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United Nations International Day of Families - May 15, 2009

Background
The United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 47/237 of 20 September 1993, proclaimed that May 15 of every year will be observed as the International Day of Families. It is an occasion to highlight the importance of families to societies and cultures around the world. This year’s theme is: "Mothers and Families: Challenges in a Changing World."

Family in its broadest sense can include two or more people who consider themselves to be family and who assume obligations and responsibilities that are generally considered essential to family life. Contemporary American families are an amalgam of many different lifestyles and many different structures. Families can include a mixture of race, culture, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientations.

The Role of Social Workers
The International Day of Families reminds us that strengthening and providing support to families are fundamental aspects of the social work profession. Social workers who view strengths and problems in a family and larger systems context often take a leadership role in developing comprehensive family services and policies. Others who provide direct services to individuals find that involving a person’s family support network is a key part of effective social work intervention.

Social workers in the field of family planning and reproductive health also play an important role supporting families and family decision making. Social workers advocate that potential parents should be free to decide for themselves, without duress and according to their personal beliefs and convictions, whether they want to become parents, how many children they are willing and able to nurture, and the opportune time for them to have children. For the parents, unwanted children may present economic, social, physical or emotional problems. These decisions are crucial for parents and their children, the community, the nation and the world. These decisions cannot be made without unimpeded access to high-quality, safe, and effective health care services, including reproductive health services (NASW, 2009).

Take Action
This Day of Families can be a powerful mobilizing factor on behalf of families in all countries. On and around May 15, a wide range of events are organized at local, national and international levels. These include: seminars and policy meetings for public officials; exhibitions and organized discussions to raise awareness of this year’s theme of “Mothers and Families;” educational sessions for children and young people; and the launch of campaigns to strengthen public policies that support families.

Get informed!
Click here for more information on the International Day of Families

Click here for more information about how social workers support families

For more information on universal access to family planning and reproductive health care, (the Millennium Development Goal #5), go to these links:
UN Millennium Goals
UNFPA
Global Health Council

Get involved!
Join the International Planned Parenthood Foundation campaign 15 and Counting!

15andCounting is a campaign to demand better access to sexual health services and education for everyone, regardless of your age, gender or where you live.
15andCounting is connecting young people around the world to work together for better access to sexual health services and information.
15andCounting encourages open and honest discussion to persuade governments to get serious about young people’s health and wellbeing.

Click here for more information

References
National Association of Social Workers. (2009). Family Policy. Social Work Speaks, National Association of Social Workers Policy Statements, 2009-2012 (8th ed., pp 134-139). Washington, DC: NASW Press.

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest organization of professional social workers in the world. NASW social workers provide humanitarian assistance for communities in transition, and develop policies to protect human rights both domestically and in international settings.

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2/9/2012