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National Social Work Month is an annual observance held in March to recognize and appreciate the vital contributions of social workers. These dedicated professionals play a crucial role in our communities by advocating for social justice, providing support to individuals and families, and addressing various social issues.
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) defines social work as a profession that helps individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore their capacity for social functioning and creating societal conditions favorable to this goal. Social work practice involves the professional application of social work values, principles, and techniques to help people obtain tangible services, counseling, and psychotherapy, help communities or groups provide or improve social and health services, and participate in legislative processes.
In the United States, social work has been around for over a century, with notable pioneers such as Jane Addams, Frances Perkins, Whitney M. Young Jr., Harry Hopkins, George Edmund Haynes, Harriett Rinaldo, Antonia Pantoja, Diana Ming Chang, Dorothy Height and Jeannette Rankin.
Social work practice has 3 levels. At each level, social work professionals provide slightly different services to target populations.
· Micro social work: At the micro level, social workers provide one-on-one, family and small-group services addressing a wide range of social issues. These may include housing support, substance abuse counseling and mental health therapy.
· Mezzo social work: Social workers who operate at the mezzo level work with groups of people, such as in a school, prison, hospital, or neighborhoods. They may help students struggling academically, address substance abuse recovery with prison inmates or help coordinate care for patients who are admitted to hospitals for long-term care.
· Macro social work: Macro-level social work encompasses policymaking, research and community-based initiatives. Social workers at this level of practice are more likely to focus on and help address larger societal issues like homelessness, substance abuse, healthcare and more.
Social work is a diverse field with various specializations in different areas such as Veterinary, Aging & Geriatric, Military, Health/Medical and Managed Care, Child &Family, Criminal Justice, Hospice & Palliative Care, Substance Abuse & Mental Health, Developmental Disability, School, Administrative & Management, Occupational & Employee, Policy & Planning, Community, and so much more.
On March 22, 1984, exactly 40 years today, the White House under the administration of Ronald Regan officially designated March as National Social Work Month. This acknowledgment underscored the importance of supporting the profession and celebrating social workers’ contributions.
Triumphant Arizona Cleaver Stemons, pursued her Graduate & Post graduate studies at Howard University and at the Pennsylvania School of Social Work. She was responsible for chartering numerous undergraduate and graduate chapters throughout the United States. While she was a student at Howard University in 1920, she was one of the five founding members of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and its first president. In 1933, she accepted a position with the Philadelphia Department of Public Assistance. After 1933, she worked as a social worker in Philadelphia, working with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and for the city's Department of Public Welfare. Her words resonate even today:
“This country of ours must oppose movements that divide the races and seek an economy that will feed, clothe, and house the nation, without regard to race, creed, or national origin.”
These words emphasize the need for a society that transcends divisions and prioritizes the well-being of all its citizens, regardless of their backgrounds. It calls for an economy that provides for everyone, irrespective of race, beliefs, or where they come from. Triumphant Arizona Cleaver Stemons advocated for a society where everyone’s basic needs were met, regardless of their background. Her vision transcended time, urging us to work toward a world where compassion, understanding, and equality prevail. In summary, Triumphant Arizona Cleaver Stemons was not only a trailblazer in founding Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. but she was also a dedicated social worker and advocate for justice. Her personal life was intertwined with her commitment to making a difference, and her legacy continues to inspire us today.
It’s a time to recognize and appreciate the incredible contributions of social workers who tirelessly support individuals, families, and communities. These dedicated professionals advocate for social justice, provide counseling, connect people with resources, and empower others to overcome challenges.
May we continue to strive for a world where unity prevails, and where compassion and fairness guide our actions.
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