ATLANTA – Social workers help families and children facing challenges by connecting them to services, counseling, education and jobs, and March is a month dedicated to highlighting the many ways they strengthen our community.

This year’s celebration will be filled with activities centered on the theme “Social Workers: Leaders. Advocates. Champions.” The campaign will inform the public and legislators about the crucial role social workers for generations have played in improving the well-being of people and helping our nation become a better place to live.

For instance, social workers such as reformer Jane Addams, former Labor Secretary Frances Perkins, and civil rights leaders Dorothy Height and Whitney Young have helped Americans secure voting rights, Social Security, unemployment insurance, and other programs.

Social work is a fast-growing profession with more than 680,000 social work professionals in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Clinical social workers are the largest group of mental health providers in the United States and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is one of the biggest employers of social workers with a master’s degree.

Social workers are trained to look at situations in a holistic way, helping to bring together people and communities to find ways to address pressing individual, group and societal issues such as hunger, affordable housing, equal rights for all and making organizations and government accountable.

Social workers also follow the NASW Code of Ethics, which calls on members of the profession to enhance human well-being and meet the basic needs of all people, with particular attention on the needs and empowerment of those who are vulnerable, oppressed or living in poverty.

The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) today announced its plans to continue its popular annual tradition of celebrating National Social Work month in conjunction with annually scheduled events conducted by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Ginger Pryor, DFCS Interim Director stated, “As we in Georgia move toward a State of Hope, with DFCS touching the lives of one of every five Georgians, the service of social workers are needed now more than ever before. During Social Work Month, we hope you will show support for our social workers as they seek to continue improving the lives of individuals and families.”

Some of the media related products that will be launched in relation to the celebration are:

NASW “Social Work Talks” Podcast: NASW will launch a “Social Work Talks” podcast series in March with the purpose of informing, educating and inspiring the social work community. The Podcast will feature news about NASW policies, services and products and highlight influential social workers from around the nation.

Television/Video Public Service Announcements: NASW has released two 30-second TV public service announcements that show how social workers help people overcome life’s challenges and highlight the achievements of the social work profession. Social workers and their allies can share the video on their social media channels or ask their local TV stations to air them.

Social Media Thunderclap: NASW will host a social media Thunderclap on March 1 that will let thousands of social workers and their supporters around the nation and world share positive messages about the profession on the first day of Social Work Month.

Media Awards: NASW will honor news and magazine articles, TV shows, films and other media that show how social workers are effective advocates, champions and leaders.

Merchandise: Social Work Month merchandise will be used to promote the “Social Workers: Leaders. Advocates. Champions” theme. Jim Coleman LTD is the official vendor.

This year’s month-long fête will launch on Thursday, March 1, and will continue throughout the entire month. For more information about National Social Work Month and how you can get involved, visit socialworkmonth.org.

About Georgia DFCS
The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) investigates reports of child abuse; finds foster and adoptive homes for abused and neglected children; issues SNAP, Medicaid and TANF assistance to low-income families; helps out-of-work parents get back on their feet; and provides numerous support services and innovative programs to help families in need.