social work organizations: the American Association of Social Workers (AASW), the American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers (AAPSW), the American Association of Medical Social Workers, the National Association of School Social Workers, the American Association of Group Workers, the Association for the Study of Community Organization, and the Social Work Research Group. Out of the seven organizations, the AASW and the AAPSW were most active in Wisconsin. The AASW organized in 1921 as the first national social workers organization for the study of “social sciences in relation to social problems” and quickly expanded its goals to obtain higher professional status for social workers. In 1925 the local Wisconsin chapter was organized in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The AAPSW was founded in 1926. Wisconsin later became a chapter in 1949. Ann Miller, treasurer of both the AASW and the AAPSW was instrumental in the formation of the NASW Wisconsin Chapter.
According to the National Association of Social Workers' Bylaws, the NASW was formed to “promote activities appropriate to strengthening and unifying the social work profession as a whole” (Bylaws, Article II). Between 1950 and 1955, the Temporary Inter-Association Council was created to aid in the formation of the national organization of the NASW and its local chapters. Consisting of representatives from the seven associations, this council developed a structure for the NASW that centered on local members who elected officers and carried out the organization's activities. This purpose of developing a professional organization was to encourage active membership in local chapters. For this reason Wisconsin did not have an official state organization but was divided into seven local chapters with representatives from each chapter serving as members of the Wisconsin State Council. The Southeastern Chapter of the NASW was one of the largest Wisconsin chapters and their Milwaukee headquarters also served as the head office for the Wisconsin State Council. Together with the Temporary Intern-Association Council, the Southeastern Chapter was instrumental in the establishment of the NASW in Wisconsin. NASW came into official existence in 1955.
In 1973, the NASW Wisconsin State Council consolidated Wisconsin's local chapters into one statewide chapter in order to increase the effectiveness of the NASW in Wisconsin. The functions of the state chapter included professional development, professional standards, and professional action. The state chapter, officially titled the “Wisconsin Membership Division, NASW,” consisted of seven representational branches categorized geographically throughout the state. These seven branches provided more opportunities for members to directly participate in the organization. The seven branches are the Southeastern, South Central, Northeastern, West Central, South West, North Central, and Racine-Kenosha branches. The Wisconsin chapter functioned under the leadership of an executive director. Program committees were also created under the state chapter are the Legislative, Licensure, Educational Legislative Action Network Alert, Professional Standards, Membership Recruitment and Retention, Continuing Education, Health, and Employment Referral Service committees. Geraldine Wolter, Executive Director starting in 1976 was involved in many of these committees. Committees increased the participation of members within the NASW Wisconsin Chapter and their records reflect the organization's involvement in social welfare and lobbying activities.
Timeline
| 1921 |
The American Association of Social Workers national organization is created as the first national social workers association.
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| 1925 |
The American Association of Social Workers Wisconsin Chapter is created in Milwaukee.
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| 1926 |
The American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers national organization is created.
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| 1949 |
The American Association of Psychiatric Social Workers Wisconsin Chapter is created.
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| 1950-1955 |
The Temporary Inter-Association Council is formed with representatives from the seven social workers organizations.
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| 1955 |
The National Association of Social Workers is created with seven local Wisconsin chapters.
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| 1973 |
Reorganization into the National Association of Social Workers Wisconsin Chapter with seven local branches.
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