Did you know March is Social Worker appreciation month? It’s okay, I know you didn’t. The only people who know are social workers themselves, but they are too tired to celebrate. So, I’m going to give the rest of you a few reasons to find a social worker and give them a big squeeze, a bottle of wine, and a Starbucks gift card.
I consider myself qualified to give you this list because I happen to be a former Social Worker! Although I don’t work in the field at the moment, I graduated from UC with a Bachelors in Social Work. My first job out of college was as a therapist in a county jail (I was woefully under-qualified but they said I could carry a walkie-talkie so I took the job). I could tell you all kinds of stories, but today I’m just here to give my fellow Social Workers some love and explain why you should, too. 
- Social Workers never get thanked. To say it is a thankless job would be an egregious understatement. Not only do social workers receive next-to-nothing in the gratitude department, they are usually dealing with an enormous amount of backlash and resistance from clients, the government, local authorities- you name it, we have probably had to fight it. Next time you talk to a social worker, just throw a ‘thank you’ their way. They might not understand you the first time, so be patient as they get used to hearing those words in that order. Once they catch on, they will appreciate the gesture.
- Social Workers don’t have time for self-care. When I was in school, we spent an entire semester talking about self-care. It was drilled into our heads and we graduated thinking of all the ways we would care for our physical and mental health once we were in the field. Oh, to be young and ignorant again. The truth is, most social workers are working such long hours it is nearly impossible to fit in any kind of self-care, which leads to high burn out rates and low morale. So, if you have a social worker in your life, take the time to lure them out of the house and buy them a nice dinner. They have probably been eating stale rice cakes with peanut butter spread on top for the past few nights as they get the last of their case notes written (speaking from experience here).
- Social Workers do way more than you think they do. I had no idea the scope of responsibilities I would have as a social worker. In my mind, my job was to ‘help people’. I had no idea how much help people would need. From being a payee to diagnosing and creating treatment plans, social workers do it all. We are everywhere, and most of the time people don’t even realize who we are. You might not even realize how many social workers you know. Here’s an easy way to tell if your friend is a social worker: she is probably wearing yesterday’s makeup, wearing a sweater that barely passes as business casual, carrying several assorted bags and backpacks to fit all of her case files in, and she is running late. Find that person and give her a hug. She is tired, and she could use it.
- Social Workers are paid next to nothing. I remember once I was working with a client to help her apply for financial aid of some kind. When it came to the box where we had to enter her income, I realized she made more than I did. That was humbling. My college degree would make you think that I would be paid generously for the ridiculous number of hours I put in week to week, but the reality is a lot of social workers are also working side jobs just to make ends meet. The only bonus of this situation is the general lack of dress code, because we all know we are too broke to buy new work clothes. Instead of donating your old clothes to Good Will, maybe find a social worker who shares your pant size and donate to her instead. Don’t worry, she won’t be offended; her old work pants probably have a hole in the knee and she’s been saving up for new ones.
- Social Workers are just the best. I could make this list go on and on, but here’s the bottom line: Social Workers deserve a heck of a lot more than one month of appreciation. They are in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, hospices, jails, and all over the community. Social Workers serve day in and day out and very rarely get much in return. They have to rely on pure passion to get through the day, because they don’t have enough money to buy Starbucks. They deal with the worst of the worst situations and still go home to their families with a smile on their face (most of the time). So, if you know a social worker, take some time out this month to do something special for her. It may not seem like much to you, but it will mean the world to them.
And lastly: To my fellow Social Workers- you are appreciated, and you are loved! You may not hear it as often as you should, but YOU are the people we couldn’t live without! You keep on doing your thing. And this month, take a little extra time to give yourself some love. You deserve it.
