Dear Editor,

March is designated by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) as Social Work Month. As members of NASW, we wish to recognize and thank all the social workers in our community that help those who live in our small towns and rural areas navigate life’s many challenges. In the course of our work, people often ask us what do social workers do? It is a simple question, that requires a complex answer.

Historically, social workers have successfully advocated for the establishment of social security, the 40-hour work week, Medicare, and the minimum wage. Today, they continue to advocate for equal rights for all persons, no matter their race, sexual identity, gender, gender expression, culture, or religion.

The theme of this year’s Social Work Month is, “Social Work: Compassion + Action.” To become an effective social worker certainly requires compassion for those who face a disability, a life-threatening illness, or a social problem such as inadequate housing or unemployment. In addition, becoming a professional social worker requires years of education and training to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to successfully address the wide range of difficulties that face individuals, families, and communities.

Social workers are one of the largest groups of mental health care providers in the United States. They provide assessment and counseling to persons who suffer from depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use disorders. They help protect children from abuse and neglect and provide services which help strengthen families under stress. School social workers help students cope with problems at school and at home. Medical social workers provide and coordinate services for patients during and after treatment. Clinical social workers serve the mental health and health care needs of military veterans and their families through the Veteran’s Administration. Social workers link older adults to services that help them live independently and with dignity. Hospice social workers provide counseling and support to families whose loved ones are near the end of life.

Social Workers are at the forefront of pressing issues that our nation is addressing, including the increased need for mental health care, especially for children and adolescents; substance use disorder treatment; and improving health care and mental health care access and treatment.

Please take a moment to reflect upon how different our community would be without these special individuals who have chosen to dedicate their lives to serving others in need. Their work is complex and demanding. They themselves face many challenges that can lead to personal stress, fatigue and even disillusionment.

We ask for your support in recognizing the critical role that social workers play in our community, not just during Social Work Month, but year-round. If you know a social worker or have received services from one, consider taking the time to send them a note of thanks. Together, we all need to strive to make sure that social workers have the necessary resources they need to turn compassion into action and make a lasting difference in the lives of those they serve. Who knows, someday it might be a social worker that comes to the aid of you and your family.

Dr. Warren Galbreath, Dr. Richard W. Greenlee, and Professor Tracy A. Pritchard, LISW-S

Social Work Faculty

Ohio University Eastern