Self-Care A-Z: World Social Work Day - The Importance of Self-Care for “Respecting Diversity Through Joint Social Action”

by Erlene Grise-Owens, EdD, LCSW, MSW, MRE, & Dr. Mindy Eaves, DSW, CSW

     World Social Work Day takes place on the third Tuesday of March. This annual event is designated to celebrate and promote the profession of social work. This year’s March 21, 2023, theme is “Respecting Diversity through Joint Social Action.”

     Across the globe, social workers practice in diverse environments. Contexts and other considerations vary geographically, culturally, philosophically, and pragmatically. However, the well-being of practitioners is a consistent core facet that crosses all boundaries and applies in all situations. As conveyed in the International Federation of Social Work (IFSW) Statement of Ethical Principles, self-care is an essential element of ethical, effective practice and, actually, fundamental human existence. Likewise, the National Association of Social Workers NASW Code of Ethics declares that self-care is “paramount.”

     As part of this World Social Work Day celebration, we consider the key question: How does diversity affect our own self-care and, by extension, our abilities to join others in social action?

Be Attentive to Our Own Experiences of Oppression and Marginalization

     First, here’s an often-unrecognized fact: Social workers are human beings. As such, we have human experiences and dynamics that affect us—negatively, positively, and neutrally. We have stressors. Historical and generational trauma do not just impact our clients and communities. Most social workers bring diverse, intersectional social identities that have been marginalized in compounding ways. We operate in systems embedded in toxic and multi-faceted oppressive dynamics. 

     Navigating these dynamics and systems—both personally and professionally—can be EXHAUSTING!  This fact, alone, points to the crucial need for practitioners to care for ourselves. One form of self-care is acknowledging and learning about how these dynamics affect clients and communities and how they affect us—in our practice roles and as human beings. And, then, developing skills for addressing these. As one of myriad examples, simply having a term for a phenomenon, such as micro-aggressions/micro-inequities, can give us insight. Then, we can develop ways for addressing these harmful phenomena.

     Fostering our own awareness, knowledge, and self-compassion helps us reject biases, offset internalized oppression, and advocate for oneself. These are all aspects of self-care! As well, being attentive to our own experiences reinforces the necessity of ensuring that we prioritize fun, joy, reflection, respite, rest, connection, and attending to basic needs. What soothes, heals, restores you? What keeps you breathing fully and freely?

Draw Strength, Wisdom, Gratitude, and Joy From Our Own Cultural Backgrounds and Social Identities

     In addition to being aware of oppressive forces, our self-care must include acknowledging, accessing, and celebrating the strengths of our diverse cultural identities. In oftentimes hidden ways, the dominant culture insidiously creates narratives and structures that exclude, minimize, and/or problematize diverse identities.

     The resilience, “ways of knowing,” connections, and celebrations of diversity are strengths that nurture our well-being. Reclaiming, reinforcing, and honoring these facets of diversity iteratively restores and builds our own coping, competence, courage, and compassion. Self-care includes engaging our diversity for strength, wisdom, gratitude, and joy to foster the fullest human experience.

Engage Individualized Self-Care

     Self-care has many universal aspects. For example, all humans need rest, nutrition, hydration, movement, connection, and meaning. These universal human elements must be attended to as part of self-care.

     Concomitantly, we must honor our diverse identities, particular life experiences, personal circumstances, specific preferences, distinct values, and so forth. That is, a “one-size-fits-all” self-care plan and approach does not exist. Instead, each of us must identify both universal and unique aspects of our self-care. We must honor our diversity, which includes being attentive to our individualized situation.  What unique challenges and barriers do you need to consider in your self-care? What particular strengths, resources, values, and perspectives do you bring?

Joint Social Action AND Self-Care

     We do not exist only for the service of others. That harmful myth has been imposed on marginalized groups for centuries. We, as human beings, are meant to not only serve, but to be sustained. Not just survive, but thrive. And, ultimately, as fully human beings: To flourish. 

     When we care for selves, individually, we can join a diverse collective in social action. Our joint connection is stronger, healthier, more effective, and more meaningful. Together, through practicing self-care, joint social action is strengthened and practitioner well-being flourishes.*

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*We—along with co-author Dr. Jay Miller—further develop this critical connection in our book chapter, “The You (and Me) of Ubuntu: Self-Care as Essential for Collective Care” in The Ubuntu Practitioner: Social Work Perspectives. IFSW will launch this exciting publication on World Social Work Day!

Erlene Grise-Owens, EdD, LCSW, MSW, MRE, is a Partner in The Wellness Group, ETC.  This LLC provides evaluation, training, and consultation for organizational wellness and practitioner well-being. Dr. Grise-Owens is lead editor of The A-to-Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and Other Helping Professionals.  As a former faculty member and graduate program director, she and a small (but mighty!) group of colleagues implemented an initiative to promote self-care as part of the social work education curriculum. Previously, she served in clinical and administrative roles. She has experience with navigating toxicity and dysfunction, up-close and personal! Likewise, as an educator, she saw students enter the field and quickly burn out. As a dedicated social worker, she believes the well-being of practitioners is a matter of social justice and human rights. Thus, she is on a mission to promote self-care and wellness!

Dr. Mindy “Dr. BE” Eaves is Chair and Program Director of the School of Social Work at Kentucky State University, a Whitney M. Young Scholar, Advisory Board Member of Continued, consultant for the Wellness Group ETC, and co-editor of The A to Z Self-Care Handbook for Social Workers and other Helping Professionals. She holds a Doctorate in Social Work and has 17 years of experience in the areas of ombudsing, leadership, administration, social work education, child welfare, community mental health, and advocacy.