Social Work Month Shines Spotlight on Profession of Hope

Kobi · 03-04-2013, 09:53 PM

Social Work is the profession of hope—fueled by resilience and advocacy. Social Workers matter because they help millions of struggling people every day dream differently.

In the United States, more than 650,000 of these highly trained professionals know how daunting and immobilizing life’s tragedies and obstacles can be. But they also witness the sheer determination of countless individuals and families to achieve different lives. Sometimes, all it takes to help people get on the right path is guidance toward what is possible. Other times, social workers are an immediate lifeline in crisis—providing access to resources and new life options.

Those served by social workers possess many strengths that keep them fighting for a better future despite personal and systemic barriers to success. They climb toward what is possible rather than simply accepting what the current situation may be. Professional social workers help combine these client strengths with effective personal and public advocacy.

It is with these concepts in mind that NASW has announced the theme for Social Work Month 2013 as “Weaving Threads of Resilience and Advocacy: The Power of Social Work.”

A Nation’s Fabric:

Our national fabric is comprised of many diverse lives. It is vibrant and strong because it has been woven from the stories of people from every continent into a compelling narrative of struggle, renewal, and success. Each thread helps make a brilliant tapestry that continues to be the envy of the world.

Stronger Safety Nets:

Resilience and determination alone cannot overcome all crises, but weaving those strengths with targeted advocacy often can. The Social Work profession has a distinguished history of not only providing social safety nets to the most vulnerable, but also challenging systems that impede social mobility.

Positive Futures:

Stories of hope in the face of tragedy share a common theme: better times are ahead. Illness, loss, abuse, and poverty shape our lives in profound ways, but how we learn to deal with each circumstance can determine how much those experiences define our limitations—or our opportunities.
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For my often unappreciated and unacknowledged colleagues.....thank you for hanging in there. You make a difference everyday.

DapperButch · 03-05-2013, 05:28 PM

Thanks for acknowledging us again this year, Kobi!

I also give thanks to all the social workers. I am amazed by those who can work in social service programs such as child protection. Hospice is a difficult road, as well. I think both of those areas take very special people.

femmeInterrupted · 03-06-2013, 01:12 PM

Spent over a decade in the Violence Against Women sector
Then:

Woman's Advocate/Counsellor, feminist counselling, frontline:
Residential Programs Manager: 30 bed Domestic Violence Shelter for Women and Children, over saw crisis line, 2 residential shelters, Child witness programming.

Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre, Manager, Co-ordination/creation of programs, crisis line management/back up, outreach and educational programming, Clinical supervision to frontline staff/counsellors.
Specialized in compassion fatigue/secondary trauma/burn out

Now:

Back at school this coming September.
Working towards a law degree.

This was just posted on my Facebook wall:

KCBUTCH · 03-06-2013, 01:20 PM

Thank you to all those in the helping fields, as an addiction counselor and soon to be a MA student working towards my LMFT I have found only gratitude and life lessons in my journey of service and I am grateful to know I am not the only one who is passionate about it...

RNguy · 03-06-2013, 01:46 PM

Love love social workers .
Extremely smart and the way they find loop holes to help clients out is brilliant!!!!!
Thank you social workers
Love,
NurseBdawg

starryeyes · 03-06-2013, 02:36 PM

I work in the field as an interpreter. I am able to walk in and walk out with any baggage and forget about it (or try to) while driving to my next job. I give mad kudos to all of the social workers out there. I don't know how they can do it everyday, over and over.

odd_boi_out · 03-07-2013, 12:52 AM

I'll be graduating with my MSW in June. Cool to see other social workers here!

03-04-2013, 09:53 PM	#1
Kobi Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: Biological female. Lesbian. Relationship Status: Happy Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hanging out in the Atlantic. Posts: 9,234 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,840 Thanked 34,617 Times in 7,640 Posts Rep Power: 21474860	Social Work Month 2013 Social Work is the profession of hope—fueled by resilience and advocacy. Social Workers matter because they help millions of struggling people every day dream differently. In the United States, more than 650,000 of these highly trained professionals know how daunting and immobilizing life’s tragedies and obstacles can be. But they also witness the sheer determination of countless individuals and families to achieve different lives. Sometimes, all it takes to help people get on the right path is guidance toward what is possible. Other times, social workers are an immediate lifeline in crisis—providing access to resources and new life options. Those served by social workers possess many strengths that keep them fighting for a better future despite personal and systemic barriers to success. They climb toward what is possible rather than simply accepting what the current situation may be. Professional social workers help combine these client strengths with effective personal and public advocacy. It is with these concepts in mind that NASW has announced the theme for Social Work Month 2013 as “Weaving Threads of Resilience and Advocacy: The Power of Social Work.” A Nation’s Fabric: Our national fabric is comprised of many diverse lives. It is vibrant and strong because it has been woven from the stories of people from every continent into a compelling narrative of struggle, renewal, and success. Each thread helps make a brilliant tapestry that continues to be the envy of the world. Stronger Safety Nets: Resilience and determination alone cannot overcome all crises, but weaving those strengths with targeted advocacy often can. The Social Work profession has a distinguished history of not only providing social safety nets to the most vulnerable, but also challenging systems that impede social mobility. Positive Futures: Stories of hope in the face of tragedy share a common theme: better times are ahead. Illness, loss, abuse, and poverty shape our lives in profound ways, but how we learn to deal with each circumstance can determine how much those experiences define our limitations—or our opportunities. ----------- For my often unappreciated and unacknowledged colleagues.....thank you for hanging in there. You make a difference everyday. __________________

