USC Partners with NASW to Educate Public about Social Work

Social work has an image problem. Most people know social workers help people. But, few believe they, or their families, will ever need the assistance of one. Many Americans think most social workers are employed in child welfare departments and other government agencies that only assist disadvantaged families or those in dire circumstances, according to research conducted on behalf of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

To change these misguided perceptions and increase awareness and respect for the profession, NASW recently initiated a historic national multimedia campaign designed to educate the public on the depth and breadth of social work practice. In support of the effort, the USC School of Social Work has contributed $10,000.

“As a school, we need to be involved in letting people know all the things we (social workers) do and what a viable profession it is,” said Carrie Lew, assistant dean for admissions and financial aid. “We’re happy to play a role in helping the public understand the value of social work and are hopeful this campaign will attract more people to the profession and improve employment opportunities for our graduates.”

Organizers believe this is a unique opportunity for social workers in all sectors to come together with one message – a message that reinforces social workers as committed professionals who connect people in need with important resources – in multiple settings. Through magazine and newspaper ads, radio and TV programs, materials sent to journalists across the country, myriad partner organizations and a new public website, the campaign will showcase the many ways Americans of all walks of life come in contact with social work services.

More Americans need to know that social workers are valuable resources for anyone who needs help navigating complex support systems such as patient education, end-of-life planning, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention, mental health counseling and employee assistance, among other services. Social workers are everywhere in every community—and they help all types of people every day.

St. Barnabas Senior Services, a field education site and research partner, was selected as one of six social service organizations to be featured in consumer magazine advertising and on the NASW website.

National Social Work Month

March is National Professional Social Work Month, a time set aside to celebrate the social work profession and one more chance to inform the general public of the contributions social workers make in creating positive change and improving human well-being.

Coinciding with the month-long recognition of the social work profession are the 2006 Annual Legislative Lobby Days in Sacramento on Mar. 19-20. Every year, USC sends MSW students to the state capital to learn about the legislative process, how to lobby legislators and make important political contacts.

For more information on participating in Lobby Days, visit http://naswca.org/legislative/legis.html. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Social Work Public Education Campaign, access http://www.naswdc.org/ for more details. Or, to support the efforts of the USC School of Social Work to educate future social work leaders and practitioners, email mwagner@usc.edu.

Rising Star
Esteban Juarez runs for NASW Board of Directors

Published & Presented

Alumni Notes
Buck Dodson
Suzanne Dworak-Peck
Amy Levin
Jan Nissly
Madelyne Pfeiffer

Please email alumni news to sweditor@usc.edu

In Memoriam
Chauncey Alexander
Sol Cordoba
Marjorie Tasem
Please email obituary notices to sweditor@usc.edu

Did You Know?
The USC School of Social Work has established one endowed chair and six endowed professorships in the last decade. This reflects an overall increase from one professorship in 1978 to today’s total of eight endowed chairs and professorships valued at $8 million.