Q: Is Lobby Days a required part of the SOCW 512: SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY AND POLICY PRACTICE class? 

A:  No, it is not. Due to COVID-19, department's policy regarding Lobby Days attendance has been modified and students are not longer required to attend the event, although it is highly encouraged.

Q: What should I expect from Lobby Days?

A: Lobby Days is an exciting opportunity to connect with social workers and students from every accredited social work school in California. You will be joining over 1,500 social work students—your future colleagues!

The weekend kicks off with a free student mixer on Saturday evening hosted by 23Strong, the only student-led council under NASW-CA. Once additional details are finalized, they will be forwarded to MSWSA by 23Strong for distribution.

Q: Do I have to make a legislative appointment?

A: Legislative appointments are OPTIONAL. We strongly recommend that you do attend an appointment for the experiential learning and the opportunity to speak to a legislator and/or staff.

Q: What are the legislative bills we will lobby for? 

A: The California Chapter of NASW will announce the bills about one month prior to Lobby Days. For last year's bills please see NASW website for information: https://www.naswca.org/page/ca-legislative-lobby-days-event

Q: How do I prepare for Lobby Days?

A: 23Strong hosts a virtual Lobby Days Panel about 1-2 weeks prior to the event, featuring policy experts from across California. These experts will provide an overview of the NASW-CA sponsored bills, offer essential political context, and answer your questions about the legislative process. Once the panel date and additional details are finalized, 23Strong will forward that information to MSWSA for distribution.

Q: What should I wear?

A: On Sunday, please plan on wearing a coordinated APU T-shirt. The convention facility gets a bit chilly, so please plan on bringing a light jacket.  

On Monday, please wear professional attire for your legislative appointment.  

Q: Can I stay with friends/relatives in Sacramento?

A: Yes. Be mindful that parking arrangements are very difficult in downtown Sacramento.

Q: How will transportation and lodging be arranged?

A: Attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation and lodging. If you are interested in carpooling or sharing accommodations, we encourage you to coordinate directly with your peers to manage location preferences and cost-splitting.

If you are planning to attend and would like to travel with others but haven't found a group yet, please contact our MSWSA Lobby Days Student Liaison. They will do their best to connect you with other students looking to share travel or lodging costs.

Q: How much should I budget for Lobby Days?

A: Your budget will depend on several factors, primarily transportation and lodging. Pre-planning and booking early are key to keeping costs low. Here is a breakdown of what to expect:  

• Registration Fees (2026 Rates)

  • NASW Student Member: $85 (Early-bird by Feb 23) | $95 (Regular)

  • Student Non-Member: $100 (Early-bird by Feb 23) | $115 (Regular)

• Travel & Accommodations

• Transportation: $50 (carpooling) to $250+ (flying/last-minute travel).

• Lodging: $0 (staying with family/friends) to $500+ (individual hotel room).

• Other: Don't forget to budget for meals and personal expenses.

Your trip could cost under $150 if you register early, carpool, and share lodging. However, last-minute planning without roommates could push costs above $800. We strongly encourage coordinating with peers to share expenses!

Q: What hotel should I book?

A: We recommend staying at a hotel near the California State Capitol and the convention center. Staying within walking distance allows you to avoid downtown parking challenges and move easily between activities.

There are several hotels adjacent to these locations, such as the Quality Inn Sacramento Convention Center, which is a popular budget-friendly option for students. Alternatively, some students choose to book an Airbnb or a hotel further away and save on costs by carpooling or using rideshare services (like Uber or Lyft) to get to downtown.

Q: I heard other schools offset costs by helping to pay for things like registration or transportation. Can APU do that?

A: Other schools are able to do this by folding in the costs of Lobby Days into tuition or requiring lab fee with a class. We have decided not to do this because we are not making Lobby Days a required event. Students are welcome to initiate their own fundraising events, creating a GoFundMe page to send to friends and family, or to plan on some extra part-time work over the Christmas break to help pay for the event.