NASW is known for its founding in 1955 as a merger of seven associations. Which discipline does NASW primarily represent?

• A. Social work
• B. Counseling
• C. Psychology
• D. Psychiatry

Answer: (A)

Social work is what NASW represents. The National Association of Social Workers was formed in 1955 by merging seven social-work organizations, bringing together practitioners who help individuals, families, and communities and who focus on ethical practice, advocacy, and social justice. That history and the organization’s name clearly point to social workers as the primary profession represented. Other fields have their own associations—counselors with the American Counseling Association, psychologists with the American Psychological Association, and psychiatrists with the American Psychiatric Association—so this NASW is specifically tied to social work.