NASW Press Author Guidelines: Chapter 1

The NASW Press, a division of the National Association of Social Workers, has been publishing scholarly materials in social work since 1956. It is one of the major publishers in social work and social welfare, serving faculty, practitioners, agencies, libraries, clinicians, and researchers throughout the United States and abroad.

Publishing with the NASW Press is a rewarding professional experience. Editorial boards concentrate on making the peer review process as helpful to authors as possible. NASW Press applies rigorous standards and a strict practice of anonymity during the review process. Characterized by frequent citations and high visibility, our journals are recognized as some as the most prestigious in the human services. If your journal manuscript is accepted, you can expect high-quality professional editing and production.

The NASW Publications Committee provides general oversight of the publications program. The committee, which is responsible to the NASW national Board of Directors, considers and recommends publications and develops principles and criteria for the evaluation of manuscripts submitted for publications. The Publications Committee has the authority to set parameters for existing publications, and it serves as arbiter for any differences among the various publications. The Committee includes a chair, the chair of the Book Committee, and the editors-in-chief of Social Work, Health & Social Work, Children & Schools, Social Work Research, and the Encyclopedia of Social Work. One member-at-large is a liaison from the national Board of Directors.

Editorial Boards and Committees

Volunteers from the NASW membership make up the editorial boards and committees. Responsibility for policy related to individual journals lies with the editorial boards and committees that are subunits of the Publications Committee. Editorial boards review and rate manuscripts submitted for publication, make recommendations to the editor-in-chief, develop and recommend changes in editorial and publications policy, and determine publication plans to meet critical issues facing the profession. Editorial boards retain final authority for the content and selection of manuscripts, using selection policies approved by the Publications Committee.

Editorial boards assume the following responsibilities as they review manuscripts:

Read and rate an agreed-on number of manuscripts.
Provide informed, unbiased recommendations to the editor-in-chief.
Maintain objectivity.
Provide clear, constructive feedback to the author.
Stay current with the literature.
Return reviews within an agreed-upon time.

Appointments to Boards and Committees

The elected NASW president appoints members of editorial boards and the Publications Committee on the basis of recommendations from the chair of the Publications Committee. Appointees must be NASW members in good standing and must be published authors who can be expected to exhibit independence in editorial judgment. Other considerations for appointment are areas of practice, skills, and knowledge to fill gaps in the existing board; geographic location; and representations of women and people of color in accordance with NASW’s affirmative action program.

Members of editorial boards and committees are appointed for a three-year term, with a possibility of reappointment for up to two years. Editors-in-chief are appointed for a four-year term, with the possibility of reappointment for up to two years.

Editorial board members may not serve concurrently on more than one NASW board or committee.