By 2060 one out of four people living in the United States will be aged 65 and over. Social workers are uniquely poised to serve the needs of our nation’s aging population, helping people who are older live a better quality of life and as independently and with as much dignity as possible.
NASW is deeply concerned about children who have migrated with or without their families from the Northern Triangle countries in Central America and are seeking asylum.
These children have been traumatized by the conditions in their countries, including gang violence. They have been further traumatized by having to flee their homes and, in many cases, being separated from their parents. Many also live with mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.
Social workers are at the forefront in preventing domestic violence and treating victims of domestic violence. Domestic violence is a serious problem in the United States although it remains seriously underreported.
The number of children in foster care in the United States dropped to 397,000 in 2012, down more than 20 percent in just a decade, according to the Children's Bureau. Part of the reason for this sharp decline is that more social workers and other social services professionals and child welfare systems are helping to preserve and strengthen families.