2026 Advocacy Day

Every March, during Social Work Month, NASW Ohio Chapter hosts Advocacy Day to connect social workers to their state legislators. It's a time to promote our profession and issues that impact our clients. Join hundreds of social workers and social work students for a day of action. Attendees will have the chance to learn about legislative advocacy and up-to-date legislative policy relevant to social work practice and values, then take what they have leaned into meetings with their State Representative & Senator's offices to actively engage in legislative advocacy.

If you are a school or organization looking to send a group of students or employees please email Hannah Ware at hware.naswoh@socialworkers.org for a streamlined way to cover your attendees registration fees. 

Additional Details - **READ PRIOR TO REGISTERING**

Registration Instructions:

Please enter your Ohio home address on the registration form. Addresses for businesses or university addresses will not be accepted, unless you are living out of state and need to use your university as your Ohio address. You will need to have your ZIP+4 code to register, if you do not know it already please look it up HERE prior to registering.

Meeting Leads

Sign up during registration to serve as a meeting lead for your groups advocacy meeting with a member of the Ohio Legislature! This is a great opportunity to practice macro social work skills. No experience is required! Team leads will facilitating their group's legislative advocacy planning meetings and ensure a smooth flow of their group's meeting with their State Senator/Representative's office. Team leads will receive special instructions prior to the event, and will be required to watcha short video with instructions. 

Cost (includes boxed lunch and 2 social work CEUs)

$25 for students, $30 for non-students

Accessibility Accommodations

NASW Ohio is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event.  If you have a disability (including but not limited to concussion, vision, mobility, hearing, physical or other health related disabilities), require communication access services for the deaf or hard of hearing, or believe that you require a reasonable accommodation for another reason please contact the event organizer at info.naswoh@socialworkers.org by Friday, March 6th to discuss your needs. We will attempt to implement late requests as well, but cannot guarantee they will be met, depending on the services needed. 

The event venue is wheelchair accessible and has an accessible bathroom (If you need assistance finding it, please ask NASW staff at the check-in desk). The nearest parking lots often fill up early, so consider arriving early for a better chance of getting close by parking. Getting dropped off right in front of the building is also a great option if at all possible, as unfortunately the downtown sidewalks can be difficult to navigate. Advocacy planning meetings and most meetings with legislator's offices occur in designated spots in the venue's hallway, chairs are not available for all attendees, however, if you need a chair due to a disability, please let NASW Ohio staff at the check-in desk know, and we will bring a chair to the designated spot for you. 

For dietary restrictions, a space is included on the event registration form for you to indicate your dietary needs. Accommodation of specific dietary needs can only be guaranteed if registration is completed by Monday, March 16th. We will attempt to accommodate late requests as well but cannot guarantee they will be met. Vegetarian options will be available. 

To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, we ask attendees to refrain from wearing strong fragrances.

Cancellations

We're happy to process refunds until Monday, March 16th After that date, no refunds will be available. 

Dress Code

Please wear professional (business casual) clothes to Advocacy Day.

Parking and Location

We look forward to hosting you at the Riffe Center in the heart of downtown Columbus. Please note you'll have to pay to park - usually $8-$10. Find a map of parking locations HERE. After teaching you the ins and outs of lobbying, we'll direct you to either the meeting with your representative in the same building or the meeting with your senator across the street at the Ohio Statehouse.

Agenda

• 9:00am-10am - Check-in, networking, exhibit viewing 

• 10:00am-12:00pm - Main legislative advocacy training (2 CEUs available for social workers)
• Learn how to be an effective advocate and about our policy priorities, relevant bills, and our legislative "asks". Attending this portion of the day is mandatory for participating in legislative meetings. 

• 12:00pm-12:30pm - Lunch pick-up; exhibit viewing
• 12:30pm-1:15pm - Advocacy planning meetings
• Attendees will be divided into groups based on Ohio State Representative Districts to plan for meetings with their state legislators. Each group will have a team lead to facilitate discussion. Consider signing up to be a team lead (with registration) - a great opportunity to exercise your your macro social work skill! 
• 1:15pm-4pm - Meetings with legislators' offices 
• Each group will have a 15-30-minute meetings with their State Senator/Representative or a member of their staff, during this time frame. When attendees are not in meetings we will have additional activities (learn more here) and encourage folks to visit the exhibit tables.

 

Sponsor Advocacy Day

Advocacy Day is an especially great opportunity for organizations and schools looking to connect with social work students and those close to graduation! While, there will also be plenty of practicing social workers in attendance, the greatest portion of our advocacy day attendees are students in their Bachelor or Master of Social Work program - many of whom will be graduating soon and looking for employment! 

Sponsorship registration will open soon. 

Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors! 

Gold Sponsors

Case Western Reserve University,

Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences

Equity. Innovation. Transformation.

As the #9 ranked social work school in the United States and the highest ranked school at Case Western Reserve University, the Mandel School is at the forefront of educating future leaders in social work and nonprofit management. Our students are talented, compassionate, diverse people who are educated and mentored by world-renowned professors and taught in a rigorous, groundbreaking curriculum that will prepare them to change the world. We offer a  Master of Social Work (MSW),  Master of Nonprofit Organizations (MNO), and a PhD in Social Welfare.

LEARN MORE

The Ohio State University, College of Social Work

Amplify. Advocate. Change.

The College of Social Work aims to enhance our students' experiences through a dynamic curriculum, community-engaged research, technological exploration, and a steadfast dedication to their success. World-class faculty is leading the way in innovative research that seeks solutions to the societal problems impacting individuals and families. Our continuing education program provides lifelong education to social work professionals creating an interdisciplinary community of extraordinary advocates, clinicians and organizers. We’re committed to bettering communities across the globe with knowledge, collaboration and action.

LEARN MORE