We need social workers now more than ever

On an average day, a person can flip through various news outlets and be bombarded with stories of horrific crimes, complex public welfare issues, gruesome international wars, and countless other stories of human tragedy. What the media often fails to highlight is what can be done to prevent and resolve these issues. Who would willingly take on such complicated and tragic events, hoping to make a dent in what seems to be a never-ending caseload in the world’s social issues? The answer is simple: social workers. Those who are trained in the social work profession are not only compassionate and fearless in the pursuit of social justice, but they are unique in that they use creative forces to aid those in need. This out-of-the-box thinking is exactly what is needed to take on the challenges that communities around the nation face.

{mosads}With complex social issues on the rise, the need for social work employment is expected to increase by 19 percent from 2012-2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Though social workers have an inherent passion for their trade, often the reality of the job is that it comes with high stress, lack of resources to get the job done, and low pay. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national median annual income for a social worker with a bachelors or masters degree in 2012 was $44,200. We have heard stories of increasing minimum pay for fast-food workers to $15 an hour, yet we are only willing to pay social workers a few dollars more while they go out and treat the mentally ill, remove severely abused children from unsafe homes, and tirelessly advocate for policy changes that will better an underserved population. The work that social workers do is not easy, and truly requires someone who is highly skilled and mentally strong. Even with the best of efforts, social workers do not always get the support or resources they need to do their jobs, which causes them to physically and mentally burn themselves out or quit. How then can we effectively ensure social work jobs are enticing enough to recruit and keep talented workers in the field, if the need is rapidly increasing throughout the nation? It is a complex question that is currently being looked at.

The Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr., Social Work Reinvestment Act (H.R.1378) was introduced March 2015 to Congress in an effort to identify policy issues on recruitment, retention, and development within the social work profession. The passage of this bill would establish a specialized commission that conducts research, creates grants, and generates outreach that will increase public interest in pursuing a social work profession. Concerted efforts by politicians may be the answer to attracting more individuals to the field and keeping them there. With the world in such disarray, it is clear that more social workers are needed and the passage of this legislation could aid in answering the call to the challenge.

Lopez is a child advocate for a California non-profit organization and working on a Masters of Social Work degree at the University of Southern California.