by Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW
Hello, social workers! It is Social Work Month, March 2026! I have always maintained that it is critical, before anything else during this month, to THANK A SOCIAL WORKER (you!). Find a social worker right now, and say “Thank you!” to that person!
Get ready for a month-long observance of “our month” with The New Social Worker. Please join us! First and foremost, I want to say THANK YOU for all you do, today and every day, this month and every month. Social workers are doing the hard work, all the time.
Social workers keep the core values of service, competence, integrity, the dignity and worth of the person, the importance of human relationships, and social justice at the heart of everything they (we) do. During these times, when these very values are being challenged on a daily basis through policies often designed to undermine them, social workers Uplift, Defend, and Transform. Thank you for being there through these difficult times and doing this vital work.
Those three words—uplift, defend, transform—make up this year’s Social Work Month theme designated by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW): “Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform.” Here are some definitions, according to Google/Oxford Languages:
- Uplift: raise the level of; improve
- Defend: resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger
- Transform: make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of
Yes, these are words that describe a good portion of what social workers do.
This brings us to the theme for World Social Work Day on March 17, 2026. The International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) has designated the theme “Co-Building: Hope & Harmony.” I am a “word person,” and these are two of my favorites!
Several years ago, Dr. Elizabeth Clark wrote about 10 things social workers must know about hope, with the first one being, “We need to recognize that we live in a hope-challenged world, and, as social workers, we have an obligation to be hope providers” (emphasis added). She also told me, and wrote in this article, that there is no false hope. Think about that. I often do.
As a musician, i love the harmony that happens when notes and voices sound simultaneously to produce a new and beautiful sound. I sign my newsletters and emails purposely with, “In harmony,” because I truly believe we need this beauty, and harmony among people, more now than ever.
How can we co-build with harmony and hope in today’s world?
The New Social Worker Social Work Month 2026
For The New Social Worker’s Social Work Month Project for 2026, we have a variety of articles in store on the above themes and more, from our columnists, book reviewers, and other social worker/writers. You will see the selected writings in our 2026 Social Work Month series throughout the month. And we may just post some gems from past Social Work Months on our social media this month. Watch our website, Facebook page, and LinkedIn group for these new posts.
Social Work Month Through the Years
To explore Social Work Month through the past 12 years, click on a year below to see our Social Work Month Project series for that year. These are truly the "hidden" gems of our website! I hope you will take time this month (or any time) to read and be encouraged by them.
- 2025 compassion + action
- 2024 empowerment
- 2023 breaking barriers
- 2022 the time is right for social work
- 2021 social workers are essential
- 2020 generations strong
- 2019 core values of social work
- 2018 leaders, advocates, champions
- 2017 positive stories
- 2016 inspirational writings
- 2015 social work talent
- 2014 creative writings
Our Values Are Always Timely!
Social workers serve others while respecting the dignity and worth of the person, with competence, with integrity, with a recognition of the importance of human relationships, and with a dedication to social justice. These core values are always timely for us as social work professionals. Social Work Month is a great time to recognize and highlight this commitment. Yes, I already mentioned them at the beginning of this article. The repeat of them is not a mistake! I think they are important enough to be restated whenever possible.
Remember, we will post new items on The New Social Worker’s website throughout March. Follow us on Facebook (click “Like” and then “Following” and “See first”) or subscribe to our publications, to make sure you don't miss a thing!
Again... Thank you. Please join me.
In harmony, Linda
Linda May Grobman, MSW, ACSW, LSW, is the publisher, editor, and founder of The New Social Worker® magazine.