By Amy DePaolo, MS, LCSW, OSW-C 

2024 was a busy year for the AOSW State Representatives.  We had seven new state representatives—from Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, South Dakota, and Virginia—start in their roles.  

We currently have 41 states with representatives from various practice settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, community organizations, and others.  State representatives are an integral part of AOSW, serving as liaisons between individual members within each state and the Director-at-Large.  They play a vital role in promoting AOSW and the profession of oncology social work, encouraging participation in AOSW activities and service opportunities, and assisting in identifying potential award recipients.  

As 2025 begins, we will continue to focus on providing support and tools that assist state representatives in their outreach efforts, particularly regarding recruitment and retention.  Additionally, I plan to assist and support state reps who are interested in becoming further involved with AOSW through committees, writing opportunities, and other leadership roles.  

I am excited about the annual AOSW conference this June in Atlanta, as our conferences are a valuable opportunity for education and connection.  I look forward to working with state representatives in the coming months on planning ways to connect with colleagues at the conference.  

If you are not sure who your state representative is, check out the listing on the AOSW website.  If your state does not have a current representative and you are looking for information or guidance, please reach out to me. 

If you are interested in becoming a state representative, we have opportunities in the following states: 

• DC/Northern Virginia 
• Idaho 
• Kansas  
• Michigan 
• Mississippi  
• Montana 
• Nebraska 
• Rhode Island 
• Tennessee 
• West Virginia 
• Wyoming 

 Please reach out to me by email if you are interested in learning more.