Social Work Month Press Release 2024

Social Work Month Focuses on Empowering Social Workers as they Address Mental Health, Other Issues

The theme for 2024 is “Empowering Social Workers”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) will help lead the 2024 Social Work Month celebration in March with the theme “Empowering Social Workers.” The campaign will focus on ways Americans can support the social work profession as it addresses issues our nation is facing, including the need for more mental health services providers.

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CITY – (ORGANIZATION NAME) is helping celebrate this year’s Social Work Month in March with

the theme “Empowering Social Workers” and a campaign that will give the public ways to support the social work profession as it addresses issues our nation faces—including the need for more mental health services providers.

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People become social workers because they have a strong desire to help others. Social workers have a hearty sense of social justice and follow a Code of Ethics that calls on them to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people. They are particularly attuned to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.

Social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It predicts nearly 800,000 people will work as social workers in the United States by 2032, an increase of seven percent over the decade.

They are certainly needed. Several states and metropolitan areas have said they are experiencing a shortage of mental health services providers, including social workers, and social services staff to help people and families in economic distress find affordable housing and other services.

In addition, social workers are on the frontlines in helping our nation deal with an opioid addiction crisis and gun violence epidemic.

The annual Social Work Month campaign in March is a time to inform the public, policymakers, legislators, and employers about how social workers help millions of people every day, helping them to overcome life’s hurdles and live to their full potential. You will find social workers everywhere in our society, including hospitals and mental health centers, federal, state, and local government, schools, community centers, corporations, and social service agencies.

However, social workers need support so they can fulfill their mission to enhance human well-being. That is why the 2024 Social Work Month theme is “Empowering Social Workers: Inspiring Action, Leading Change.”

During Social Work Month and beyond, we urge supporters of social workers to press state and federal lawmakers to pass legislation that supports social workers and help boost their salaries, including the Improving Access to Mental Health Act and legislation to improve social work safety.

States should also pass the Interstate Licensure Compact, which would allow social workers to practice in multiple jurisdictions. This would make it easier for social workers to provide mental health services in states where there are provider shortages.

Other facets of the campaign can be found on the Social Work Month online toolkit at socialworkmonth.org. They include:

• An official proclamation that you can get local, state, or federal politicians to endorse.
• Merchandise celebrating Social Work Month 2024 from official vendor Jim Coleman Ltd.
• A draft Letter to the Editor that can be shared with news media.
• A Social Media Toolkit
• Downloadable videos

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“For more than a century, social workers have helped our nation tackle major societal challenges, including the push for equal rights for women, people who are Black and people who are LGBTQIA2S+. Social workers have also been behind initiatives we continue to benefit from, including Social Security, a minimum wage, Medicare, and improved workforce safety. Our nation continues to face challenges ahead, including a higher demand for mental health services. It is important that our society empower and support social workers so they can continue to help millions of Americans improve their lives.”