This year, the focus of Social Work Month is on the important work of social work within systems. Whether it is providing frontline service delivery, or advocating for systemic change in keeping with the social determinants of health, social workers are integral to health and social program delivery.
Social Work Month Message from NLCSW Board Chair, Nadine Calloway
Nadine Calloway
In Newfoundland and Labrador, there are 1800 social workers practicing across diverse fields of practice. Every day, social workers use their knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide crucial services, programs, and therapeutic interventions to enhance the health and well-being of individuals, families, groups, and communities.
While the overarching banner for Social Work Month 2023 is Social Work is Essential, this year we recognize the important work of social workers within systems. Whether it is providing frontline service delivery, assisting clients to access appropriate services and supports, advocating for systemic change to ensure access to the social determinants of health, or engaging in policy development, social workers are integral to health and social program delivery.
Social workers in systems are leaders, doers, and change makers. Individually and collectively, social workers are making meaningful and lasting impacts in building a just and inclusive society. Social work truly is essential!
During Social Work Month, we recognize the essential services provided by social workers in our health and social systems. Regardless of one’s position or job title, social workers are connected through a shared commitment to the ethics and values of the social work profession. It is through this shared commitment that social workers uphold the rights of individuals to receive competent and high-quality social work services and to advance social justice.
Throughout the month of March, I encourage all social workers to take some time to recognize and celebrate the positive impact of the social work profession in organizations, communities, and throughout the province. I encourage employers to recognize and promote the valuable contributions of social workers within organizations.
During Social Work Month and throughout the year, RSW’s from across this beautiful province facilitate webinars for their social work colleagues. These webinars not only provide valuable continuing professional education, but it also allows us to shine the spotlight on the knowledge, skills, and expertise of social workers across diverse fields of practice. Thank you to all who engage their colleagues in continued learning opportunities.
Social work is a growing and thriving profession and one that is essential to the overall health and well-being of the people of this province. As Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador College of Social Workers, I wish all social workers throughout the province a Happy Social Work Month.
MHS, BSW, RSW
NLCSW Chair
Minister John Abbott also recognized National Social Work Month and the important work of social workers in our health and social systems - Minister Abbott Recognizes National Social Work Month - News Releases (gov.nl.ca).
Continuing Professional Education
In recognition of the month, NLCSW offered series of continuing professional education webinars. Recordings of all the webinars are now available on the NLCSW YouTube Channel.
In addition to continuing education opportunities, the following list offers more ideas for recognizing Social Work Month and the profession:
• Use social media to increase awareness of the month and the social work profession. Follow NLCSW on Twitter (@NLCSWca) and YouTube (@NLCSW).
• Add ‘March is Social Work Month: Social Work is Essential’ as your email tagline.
• Engage the community. Consider writing an article for a local newspaper or agency highlighting the social work profession.
• Explore ways to promote the work of registered social workers in your workplace.
• Donate to a local or provincial cause (pay it forward).
Announcing 2023 Award Recipients
CASW Distinguished Service Award: Henry Kielley MSW, RSW
NLCSW Pride in the Profession Award: Rita-Anne Voisey BSW, RSW
Learn more about the 2023 recipients at 2023 Award Recipients | NLCSW.
The award recipients were celebrated as part of a virtual event held on March 14. Speeches from the recipients will be published in the July 2023 edition of Connecting Voices.
Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) National Social Work Campaign
Visit socialworkisessential.ca to participate and share in all CASW has planned for National Social Work Month 2023.