MARCH, THE MONTH OF HOPE

March

a month of wonder,

of

amazing happenings across our

Nation

around our

World

....

A month of

Awareness of many things

and

many I've thought about, talked about

and

today

I celebrate

NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH

and

want you to remember

those who have chosen

the path of

Masters of Social Work,

Licensed Clinical Social Work

and

walk the Social Work path and journeys

around the world.

Clinicians, researchers, practitioners

that have learned from pioneers

with rich histories

and who

each day

"Restore Hope"

as the power of social work

is celebrated in the month

of March each year

and the work is done

in offices, hospitals, hospices,

under bridges and in the streets and homes

and shelters around the world each day.

Social Work

restores hope, lends hands

and

skilled interventions

by those who have studied the theory

and

honed their educations into art

with fluidity of movement

as

they are invited into the lives of others

and those who have the courage to take the first steps by allowing

someone to offer hope.

There are so many

social workers that have made a great impact on the world;

have gained great historical prominence

are pioneers

and walked great uncharted paths

along the years.

Dr Bernice Catherine Harper is one of those pioneers, in the hospice and hospital world

and has made and continues to make a global impact.

Jane Adams, a Nobel Peace Prize Winner, and our beloved civil rights  activist and quite the hat wearer

Dr Dorothy Height, we miss her so.

...

Social Workers;

powerful and proud of their profession,

some loud and proud, others with quiet demeanor and steadfast in their work,

the majority

dedicated to what they believe

and to the greater good

of those they provide intervention

and

positive regard to

in

their care of

and

in empowering others.

The National Association of Social Work,

seated in the Nations Capital

to best shape policy and be a voice

on Capital Hill

with a strong membership

leading the way

as

advocates, as those who stand up.

Seven social workers in Congress lead the Congressional Social Work Caucus and champion equality and improved quality of life for our citizens and do not back down when it is uncomfortable, do step out of comfort zones

on behalf of so many.

Mary Labyak, CEO of Suncoast Hospice in Florida; a Hospice pioneer

was a social worker

a leader in the field of dying and death.

We will miss her

and

her advocacy, as the hospice world

continues her mission, vision

and

recognizes that all in life, dying and death

is circles rather than linear thinking.

Soical workers

are the ones who step up and step in

often providing the vast majority of mental health services in this country and are foten the only providers to the communities in rural areas.

And yes, it is true

those with MSW's, LCSW's, doctorates in Social Work

get rather how shall we say it?

...

Protective of their profession when those without the NASW credentials

call themselves social workers?

Yes that sounds good, let's go with that!!!

The breadth of social work is far reaching,

is hard earned,

becomes skilled and even finer in its care

by the lessons learned by those very folks we are honored to work with and for.

Most of us have been there,

we've learned from the front lines,

the secondary stress of bearing witness,

of seeing, hearing, smelling, taking it all in

and

going through it,

we form the drum line

and weave a tapestry of society's threads

of colors, textures, tastes...

We are there in the darkest hours, the frightening and traumatic times and when others face challenges, obstacles, and emotional, physical and spirtual upheaval.

Social Workers are the professionals

of

HOPE and Healing ways

and

today

that number is about

65,000 strong

of

Professional

Social Workers!

...

OK,

I'm not about to say

all are great, good, sterling

and

yes

there are exceptions to every rule.

BUT

I will say this,

without a world of professional Social Workers

the world would be a radically different place.

But your hands

over your eyes,

yes NOW.

That would be a world

without

Social Workers!

Social Work Month

and

if you happen to BE

a Professional Social Worker

THANK YOU

and

celebrate you!

IFyou happen to know a social worker,

Thank them for the work they do,

cos' trust me on this,

it ain't so easy

...

March 26 is annual Social Work Day

at the United Nations.

Students, Practitioners and Educators

will convene at the United Nations

to celebrate the efforts ot social workers around the world. the National Association of Social Work President, Jeane Anastas will be there to present her opening remarks and I'm sure she will share HOPE for the present and future to the U.N. as she sets the tone for

The Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development to the U.N. secretary general with Gary Bailey, IFSW president and past president of the NASW.

Oh what a world we have

in all its splendor

made more brilliant

and

hopeful

by the skills and art

of

Professsional Social Workers

in our world.

Walk in Beauty,

DRSES, (*LCSW*) with such pride!

www.sherryeshowalter.com

*thank YOU social workers for what YOU do and who you are*