Who are the social workers of America? They are the people that day in and day out selflessly give their time and skills to those in need. They spend hours upon hours, days upon days, and months upon months helping one person, one family, one organization; for one purpose. A better tomorrow.
March is Social Worker Month, a time to learn about and honor the social workers of America. In 1984 the White House officially recognized March as National Professional Social Workers month. They too saw the greatness that these workers perform on a daily basis and wanted to designate a month where they could be recognized and honored. In 2005, The National Social Work Public Education Campaign was started to educate and improve the public perception of Social Workers. Each year the campaign is built around a theme and that theme is used to promote a better tomorrow.
There are many different Social Workers in America today. Some work exclusively with families with young children and adolescents, some work with disaster relief organizations and reach out to those who are in dire need of emotional help, others work in the field of home health care for seniors and infants. Not one field is more important than the other; each has its own need and purpose.
The aides, social workers, and support staff all deserve a round of applause for their hard work, dedication and their never failing sensitivity to their clients. Agencies like InterGen Health of New York are lifesaving; emotionally, physically and sometimes even literally. These home care social workers work exclusively with seniors and infants who need in home care. Their desire to help those in need outweighs their desire to do a job, to them, social work is not just a job; it’s a way of life.
With years of experience and education, a devotion to human life and their mental health and compassion that can’t be taught, the social workers of America deserve more than a month of respect from their peers. Underpaid and overworked, these social workers have gone through years of training to be where they are today. Their goal is to bring strength, growth and unity to an individual person, a family, or a community as whole; and they achieve this on a daily basis; or in InterGen Health of New York’s case, one home at a time.
The home health aides and the disaster relief social workers have seen more need for their services this year more than ever. With an ever increasing financial crisis and more natural disasters, this group of dedicated workers are finding their workload has increased ten-fold. There mental health services are in demand and their skills as mental health workers are being utilized as more people stress out their daily lives.
Take a moment this month to think about the social workers in your area. Maybe it is the home aide that visits with your elderly neighbor on a daily basis, or perhaps it is the person who was there for your cousin who lives in Oklahoma when the tornado came through their town. Even if you don’t personally know anyone who has a social worker in their life, take a moment, because you never know when one may be needed.
