by Dr. Veronica L. Hardy, LCSW
Annually, we’re excited for the month of March! Why? It’s a particular time to have fun social work and the legacy of contributions and providers offered throughout the globe. The 2022 Social Work Month theme has been “The Time is Proper for Social Work.” Because of this, by means of this Imaginative and prescient. Intention. Technique. Your Social Work Mentor collection, I wish to use this area to have fun you and all of your achievements throughout this TIME.
Over this previous 12 months, you might have supported many in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has included new strains. You will have developed programming to reinforce consciousness and prevention, in addition to navigating grief. In class environments, you supported college students and households in persevering with their schooling in each digital and face-to-face strategies. In medical settings, you served as coordinators for providers and advocates in navigating the healthcare system.
Over this previous 12 months, you might have stood on the entrance traces for social justice in confronting inequalities, together with financial, racial, and gender, to call a number of. You raised your voices to pursue insurance policies that promote change and made your self current throughout alternatives for advocacy. Moreover, your attain stretched throughout waters to deal with world points, together with immigration, nations dealing with battle, and people affected by pure disasters. By means of your information, abilities, and talents, you might have actively engaged in actions in pursuit of worldwide justice.
Over this previous 12 months, you might have represented and elevated social work by means of mainstream media shops. You used your voice to speak in regards to the occupation by means of information appearances, YouTube channels, podcasts, and a lot extra. You immersed your self in conducting analysis and publishing so your colleagues and the broader group might keep knowledgeable about finest practices, modern intervention methods, and even forecasting group wants that could be on the horizon.
Over this previous 12 months, you might have been an innovator, an influencer, and a creator in ways in which contribute to the well being and well-being of your self and others. That is only a glimpse into how you might have represented social work! All through historical past, many social work pioneers have laid immeasurable foundations and paved the best way for our efforts at present. They’ve constructed unimaginable legacies that strongly characterize social work. Simply as with our admirable social work pioneers, you are also creating legacies throughout a time that’s proper for social work. In closing, I say, thanks to your TIME and contribution towards the longstanding legacy of the social work occupation!
Dr. Veronica L. Hardy, LCSW, is a Professor of Social Work at The College of North Carolina at Pembroke. Dr. Hardy is a social justice advocate, skilled advisor, writer, and mentor to new social staff and junior school members. She is the creator of The Social Work Lounge, a mentorship group facilitated by way of Fb.
