March is Social Work Month
Our nation needs social workers more than ever.
Homelessness is on the rise. The opioid addiction crisis has hit the United States hard, impacting all races, regions, and economic levels. Suicide, too has risen, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Social workers are uniquely qualified to handle these societal troubles. Social workers enter the profession because they truly want to help others. They go through years of education, training, and supervision so they can do the delicate but important work of meeting people where they are and helping them achieve their goals.
Social workers are also trained to help individuals, families, communities, and even the larger society if regulations and laws must be changed in order to help people who need it. You will find social workers everywhere—in schools, hospitals, and at the federal, state, and local levels in government, corporations, social service agencies, and veterans centers as well.
The demand for social workers is reflected in the statistics. Did you know that by 2030 there will be more than 782,00 social workers in the United States? This makes social work one of the fastest-growing professions in the United States.
However, social workers need support to meet the high demand for their vital work. That is why the Social Work Month theme for 2024 is Empowering Social Workers!