March is the month to celebrate women, per Womenshistorymonth.gov March 8 is Women’s’ International Day. March is also ‘Celebrate Social Workers month’. In the National Association of Social Workers, the professional organization uses the 2023 theme: “Social Workers Breaking Barriers” which hi-lites the persistent, compassionate mental health work that social workers and paraprofessionals perform daily.
Six decades have passed since Professor Biestek, NASW founder introduced his seven principles – individualization, purposeful expression of feelings, controlled emotional involvement, acceptance, non-judgmental attitude, client self-determination, and confidentiality. These 7 core principles are alive and active in the hearts of most every individual involved in the social work field. Their dedication is needed more than ever today.
Social workers and paraprofessionals are neglected when it comes to monetary compensation: According to the NASW study, the median annual salary for social workers that have earned a graduate degree $48,000. For individuals with a master’s degree. In Texas, the average salary for a newly licensed social worker is only $56,225. This field is not for the faint of hearts or those chasing the almighty dollar. Most do it for a passionate need to help others and to ‘Be the Voice of the Voiceless.’
As the need for mental health assistance and advocacy increases across the nation, so does the need for these earth angels. The more knowledge we have of what causes and can contribute to mental health afflictions, the more societal barriers are broken regarding this once-taboo subject.
