2024 North Carolina Primary Elections Results 

The 2024 primary election was held in NC on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.  Results of interest to social workers are below.  The 2024 General Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024.  The in-Person Early Voting Period begins October 17, 2024. 

2024 Presidential Race
Joe Biden, President (Democrat) vs. Donald Trump (Republican)

2024 NC Governor's Race
Josh Stein, Attorney General (Democrat) vs. Lt. Governor Mark Robinson (Republican)

Why Do Social Workers Need Governors to be on Their Side?

It’s significant that Governor Roy Cooper has recognized March 2024 as Social Work Month in North Carolina, shedding light on the vital contributions of social workers and emphasizing the support they need from society. This recognition from the Governor underscores the importance of collaboration between social workers and the state government in addressing the diverse needs of individuals and communities.(NASW-NC)

The upcoming North Carolina’s governor’s race involves two finalists, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D) and Lieutenant Gov. of North Carolina Mark Robinson (R). The outcome of this race will have implications for the social work profession, as the governor's policy priorities can significantly impact various aspects of social work, including policy advocacy, resource allocation, and collaboration with state agencies.

Notably, the potential election of Lieutenant Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican, could give the party a trifecta with solid control in the Legislature. This could influence the direction of policies in areas such as abortion restrictions and measures impacting the LGBTQ community, reflecting the broader political dynamics in the state. (NBC)

On the other hand, Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat, outlined his priorities in his victory speech, emphasizing support for law enforcement, addressing violent crime and the fentanyl crisis, and advocating for Medicaid expansion. Additionally, he has taken a clear stand on reproductive rights, vowing to veto any further restrictions on women’s reproductive freedoms.(News and Observer)

This political context underscores the importance of ongoing advocacy efforts by social workers and their allies to ensure that policies and priorities align with the values of social justice, inclusivity, and support for vulnerable populations. As the political landscape evolves, social workers continue to engage with policymakers to advocate for policies that enhance the well-being of the individuals and communities in North Carolina, and this includes at the Governor’s office.

(source: Huma Hasan, NASW-NC MSW Intern)
 

2024 NC Attorney General
Jeff Jackson, US Representative (Democrat) vs. Dan Bishop, US Representative (Republican) 

2024 NC Superintendent of Public Instruction
Maurice "Mo" Green (Democrat) vs. Michele Morrow (Republican)

MAGA supporter who home-schools her kids tops NC superintendent Truitt in GOP primary

Ultra-conservative challenger Michele Morrow defeated incumbent Catherine Truitt in the Republican primary for state superintendent of public instruction. Truitt had entered the Republican primary with a major fundraising lead and the endorsement of many prominent GOP elected officials. Morrow will face off against former Guilford County Superintendent Mo Green, who has nearly two-thirds of the vote in the Democratic primary.
 

The two Republican candidates for state superintendent had tried to position themselves as conservatives fighting the “woke” left. But in her political ads, Morrow argued that she was the “only conservative” in the race, Truitt, 53, was elected superintendent in 2020. The former classroom teacher has political credentials such as having been senior education adviser to then GOP Gov. Pat McCrory. 

Morrow, 52, is a home-school parent and former missionary who is an activist working with groups such as Liberty First Grassroots and the Pavement Education Project. Morrow was among the supporters of then President Donald Trump who protested in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, but says she did not storm the Capitol Building.
 

During her unsuccessful run for the Wake County school board in 2022, Morrow apologized for past social media posts that included “ban Islam” and “ban Muslims from elected offices.” She says her plan is to “Make Academics Great Again” in North Carolina by prioritizing scholastics and safety over Critical Race Theory and DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion). Morrow has accused public schools of indoctrinating students, “teaching children to hate our country” and training students in “transgender theory.” [Source]
(source: News and Observer)
 

March is Women's History Month
The National Women’s History Month’s theme for 2024 celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.

During 2024, we recognize the example of women who are committed to embracing everyone and excluding no one in our common quest for freedom and opportunity. They know that people change with the help of families, teachers and friends, and that young people in particular need to learn the value of hearing from different voices with different points of view as they grow up.

Today, equity, diversity and inclusion are powerful driving forces that are having a wide-ranging impact on our country. As members of families, civic and community groups, businesses and legislative bodies, women are in the forefront of reevaluating the status quo. They are looking anew at what harmful social policies and behaviors exist and, often subtly, determine our future. In response, women in communities across the nation are helping to develop innovative programs and projects within corporations, the military, federal agencies and educational organizations to address these injustices.

It takes courage for women to advocate for practical goals like equity, diversity and inclusion when established forces aim to misinterpret, exploit or discredit them. Throughout 2024, we honor local women from the past and present who have taken the lead to show the importance of change and to establish firmer safeguards, practices and legislation reflecting these values. Following decades of discrimination, we are proud to celebrate women who work for basic inclusion, equality and fairness.
(source: nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org)

Read A Proclamation on Women's History Month, 2024 from The White House.  

March 2024 is Social Work Month 

Empowering Social Workers! That's the theme for Social Work Month this March and we're hoping social workers will take this theme to heart as we bring awareness to the life-affirming work that social workers do by sharing your stories across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  Our hashtags this year: #SWMonth2024 #EmpoweringSocialWorkers

Governor Cooper Proclaims March 2024 as National Social Work Month
Governor Cooper has proclaimed March 2024 as National Social Work Month in North Carolina. This month, we honor and celebrate the many ways in which the contributions of Social Workers to our state.

