UM SRH Population Health is helping celebrate this year’s Social Work Month in March in accordance with the theme “Empowering Social Workers” established by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
According to NASW:…
- 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), which predicts nearly 800,000 people will work as social workers in the United States by 2032, an increase of seven percent over the decade.
- At present, several states and metropolitan areas have reported 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 front lines in helping our nation deal with an opioid addiction crisis and gun violence epidemic.
Not shown are Melissa Kleppinger and Michelle Matthews.
At UM SRH, social workers assist in patient care in several clinical areas, including Case Management, Population Health, Palliative Care and the Cancer Program. But what does empowerment mean? A few responses to this question are:
“In my position at Shore Medical Center at Easton, I feel empowered every day. Whether it is working with the physician and nursing staff or with a patient’s families, I always feel empowered to speak up. When working on a discharge plan, it is imperative for our role to empower other team members to work towards a realistic outcome. Lastly, personal empowerment helps me get through the day and learn new, creative ways to meet patients’ needs.“ — Beth Lednum, LMSW, inpatient social worker, Care Coordination
“I do feel empowered as a social worker. Empowerment is core to the work I do with patients. I am supporting patients in having control over their lives, supporting the social work value of self-determination. I can’t empower others if I am not empowered in that same way myself. In my current role at Shore Health, with the Shore Community Outreach Team, my ability to work with autonomy when needed, to openly engage with upper management and advocate for patients, the organizational work being done to address social work pay disparity, and my own knowledge and ongoing education within the social work profession all make me feel empowered!” — Michelle Matthews, MSW, LCSW-C, C-ASWCM, social worker, Shore Community Outreach Team