A Social Work Month "Thank You" and Celebration for the Year-Round, Every Day, Any Time Social Worker

Social Work Month 2018 Message From Linda Grobman, Publisher/Editor of The New Social Worker

by Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW

     Are you ready to celebrate? Yes, March is Social Work Month, and The New Social Worker invites you to celebrate with us. And I want to THANK you for all you do.

     Why do we celebrate during this month? Well, we have months set aside for just about everything! (In fact, March is also Women's History Month, American Red Cross Month, National Kidney Month, and Sleep Awareness Month, among others.) Many of these months raise awareness about issues and populations that are familiar to us in our work as social workers. Social Work Month is different. It brings awareness about the important work that social workers do EVERY day, throughout the year. It gives us opportunities to thank our colleagues for work well done. And it allows us to do the crucial task of educating the public about the essential roles of professional social workers, as well as what it actually means to be a professional social worker.

     Each year, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) chooses a theme for Social Work Month. This year, the theme is "Social Workers. Leaders. Advocates. Champions." This theme gives us a framework from which to educate about what the profession is all about, on the macro, mezzo, and micro levels. We can use this month to dispel some of the myths and stereotypes that exist about social workers.

     Some may argue that social workers don't need recognition - that they are simply "doing their jobs." Others may say that social workers should be celebrated every day, because they work hard every day. Yes, wouldn't it be great if every news story about mental health featured a social worker as an expert? Wouldn't it be more accurate and realistic if every medical TV show had a hospital social worker as an ongoing character? (I know I would welcome the opportunity to stop screaming, "Where's the social worker?!" at my TV every time I watch Chicago Med or Code Black.) We have a lot of work to do to educate the public, and it certainly is a year-round job.

     Still, think about this... we have rituals to celebrate and bring focus to all kinds of things. I am glad to be alive every day, but it is nice to celebrate one special day a year on my birthday.

     So, we have this special month each year to celebrate and reflect on this awesome profession that we have chosen for ourselves, to tell others about it, and to accept the recognition that we have earned.

     The New Social Worker's annual Social Work Month project highlights writings and other creative works of professional social workers and social work students. I am very excited about this year's celebration!

  • We thank all social workers for all you do, every day. Your work is important. YOU are important. If you have colleagues who are special to you, tell them during Social Work Month, and, while you're at it, give yourself a pat on the back, too!
  • We are kicking off our first-ever webinar series during Social Work Month! Our first webinar, on March 21, 2018, at 1 p.m. EDT, is "Self-Care Wellshop™: Foundations & Fundamentals," with Erlene Grise-Owens and Justin "Jay" Miller. Then, on April 18, 2018, at 1 p.m. EDT, we present Jennifer Luna Jackson with "Negotiate Your Best Salary & Benefits." Get more information about the webinars and register now.
  • In collaboration with Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work, we held our first-ever Reverse Poetry Contest! We will announce the winners, and their poems will be published on our website, during Social Work Month.
  • I have invited leaders in the social work profession, including presidents and/or CEOs of the major social work organizations in the U.S., to share their thoughts with us for Social Work Month. Their special greetings will be published on our website throughout the month.
  • Several of The New Social Worker's regular columnists have written something a little different from what they usually write for the magazine. These pieces will appear on our website this month.
  • Social workers and social work students have contributed essays, interviews, and poetry, which will also be published throughout the month.

     Please watch for these and other items on The New Social Worker's website throughout the month of March. Follow us on Facebook (click "Like" and then "Following" and "See first") and Twitter, or subscribe to our publications, to make sure you don't miss any goodies!

     So, get ready! HAPPY SOCIAL WORK MONTH from me to you!

                                                                                        Linda

Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW, is the publisher, editor, and founder of The New Social Worker® magazine.