03-05-2013, 05:28 PM	#2
DapperButch Roadster Guy How Do You Identify?: FTM, Stone Butch Preferred Pronoun?: He Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Posts: 7,745 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 26,545 Thanked 26,809 Times in 5,771 Posts Rep Power: 21474858	March is Social Work Month Thanks for acknowledging us again this year, Kobi! I also give thanks to all the social workers. I am amazed by those who can work in social service programs such as child protection. Hospice is a difficult road, as well. I think both of those areas take very special people. __________________ -Dapper Are you educated or indoctrinated?

03-06-2013, 01:12 PM	#3
femmeInterrupted Member How Do You Identify?: Queer femme Preferred Pronoun?: she works out well ;) Relationship Status: Happily married. Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ontario Posts: 812 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,885 Thanked 3,215 Times in 666 Posts Rep Power: 21474852	Profession of Hope! Love that! Spent over a decade in the Violence Against Women sector Then: Woman's Advocate/Counsellor, feminist counselling, frontline: Residential Programs Manager: 30 bed Domestic Violence Shelter for Women and Children, over saw crisis line, 2 residential shelters, Child witness programming. Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centre, Manager, Co-ordination/creation of programs, crisis line management/back up, outreach and educational programming, Clinical supervision to frontline staff/counsellors. Specialized in compassion fatigue/secondary trauma/burn out Now: Back at school this coming September. Working towards a law degree. This was just posted on my Facebook wall: __________________ "If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us walk together." Lila Watson You say you love rain, but you use an umbrella to walk under it. You say you love sun, but you seek shade when its shining. You say you love wind, but when its comes you close your window. So that's why I'm scared, when you say you love me. -- Bob Marley Last edited by femmeInterrupted; 03-06-2013 at 01:22 PM. Reason: added picture

03-06-2013, 01:20 PM	#4
KCBUTCH Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Undaunted QUEER Dom, Daddy Preferred Pronoun?: MYSELF, Syr, Hy, or friend prefered Relationship Status: Cautious, indifferent... Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Below the foothills above the beach Posts: 1,848 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4,240 Thanked 3,305 Times in 884 Posts Rep Power: 21474850	Thank you to all those in the helping fields, as an addiction counselor and soon to be a MA student working towards my LMFT I have found only gratitude and life lessons in my journey of service and I am grateful to know I am not the only one who is passionate about it... __________________ "If you want to know the secrets of the Universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration"-Nikola Tesla

03-06-2013, 01:46 PM	#5
RNguy Member How Do You Identify?: trans Preferred Pronoun?: He preferredably :) Relationship Status: the pitbull <€ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Birmingham, Alabama Posts: 1,058 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,473 Thanked 2,266 Times in 510 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	yayy Love love social workers . Extremely smart and the way they find loop holes to help clients out is brilliant!!!!! Thank you social workers Love, NurseBdawg

03-06-2013, 02:36 PM	#6
starryeyes Senior Member How Do You Identify?: a round peg in a square hole Preferred Pronoun?: Guess... Relationship Status: Seat taken Join Date: May 2011 Location: Rocky Mountain High Posts: 2,491 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,199 Thanked 10,049 Times in 2,075 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	I work in the field as an interpreter. I am able to walk in and walk out with any baggage and forget about it (or try to) while driving to my next job. I give mad kudos to all of the social workers out there. I don't know how they can do it everyday, over and over. __________________ "It's ok to make mistakes. It's ok to fall down. Get up! Look sickening....and make them eat it!" - Latrice Royale Starry

03-07-2013, 12:52 AM	#7
odd_boi_out Junior Member How Do You Identify?: transmasculine, butch Preferred Pronoun?: they Relationship Status: Single Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bay Area CA Posts: 25 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 4 Thanked 74 Times in 17 Posts Rep Power: 1055194	I'll be graduating with my MSW in June. Cool to see other social workers here!