March is Social Work Month, a time to inform the public, policymakers, and legislators about how social workers have always broken barriers when it comes to the services they provide in an array of sectors, including hospitals and mental health centers, federal, state, and local government, schools, community centers, and social service agencies. People become social workers because they have a strong desire to help others and make society a better place. Social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). More than 700,000 professional social workers are hard at work nationwide, but that number is expected to rise to almost 800,000 by 2030, BLS said.
Each year, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) sets a theme for Social Work Month. The theme for Social Work Month 2023 is Social Work Breaks Barriers. Each day social workers help break down barriers that prevent people from living more fulfilling, enriched lives. They work on the individual level, helping people overcome personal crises like food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, or limited access to good health care. They also advocate on a systems level to ensure laws and policies are adopted so everyone can access such services.
Follow Rutgers School of Social Work on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to learn what this year's theme means to members of the School of Social Work community.
