Organized by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), National Professional Social Work Month is celebrated each March. The month-long recognition celebrates the social work profession and the important contributions made by social workers across the globe.
The NASW was founded in 1955 and has grown to more than 120,000 members, making it the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world. The NASW is dedicated to supporting professional excellence, ensuring high standards of care, and promoting smart social policy on a federal level.
There are almost 700,000 social workers in the United States alone. These compassionate individuals can be found in hospitals, schools, VA centers, mental health, and other healthcare facilities, corporations, state, local, and federal government and more. As NASW explains, social workers “confront some of the most challenging issues facing individuals, families, communities and society and forge solutions that help people reach their full potential and make our nation a better place to live.”
On a daily basis, social workers deal with issues like poverty, addiction, mental health, sexual and domestic violence, immigration, equality, homelessness, and gun violence. They work to enhance the quality of life for individuals, families, communities, and society as a whole.
Social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, there is a critical shortage of social workers in schools, where their presence is instrumental in helping children cope with trauma, poverty and addiction issues.
National Professional Social Work Month shines a light on the important, often life-changing work accomplished by social workers.
National Professional Social Work Month 2020
The theme for 2020 is Social Workers: Generations Strong, celebrating the positive impact generations of social workers have had on countless lives.
The NASW offers a variety of ways you can participate in the celebration, honor individuals in the profession and help educate the public about the important work accomplished by dedicated social workers.
- Social media toolkit helps you share your stories across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Provides downloadable logos and tips for extra visibility.
- Infographics and short videos can educate the public about the many facets of social work.
- A guide to doing pop-up parties that celebrate social work—attend one or host your own!
- Write a press release, letter to the editor, article or blog to share your story or the story of another whose life was impacted by a social worker.
See the website for additional ideas on how you can be a voice for the social work profession.
For over a century, social workers have worked to empower the vulnerable. The profession has been instrumental in promoting social reform, including social security, minimum wage laws, and equal rights. By actively participating in the 2020 National Professional Social Work Month you are supporting a profession that has positively impacted lives for decades.
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