About Us
Mission:
The Social Work Action Coalition (SWAC) strengthens and mobilizes social workers across Arkansas through high-quality professional education, leadership development, advocacy, and collaboration so that the profession is protected, social workers are equipped to lead, and communities across our state are stronger and more just.
Vision:
The Social Work Action Coalition (SWAC) envisions an engaged, unified community of Arkansas social workers and social work allies empowered to lead change.
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Through high-quality education, ethical leadership, effective advocacy, and strong professional networks, we work to protect the integrity of the social work profession and advance social justice across Arkansas.
Core Values:
Ethical Action and Accountability: We believe meaningful change requires showing up, doing the work, and following through with integrity. We lead with transparency, professional responsibility, and ethical courage, and we hold ourselves accountable to the profession, the public, and the communities we serve.
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Leadership at Every Level: We believe all social workers are leaders in agencies, communities, classrooms, and policy spaces, and we intentionally develop leadership capacity across the profession.
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Justice, Dignity, and Equity: We are committed to advancing social justice, protecting vulnerable populations, and promoting systems that honor human dignity and equity.
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Building and Advancing the Social Work Community: We believe the social work profession is strongest when social workers are connected, supported, and continually growing. We are committed to building an inclusive, statewide professional community that fosters belonging, collaboration, mentorship, and excellence in practice, leadership, and advocacy.
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Effective Advocacy: We engage in responsible, ethical, and nonpartisan advocacy to address policies and systems that affect communities and the profession.
Who we are:
Social Work Action Coalition (SWAC) is a statewide organization founded by Arkansas social workers. We believe deeply in the responsibility of our profession to support people in difficult moments and to help shape the systems and policies that affect their lives. We are practitioners, leaders, supervisors, educators, and advocates who live and work in the communities we serve.
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SWAC was intentionally built as something new. After years of working together in leadership, advocacy, and professional education spaces, our founding board made the decision to create a new organization that could be fully aligned with our values, our vision, and our commitment to ethical, transparent, and impact-driven work. Rather than stepping away from this work, we chose to build something that could carry it forward with clarity and purpose.
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While SWAC itself is new, the people leading it are not new to this work. This founding board brings years of experience advocating at the Capitol, organizing statewide professional education, developing leaders, and showing up consistently for the profession and for Arkansas communities. We did not start from zero — we started with experience, relationships, and a deep understanding of what this profession needs.
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SWAC exists because Arkansas social workers deserve a strong, independent voice. We believe in accessible, high-quality professional education. We believe in intentionally developing leaders. We believe in thoughtful, ethical advocacy. And we believe in building a professional community that is connected, courageous, and prepared to meet the challenges ahead.
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We are grounded in the core values of social work and committed to ethical leadership, professional excellence, and meaningful impact. But more than anything, we are committed to action. This is a working coalition of social workers who are building something new and building it to last.
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This is Arkansas social workers shaping the future of the profession in Arkansas.
Goals:
Strengthen Professional Education and Development
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Provide high-quality, relevant, and practical training that strengthens both practice and leadership skills.
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Expand continuing education opportunities that are responsive to emerging issues, interventions, and workforce needs in Arkansas.
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Promote lifelong learning and professional excellence to elevate standards across the profession statewide.
Advance Effective and Ethical Advocacy
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Inform and influence public policy through education, research, and nonpartisan advocacy that impacts social workers, vulnerable populations, and the communities we serve.
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Equip social workers with the skills, tools, and confidence to advocate at the local, state, and national levels.
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Collaborate with partners across Arkansas to advance systemic change, protect the profession, and promote equitable outcomes.
Build and Sustain Strong Professional Networks
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Foster a connected, statewide community of social workers grounded in shared values and collaboration.
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Create meaningful avenues for peer support, mentorship, and cross-sector partnerships.
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Strengthen connections between students, early-career professionals, and experienced leaders to build a strong and sustainable professional pipeline.
Empower Social Workers to Lead Change
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Strengthen social work leadership across Arkansas by expanding and advancing the Social Work Leadership Academy.
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Provide structured, high-impact leadership development that equips participants to lead organizations, systems, and communities.
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Cultivate both emerging and established leaders who can guide agencies, influence policy, and drive ethical, systemic change.
How Our Work Gets Done:
SWAC’s programs are carried out through active board-led committees made up of social workers from across the state. These committees provide leadership, oversight, and hands-on work to ensure that SWAC’s education, leadership development, advocacy, and outreach efforts remain strong, responsive, and mission-driven.
