Social Work Month highlights how profession benefits society

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – WVU Medicine is helping celebrate this year’s Social Work Month in March with the theme “Social Workers are Essential” to highlight the invaluable contributions social workers make in society, especially as the nation addresses the coronavirus pandemic.

Social Work Month raises awareness about how social workers meet people where they are and help them live to their fullest potential.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. There are about 700,000 professional social workers in the U.S., and that number is expected to rise to more than 800,000 by 2029.

Social workers can be found throughout society – protecting children from abuse and neglect; providing mental health and substance use disorder treatment; working in healthcare and medical organizations; assisting active-duty military, veterans, and their families; in schools; helping corporations better serve their communities; and in community organizations, as well as in local, state, and government. The vast majority of social workers are female.

At the request of Cindie Harper, M.S.W, L.G.S.W., WVU Medicine medical social worker at the outpatient center at University Town Centre, Gov. Jim Justice issue a proclamation on March 3 recognizing March 2021 as Social Work Month. A presentation ceremony was not held due to COVID restrictions.

“It was important to me to spearhead this proclamation so that everyone here in the Mountain State can be aware of the essential services social workers provide,” Harper said. “We are an integral part of our patients’ support systems, helping them access resources and services to improve their quality of life.”

Harper also received a proclamation from the Monongalia County Commission recognizing Social Work Month at its meeting on Wednesday.

“I hope the awareness we raise during Social Work Month will help people to understand that they can trust social workers,” Harper said. “We are highly educated and well-trained professionals who subscribe to one of the healthcare industry’s most stringent codes of ethics. People should feel confident turning to us to advocate for their patients, clients, and communities.”