By Joel Rubin, MSW, LSW, ACSW, CAE
The summer of 2026 has been one of volatile weather across the state of Wisconsin. My hope is that any necessary clean-up has been completed, that everyone’s power, if lost, has been restored and you all remain safe.
At the end of August, the state of Wisconsin was notified that it will be receiving up to nearly $313 million. of the $17 billion in the settlement with Meta, which will be implement sweeping child-safety reforms on Instagram and Facebook. This is one of the largest court settlements in American history. We thank the efforts of Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul who noted last week, “This is a monumental step in changing the role of social media in kids’ lives for the better.” The settlement requires Meta to implement a series of safety features on Instagram and Facebook which are noted in the statement from the Attorney General’s office, press-release-meta-settlement.pdf
We look forward to the prudent use of the state’s settlement funds. Online mental health protections continue to be an important focus for NASW and the social work profession, as two other states have passed legislation safeguarding against AI chatbots in mental health during the past year.
As September approaches, we begin the countdown to the November 3rd Mid-Term elections. The NASW PACE has made its endorsements in state races and we encourage Wisconsin members to look for more information about supporting the Chapter’s endorsed candidates.
Some additional notes….
- There is still time to nominate a colleague for a 2026 Wisconsin Chapter Social Work Award. Please consider nominating a colleague by Tuesday, September 15th. You can find out more information and nomination guidelines on the NASW-WI website at https://naswwi.socialworkers.org/.../2026.../2026-Awards or by contacting our Operations Manager at admin.naswwi@socialworkers.org.
- Our 52nd Annual Conference is just two months away! Prices are set to increase by Tuesday, September 8th so Register Today.
- In our continuing regional work, please consider submitting a proposal for the 2027 NASW Chapters Spring Virtual Conference, April 30th and May 1st . Call for Presenters! 2027 NASW Chapters Spring Virtual Conference
- I want to wish all social work students starting or continuing their social work programs this fall for the 2026-2027 academic year the best of luck in the new semester. Please take advantage of the many opportunities that are open for student involvement with the Chapter. https://naswwi.socialworkers.org/Student
Take care!
-Joel