Happy Social Work Month! The Time is Right for Social Work

Happy Social Work Month from NASW-Michigan!

The need for social workers is great. There are nearly 720,000 social workers in our nation, with nearly 30,000 in Michigan alone. That number is expected to grow by 12 percent by the end of the decade, making social work one of the fastest growing professions in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Social workers have been an integral part of our nation for decades. Social workers played key roles in the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements and pushed for social programs we now take for granted, including the minimum wage, a 40-hour work week, Social Security and Medicare. And social workers we know have been the unsung heroes during the pandemic, supporting individuals, families, and our communities through resource support, comfort, compassion, and policy advocacy.
The time is always right for social work. However more people are entering the field because the life-affirming services that social workers provide are needed more than ever.
This is especially true as our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, economic inequality, global warming, and other crises. That is why the theme for Social Work Month 2022 is The Time is Right for Social Work.

We hope social workers across Michigan will take some time to honor themselves, and to celebrate and recognize their colleagues and coworkers who are doing exceptional work every day. Know that NASW-Michigan is continually working to support and advocate for you and the entire Michigan social work profession; from student loan forgiveness, to continued telehealth expansion, to improved reimbursement rates, and retention bonuses. In the next couple of months be on the lookout for the Chapter's newly forming Workforce Committee and how to get involved.

The Social Work Month campaign will inform the public, policymakers, and legislators about the way the nation’s social workers each day meet people where they are and help them live to their fullest potential. We are excited this year to have Governor Whitmer proclaiming March as Social Work Month in the state of Michigan (more details on this to come in the following week). 

There are many ways to help us highlight the field and our fellow social workers this month, and we hope to see you at one of the many events being held throughout March, including the Business of Social Work Conference on March 18. Check out full details of these networking, educational, and celebratory events at www.nasw-michigan.org/events (7+ FREE CEs available!). 

One way NASW-Michigan will celebrate social workers across the state is by sending Social Work Month care packages to 11 agencies in each of our regions. Social workers at these agencies will receive some social work goodies in the next several weeks. Some of the agencies to be recognized by our Board of Directors include:

• Great Lakes Recovery Marquette
• Thunder Bay Community Health Center
• Ionia Montcalm Secure and Friendly Environment (IM SAFE) Child Advocacy Center
• Macomb County Veterans Center
• Jane Addams Elementary School

If your agency is recognizing social workers this month, please let us know how! Email any stories you are willing to share to dbreijak.naswmi@socialworkers.org. 

Additionally, NASW has put together several resources to help you celebrate:

• Download the zoom background or official logo to add to your signature line
• Share the 2022 Social Work Month Video
• Read this year’s Social Work Month theme & rationale
• Check out the 2021 Proclamation
• Grab some Social Work Month merchandise
• Test your knowledge about the social work profession

For all social work month resources, visit www.socialworkmonth.org.