Continuing Education & Profession Development
SWAC provides high-quality, accessible continuing education designed by and for social workers, with our annual statewide conference serving as the cornerstone of this work. Each year, the conference brings together social workers from across Arkansas for in-depth learning, connection, and shared professional growth.
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In addition to the annual conference, SWAC offers specialized trainings and continuing education events throughout the year. Our education programming is grounded in real-world practice, ethical standards, and emerging issues affecting the profession.
We are committed to creating learning experiences that are relevant, practical, and forward-looking whether a social worker is just entering the field or has decades of experience. Our goal is not only to meet continuing education requirements, but to strengthen practice, leadership, and professional confidence across the state.
SWAC Programs
Social Work Leadership Academy
The Social Work Leadership Academy is a year-long leadership development program created by SWAC’s founding board in response to a clear need for intentional leadership development within the social work profession. It was built on the belief that leadership is not defined by title or position — and that all social workers are leaders in their practice, their organizations, and their communities.
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Drawing on years of experience in advocacy, professional education, and organizational leadership, this program was intentionally designed to expand participants’ leadership skills, confidence, and systems-level perspective. The Academy focuses on ethical leadership, advocacy, organizational change, communication, and strategic thinking, while also providing space for reflection, mentorship, and applied learning.
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The Social Work Leadership Academy is currently the only year-long leadership development program in Arkansas designed specifically for social workers. It reflects SWAC’s long-term commitment to building a strong, prepared, and courageous leadership pipeline for the profession.
Advocacy & Policy Engagement
Advocacy is central to SWAC’s mission and to the role of social workers in creating systems-level change. This program is designed to ensure that social workers across Arkansas are informed, prepared, and present in the policy process.
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SWAC’s founding board brings a proven track record of effective, ethical advocacy. This leadership group played a central role in the successful passage of the Social Work Licensure Compact in Arkansas and in advocacy efforts that protected the independence of the social work licensing board. These efforts reflect a long-standing commitment to both the profession and the people social workers serve.
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SWAC’s advocacy work includes legislative education, organized advocacy days, and sustained engagement at the Capitol throughout the legislative session. We monitor and respond to legislation that affects social workers, the social work workforce, vulnerable populations, and the clients and communities who rely on our services. Our advocacy priorities include protecting ethical practice, strengthening the workforce, safeguarding vulnerable populations, and advancing policies that improve access to services and outcomes for Arkansans.
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This program is grounded in the belief that social workers belong at decision-making tables. By building advocacy skills and creating clear pathways for engagement, SWAC works to strengthen the profession’s collective voice and influence in Arkansas.
Outreach & Professional Connection
SWAC’s outreach work is focused on building a strong, connected, and engaged community of social workers across Arkansas. We believe that a healthy profession is built not only through education and advocacy, but through relationships, shared identity, and mutual support.
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This program includes regional branch networking events that bring social workers together in their local communities, as well as Social Worker Spotlights that highlight and celebrate the incredible work being done across the state. Through these and other initiatives, SWAC creates spaces for connection, collaboration, and collective problem-solving among social workers in diverse practice settings.
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Outreach and connection are also about visibility and belonging. By strengthening relationships across regions, practice areas, and career stages, SWAC works to build a more unified, resilient, and empowered professional community.
SWAC Board
From Arkansas. For Arkansas.
Co-President:
Haleigh Trotter
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Co-President:
Christiane Long
Vice President:
Vacant
Secretary:
Katherine Ray
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Treasurer:
Amanda Childs
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MSW Student Rep:
Ashaunti Stinson
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BSW Student Rep:
Sophia Koskie
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At Large Branch Reps:
Alyssa Guffey & Justin Laffoon
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SWAC Consultant:
Holly Barron
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​Northwest Branch Reps:
Rita Collins & Jeremy Stark
North Central Branch Reps:
Casandra Glover & Susan Okroglic
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Northeast Branch Reps:
Nicole McCauley & Rashele Wade
Western Branch Rep:
Cole Smith
West Central Branch Rep:
Kristen Dobbs Davis
Central Branch Reps:
Vena Schexnayder & Haley Vincent
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Southwest Branch Rep:
Catiya Welch
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Southeast Branch Reps:
Tamara Glover & Tenesha Hill
