May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Social Workers ARE Leaders in Michigan!

Since 1949, May has been recognized as the national Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. The pandemic we are all living through has changed our communities, our practices, and impacted the physical and mental health of arguably every person on the planet. With this, we have again seen the importance of social workers and the work that we do. I want to thank you for your innovation, commitment to clients, advocacy, remembrance of self-care, and flexibility in your work during this time. 

In addition to providing a continuation of all the traditional services that are normally provided to individuals, families, caregivers, and communities; social workers are also providing many non-traditional services that are needed during this unique time. Social workers are an important link for assisting with care coordination in health care systems and everywhere else in the continuum of care, including those focused on managing social determinants of health challenges. 

Social workers have expertise in identifying deficits in social determinants of health and supporting high-risk and at-risk people. During a pandemic, such as COVID-19, people may experience increased challenges with housing, finances, access to care, psychological status, functional status, and social support. Social workers must work closely within interprofessional teams to identify vulnerable people and proactively assess needs in these domains, providing care coordination when indicated. Developing follow up plans to ensure resources have been received and needs have been met are critical during these times when folk may be more isolated with social distancing still in effect..

Social workers are uniquely qualified to manage crisis situations and are particularly equipped with skills that provide much needed flexibility and resourcefulness to command centers, patient care units, food banks, schools, hospitals, and the hardest hit communities across the state. Performing social work services under these conditions can be challenging with the amount of unpredictability surrounding this particular crisis. However, the best responses so far have been those that utilize strengths of social workers in addressing these unique challenges.

Social Workers have a reputation for being resourceful and flexible, but the level of heroism being demonstrated by social workers all across Michigan is awe inspiring! 

Many people are working with social workers for the first time and are quickly discovering our professional strengths and extreme skills. We have also seen a tremendous influx of positive stories of social workers in various media platforms and I hope you will continue to tell your stories and share your expertise with local, state, and national news outlets. 

The inspiration being drawn from the work of social workers like you is making a difference. Your membership with NASW is helping create a larger voice for our profession and we hope that you will continue to let us know what we can do to help you grow your practice and serve your community.

Thank you for all that you do!

Kevin Holzinger, LMSW, ACSW

NASW-Michigan Board President