WIU Social Work Students Attend 2025 NASW Advocacy Day

April 22, 2025

Printer friendly version

Back row: ToniSue Chatfield, Madeline Weiss, Diana Hanks, Kennique Tilman, Faith Procopio. Front row: Shelby Gandara, Emma Miller, Professor Peterman.
[Download Print-Quality Image]

MACOMB, IL - - Western Illinois University Social Work students attended the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Advocacy Day held Wednesday, April 9 at the Illinois Capitol in Springfield.

The NASW Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill is an opportunity for social workers to share their knowledge, experience and expertise with Congressional legislators and their staff. Participants attend to learn about emerging issues and the latest legislation currently up for vote in Illinois.

This year, WIU was represented by seven senior Social Work students, including ToniSue Chatfield, Madeline Weiss, Diana Hanks, Kennique Tillman, Faith Procopio, Shelby Gandara and Emma Miller and Professor Kaycee Peterman. Participants had the opportunity to lobby for three bills impacting social workers, social work students and the clients they serve. They also met with state senators and representatives to advocate for legislative change.

Chatfield, WIU's NASW student liaison, was named a lobby leader for the second year in a row. She attended a training course to lead her own student group through the Capitol and handle advocacy within that group.

"Advocacy Day is a wonderful experience as a student," Chatfield said. "We get to learn how policy is changed, how to lobby and how to advocate. It also provides the opportunity to explore the Capitol, speak with legislators and see all the other groups who are there to advocate, rally and lobby for the bills they support or oppose. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity to be the NASW student liaison for the last two Advocacy Days. If you have a chance to participate, please do so; use your voice and be heard. This is your time as a student to step out of your comfort zone and experience things that are important to social work students, social workers and clients social workers serve."

Through its participation in NASW Advocacy Day, WIU's Social Work program continues its mission to prepare compassionate and skilled social workers who are equipped to address the complex challenges facing society.

For more information about the NASW, contact Peterman at k-petermam@wiu.edu.

For more information on the WIU Social Work program, visit wiu.edu/socialwork.

Posted By: Aaron Viner (AP-Viner@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing