We have hit the month of March, which is almost unbelievable, as it seems this year is off to a fast start. March is a special month for me, personally, as it’s National Social Work Month! This specific field has a rich history of pioneers, from Jane Addams establishing the Hull House in Chicago (winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931), to Frances Feldman’s work with cancer patients and the discrimination they face (1970). Social work is also a profession with a growing population. In fact, there are an estimated 720,000 social workers in the United States and more than three million across the globe (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Every March, there is a theme for National Social Work Month. This year’s theme, according to the National Association of Social Workers, is The Right Time for Social Work. Still recovering from the pandemic, as well as uncertainty of global crises, the theme is fitting for this year. Social workers are a part of teams in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, mental health centers, nonprofits, corporations, the military- as well as local, state, and federal governments. Social workers have utilized these sectors to help with crucial moments in U.S. History. Some examples include: Civil and voting rights for people of color, achieving minimum wage, safer work conditions for those in poverty, LGBTQ+ rights, and more.
If you’d like to learn more about social work history and what social workers do, please visit www.socialworkers.org to reach the NASW website.
