With National Professional Social Workers Month, which takes place every March, we can honor the social workers who help people and families work through their traumas and lead manageable lives. We want to make sure you read this and remember that someone out there, maybe the person on the bus with you, or the stranger standing behind you in the queue earlier today, is going through a difficult time and that no matter what it is, there is a light at the end of the tunnel if they seek help.
History of National Professional Social Worker's Month
People become social workers because they want to help others and make our society a better place for everyone. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States, and the country currently has nearly 720,000 professional social workers. Social workers have brought about significant, positive changes in our country. Former Labor Secretary Frances Perkins and civil rights leaders Dorothy Height, Whitney Young, and Ida B. Wells have advocated for voting rights, equal rights, social security, unemployment insurance, and other programs.
Every day, social workers touch the lives of millions of people, and a social worker will likely help you, a family member, or a friend at some point. For example, do you want to improve your relationship with your spouse, partner, kids, or parents? A social worker can assist you in making stronger connections. Do you suffer from depression, anxiety, or substance abuse? A social worker can assist you in overcoming these obstacles. And as this country grapples with issues such as racism, economic uncertainty, deeply political and cultural divides, and natural disasters caused by global warming, social workers will continue to play an essential role in assisting people.
March is National Professional Social Workers Month, founded by the National Association of Social Workers in 2010 to honor the great profession of social work. Take some time to learn more about the profession’s many positive contributions, and do what you can to honor all the social workers you know.