NASW Celebrates National Professional Social Work Month in March

Campaign Highlights How Social Work Supports Individuals, Families, and Communities with Results that Benefit Everyone

WASHINGTON Today, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) proudly announced the kickoff of National Professional Social Work Month 2004.

The theme of this year's campaignThe Power of Social Work: Pass It Onis intended to help the general public better understand the profession of social work, how it provides for individuals who need help, and how this process benefits everyone in society.

Social workers tackle some of America 's most difficult and complex problems through training and dedication, according to Gary Bailey, MSW, president of NASW.

In the United States, there are approximately half a million social workers actively involved in helping individuals with various needs in areas such as health, mental health, diversity and cultural issues, international human rights, youth and schools, aging, children and families, and poverty and social justice. According to government sources, clinical social workers are the largest providers of mental health therapy and services in the nation.

To honor the achievements of social workers, and to bring light to issues faced by social workers every day, NASW is celebrating National Professional Social Work Month with the following:

• The third annual Social Work Month Gala this year honoring health care social workerswill be held on March 11, 2004, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, director, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, will be the keynote speaker.
• The Battle for Social Welfare: Enormous Stakes in the 2004 Presidential Election (a one-day conference sponsored by the NASW-New York City Chapter) will take place at Fordham University's Lincoln Center Campus on March 13, 2004, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Speakers will include William Greider, national correspondent for The Nation ; New York City Council Member Margarita Lopez; and Gloria Totten, executive director of the Progressive Majority, in Washington, D.C.
• The Social Work Public Education Campaign planned to launch during Social Work Month 2005which will communicate the importance and value of social work in every community, is currently in the research and planning phase. Each week in March, a survey will be taken on the NASW Web site ( www.socialworkers.org ) . NASW encourages participation in this endeavor, which will help shape the direction of the campaign.

NASW will continue efforts to expand the opportunities for promoting social work well into the next year by pursuing the launch of a national public education campaign.

While Social Work Month is a good opportunity to focus efforts, says Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH, NASW executive director, we must continue the work of highlighting the profession every month of every year.

For more information about National Professional Social Work Month, please visit www.socialworkers.org or contact NASW Communications at media@naswdc.org

The National Association of Social Workers Insurance Trust is an entity created in 1967 by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for the purpose of designing, securing and overseeing high quality, competitive insurance programs that are offered to the NASW membership. Through the Trusts insurance programs, the Trustees strive to creatively meet the changing and diverse insurance needs of social workers, thereby enhancing the value of NASW membership as well. The Trustees, who are five social workers, are fiduciaries and are ever mindful of their commitment to maintaining the financial stability and fiscal integrity of the NASW Insurance Trust.