The American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare was announced on Friday, November 6, 2009.  The Academy is an honorific society of distinguished scholars and practitioners dedicated to achieving excellence in the field of social work and social welfare through high-impact work that advances social good.

The Academy has been established to:

-  Encourage and recognize outstanding research, scholarship, and practice that contribute to a sustainable, equitable, and just future;

-  Inform social policy by serving as a frontline source of information for the social work profession as well as Congress and other government agencies and non-government entities charged with advancing the public good;

-  Promote the examination of social policy and the application of research to test alternative policies, programs, and practices for their impact on society; and

-  Celebrate excellence in social work and social welfare research, education, and practice.

The Academy is registered as an independent entity with the State of Ohio with a virtual office located initially at Case Western Reserve University. The Board of Directors will develop a process to solicit nominations and make the selection of the next class of Fellows in the near future. They will also approve a business plan that will promote the success and sustainability of the Academy.