By the Adult & Children’s Services Leadership Team
Every March we celebrate Social Work Month. This year’s theme is Social Work Breaks Barriers, which underscores the innovative ways in which social workers have enriched our society by empowering people and communities to overcome hurdles that prevent them from living life to the fullest. Every day, social workers confront some of the most challenging issues facing individuals, families, and communities, and they find solutions to help people reach their full potential.
Read on to learn more, as we recognize our social workers!
The primary mission of social work is to meet the basic needs of all people, especially those most vulnerable. Social workers make a difference by helping to build, support, and empower positive family and community relationships. They are also critical in assisting adults in the family to become self-sufficient through employment. Additionally, they work in schools, helping students overcome obstacles with their education; in hospitals helping patients navigate their paths to recovery; with children and adults who have mental health needs; and in agencies that protect vulnerable children and adults from abuse and neglect.
Social Workers:
- Enter the profession because they have a strong desire to help empower individuals, families, communities, and our nation to overcome issues that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
- Follow a Code of Ethics that calls on them to fight social injustice and respect the dignity and worth of all people.
- Are the largest group of mental health care providers in the United States, working daily to help thousands of people experiencing mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety.
- Are on the front lines of the nation’s opioid addiction crisis, helping people get the treatment they need and prevail over substance use disorders.
- Help people cope with death and grief and helped people and communities recover from natural disasters that are increasingly fueled by our warming climate, including hurricanes, drought and flooding.
- Advocate for equal rights for all, including people of color, people who are Indigenous, people who are LBGTQIA2S+, and people of various faiths.
- Push for changes that have made our society a better place to live, including a livable wage, improved workplace safety, and social safety net programs that help ameliorate poverty, hunger, and homelessness.
Thank you to all of our amazing and inspiring social workers. Every day, you endeavor to meet people where they are and help empower them to reach the goals they wish to attain. We could not be more proud of you!