The Little Social Worker That Could…

by Denice Goodrich Liley, Ph.D., CSW-G

It was but an ordinary day, not spectacular or any kind of a standout day.

The social worker was going about her way.

Then out of nowhere, with hardly a sound nor a sensation, a wall came down creating a great divide across the land. 

An atmosphere of injustice, exclusion, despair, hostility, and a general lack of willingness was everywhere. There was no one to offer a hand.

A voice called out to the social worker, “You must do something. You must challenge what has become the status quo. You must speak out for those who can not speak.”

“Oh, my,” the social worker trembled.  “I am but one little social worker.”

“I am not mighty...I am but a mere mortal with no cape, no super powers nor mysterious capabilities.”  “Alone, I am weak.”

Then channeling the powerful social workers of the past - Jane Addams, Mary Richmond, and Bertha Reynolds, to name just a few - as well as sensing empowerment from the many social workers of today, boldly, the social worker stated, “I will not be meek.”

Then the social worker cried out, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can....”

Standing alone but feeling the strength and support of so many others and the urgency, the social worker stepped up and out into the world of uncertainty – to make it better, to do something to help others, and to stand up for those who could not across the land.

Yes...just an ordinary human on an ordinary day – doing extra ordinary things because she thought she could. AND

            YES! She did make a DIFFERENCE!

THIS is every day for many who call themselves Social Workers!

Denice Goodrich Liley, Ph.D., CSW-G, is an Associate Professor at Boise State University School of Social Work. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.