NASW Member Services (800) 742-4089

Request for Proposals

We invite you to submit a proposal for the 2024 NASW Arkansas Annual Conference. This will be our 45th Annual Conference and we are looking forward to the opportunity to network and learn with peers across the state. Invited sessions for the 2024 conference will cover micro, mezzo, and macro areas of social work practice.

Submissions must be evidence-based and focused on best practices and skill building for social work. Proposals should include adequate information for evaluation through a double blind peer-review process. We are seeking proposals in all social work practice areas: micro, mezzo, and macro. We have a limited number of presentation spots available, so please submit early.

Submissions should fall under one of the following social work practice areas:

  • Aging & Disabilities
  • Behavioral & Mental Health
  • Child, Family & Schools
  • Community, Policy, and Administration
  • Health & Medical
  • Professional & Career
  • Social Work Education
  • Social Work Ethics/Code of Ethics

Submissions are evaluated on the following criteria: 

  • Proposal is grounded in social work theory or practice and is timely and relevant to current practice approaches.
  • Proposal lists at least 3 clearly stated learning objectives.
  • Learning objectives are attainable in amount of time requested.
  • Provides opportunities for attendees to develop competency and build/enhance practice skills.
  • Speaker is knowledgeable about topic and lists applicable tools/techniques that will be utilized in presentation.
  • Incorporates NASW Standards of Practice, NASW Clinical Indicators, and/or policies from Social Work Speaks where applicable.
  • Proposal is professionally formatted (logical, well organized, free of grammatical and typographical errors).

Submission Requirements

Completed proposals may be submitted in either of the following two ways:

  1. Submitted by email using this Proposal Cover Sheet in Word format ONLY (PDFs will NOT be considered). The Proposal Cover Sheet must be fully completed and the body of your proposal should be on a second page. Email Proposal Cover Sheet and Proposal to hbarron.naswar@socialworkers.orgby December 15, 2023.
  2. Fully complete the Google form for submissions by December 15, 2023.

Student Poster Presentation Requests

2024 Student Poster Presentation Guidelines

Join us at the 2024 NASW Conference and participate in the Student Poster Presentations and Competition! All BSW and MSW students are welcome to participate. This is a fun way to practice your presentation and networking skills in a supportive environment. This is also a good way for the social work programs around the state to highlight student accomplishments.

There will be designated times at the conference for you to present your work. The poster sessions will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2023. You will be asked to stand with your poster 2 times during the day for about 1 hour each time to discuss your poster with conference attendees as they walk through the poster session. Your poster presentation should take 8-10 minutes. 

Poster Categories 

Category 1: Innovative programs or interventions from field placement (internship) experience. Innovative is defined as new ways to address old problems. Programs or interventions may include therapeutic models, funding sources, partnerships, or other cutting-edge ideas for helping social work clients or the social work profession. 

Category 2: Public policy that is current or relevant to social work practice. Public policy poster submissions must include the following: poster defines the social policy or issue clearly; poster states the policy as it currently is and analyzes its strengths and limitations; poster identifies vulnerable and at-risk populations and specific ways in which these groups are impacted by the current policy; poster incorporates the six core values of the social work profession identified in the NASW Code of Ethics into the overall policy analysis; poster states at least five recommendations to improve current policy. These recommendations should incorporate all levels of social work practice and may include examples of how other states have addressed this same policy issue. 

Category 3: Graduate research project or practice evaluation. This should be a completed project. This may be the student’s work OR something that a student worked on with a faculty member or community practitioner. (Masters students only) 

Poster Presentation Proposal Requirements

Submit a poster presentation proposal by February 29, 2024.

You may submit a poster presentation proposal using the downloadable Student Poster Proposal Form or by completing the Google Form: Student Poster Proposal.

The proposal must include:

  • Your name and email address.
  • Whether you are a graduate or undergraduate student.
  • Presentation/Poster category (see above) and title of presentation.
  • 3 learning/educational objectives.
  • 100 word abstract of presentation.

Size of poster. Poster should be no smaller than 2×3 and no larger than 3×4. Poster should be hard backed and appropriate for display on an easel. Tri-fold poster boards are acceptable but note that a tri-fold does not display as well as a flat poster on an easel.

Benefits of Presenting

  • Opportunity to show your work to peers and professional community.
  • Opportunity to network with other social workers (students and professionals).
  • Potential recognition of high quality work in poster competition. One winner will be selected from each category, in addition to an overall BSW winner and an overall MSW winner. Winners will be announced at the conference awards ceremony on Friday.

Awards

An award will be given in each of the 3 poster categories. For categories 1 and 2, there will be an award for a BSW and MSW student or team. For category 3, there will be an award for an MSW student or team. There will also be an award for overall best poster. The awards will be presented at the awards luncheon on Friday. 

Other items of note 

  • Presentations should be creative and interesting.
  • Be prepared to discuss your poster.
  • Please put your name and the name of your school on the back of the poster.
  • You may submit proposals for team presentations. Please limit teams to 6 members or less.
  • Submit proposals by completing the Google Form or by completing the downloadable Proposal Form in Word format only and email to Holly Barron at hbarron.naswar@socialworkers.org by February 29, 2024.
  • Late submissions may not be listed in the conference program.