You can read Governor Cooper's Social Work Proclamation Here. 

Please find Social Work Month information and activities in North Carolina here.

Upcoming NASW-NC Conferences:

Register Now: 2024 NASW-NC Ethics Conference 

Doing Good, Doing Well, and Doing Right: Ethical Responses to Trending Workplace Dilemmas

Friday, March 22, 2024 :Virtual on Zoom
8:15am - 4:00pm EST : 6.5 Hours Ethics CE

Registration Fees:
NASW Member - $75
Not yet a member - $150
Student Member of NASW - FREE
(no CE certificate included, student membership verified)
Student not yet a member - $60

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER 

NASW members from other states can contact education.naswnc@socialworkers.org for assistance in registering. 

NC Budget & Tax Center 

Funding for Children and Youth in North Carolina
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ETJ
Join the NC Budget & Tax Center and Children's Funding Project on March 12 at 12pm Eastern for a webinar on a new tool documenting all federal and state-level investments in services and programs for children and youth in North Carolina. This tool, known as a fiscal map, analyzes the state and federal funding from 2019 to 2021 that supports all programs and services from the prenatal stage to young adulthood statewide.

We'll discuss how this data can be used to advocate for investments for kids, and specifically how it connects to the fights for fair tax policy and for equitably funding early childhood education. 

RSVP for Fiscal Map Walkthrough 

Advocacy and the NC Legislature: Making Connections
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET
Did you know corporations in North Carolina will pay a ZERO percent income tax rate by 2030? How did that happen? Why does it matter? And how do you take action? Another webinar in our Making Connections series, we'll be taking you through how a bill works, how to find out how your lawmakers voted, and why the appropriations and finance committees are so important when it comes to policy in North Carolina. We'll also talk about some tactics when it comes to advocating for what you and your community needs in North Carolina. Heba Atwa, of the NC Budget & Tax Center, and Jovita Lee, of the NC Black Alliance, will be sharing their wisdom and leading the discussion.

RSVP for Making Connections 
 
Upcoming NASW-NC Live Webinars:     

Join NASW-NC, Equality NC and NCSSWA to discuss the impacts of Senate Bill 49 "Parents' Bill of Rights" and how the new law is impacting school social workers' ability to support North Carolina students.

 This session will include an update from Equality NC and will open the space for school social workers to talk about how SB49 has impacted their ability support students including LGBTQ+ students and the ability to conduct suicide and threat assessments.

Please know that your individual registration answers will not be shared outside of NASW-NC. This event will not be recorded to ensure a space for school social workers to share information.

Date: Monday, March 18, 2024 6:30PM: Register here: https://www.naswnc.org/event/2024SchoolSocialWork

Read More about Senate Bill 49 here: NC School board takes stand against Parents' Bill of Rights to protect LGBTQ students

Please join NASW-NC on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 12PM-1:30PM for an engaging virtual lunch and learn webinar. Explore the ethical responsibility outlined in the NASW Code of Ethics, emphasizing the importance of practicing within one’s areas of competence and continuously enhancing professional expertise.

Click HERE to register. 

This webinar aims to support providers in developing a foundational understanding of Islam and its practices. Gain insights into fostering cultural sensitivity and humility when serving Muslim clients, with a focus on accommodating faith-based needs. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from Muslim Social Workers and enhance your cultural competence in the social work profession.

Zoom link will be emailed out to registrants the day before the meeting.

If you don't think you have received the Zoom link, please check your Spam folder. If not in your Spam, please email Lauren Zingraff at advocacy.naswnc@socialworkers.org for assistance BEFORE the webinar begins.

Ideas presented by speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and policies of NASW-NC

The 2024 Short Session begins on April 24, 2024. NASW-NC’s main legislative priority will be to get Senate Bill 718 -Social Work Interstate Licensure Compact passed during the 2024 short session. The Social Work Compact creation was initiated by the Department of Defense to promote licensure portability for military spouses. Many Republican lawmakers, who have the supermajority in both the NC House and Senate, support military populations. The bill’s primary sponsor is Senator Joyce Krawiec, who has announced her plans to retire at the end of the 2024 session.  The compact does have bi-partisan support in the NC Senate and was referred to the committee on Rules and Operations on April 10, 2023.  It was not subjected to crossover as it was not tied to appropriations.  The Social Work Compact will go into effect when at least seven different states pass it.   You can see more about the states that have introduced the compact here. NASW-NC has already been speaking with lawmakers about supporting and passing SB 718 when the short session begins.  Be sure to watch for updates in upcoming Advocacy Alerts. 

Thank you to the members of NASW-NC for supporting the advocacy work we do. We would not be able to advocate for the social work profession or social justice issues in North Carolina without a robust and engaged NASW membership. If you are a social worker and not a member, we ask that you join NASW today. Our voice is louder with your membership.

Learn more about NASW-NC membership here.

Want this information sent directly to your inbox? Sign up for weekly NASW-NC legislative updates: https://votervoice.net/NASWNC/home