Give Thanks to a Social Worker

March 2024

By Howard Olshansky, JFS Executive Director

I am frequently asked by students eager to enter the "helping profession" which field of study they should pursue. Many consider psychology, sociology, or, for the particularly ambitious, psychiatry. My recommendation is almost always social work. To be transparent, my suggestion may be influenced by my own background; I am a social worker, with both my undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work. I was fortunate, during my own period of uncertainty about what to major in, to have been steered toward a degree in social work.

Reflecting on all this is particularly timely because March is Social Work Recognition Month. Honestly, social work has historically been an undervalued profession, often misunderstood by the general public. Initially, society tended to view social workers as "welfare workers," those who assisted the poor by distributing welfare checks, food stamps, and so forth. This perception is not entirely unfounded, as social work indeed has its origins in aiding the impoverished. The history of social work in America can be traced back to the development of public programs during the 1840s and 1850s, aimed at addressing the challenges of poverty that emerged in rapidly growing cities and were exacerbated by the steady influx of immigrant populations to the United States.

Over the years, the social work profession has evolved to become the most influential field impacting human service needs.

Social workers are integral to service delivery across a wide spectrum of areas, making their presence felt in virtually every aspect of societal support. Consider the diverse arenas where social workers make a significant impact:

In the financial and educational sectors, they provide crucial guidance and support. Social workers play a vital role in the criminal and juvenile justice systems, immigration services, and housing assistance, ensuring individuals and families receive the support they require.

Their contributions extend to addressing domestic violence, supporting veterans, advocating for animal protections, and safeguarding child welfare. They are also at the forefront of services for the aging population, individuals with disabilities, and many more areas.

The list is extensive, underscoring the fact that social workers are involved in every one of these domains. However, since this column focuses on mental health, I want to highlight the significant impact social workers have on meeting the mental health needs of our society.

When considering mental health treatment, many people's thoughts turn first to psychiatry. However, the role of psychiatry in mental health care has increasingly focused on medication management, a shift influenced by the evolving landscape of medical care and insurance policies. While medication is undeniably a critical component of mental health treatment, it's important to recognize that a range of professionals, including psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists, contribute to this field. Yet, it is social workers who stand out as the most prevalent providers of mental health treatment today.

A 2021 study reported by Psych Central found that there were 708,100 social workers offering mental health services in the US, with counselors being the next largest group at 351,000.

The influence of the social work profession on mental health care is profound. Social workers have led the way in specialized interventions, particularly in treating trauma, and in applying researched evidence-based interventions. Beyond treatment, social workers have also made significant contributions to mental health through advocacy, education, and raising community awareness. They have been staunch advocates for parity in mental health services, fighting for insurance coverage for mental therapy and working tirelessly to destigmatize mental health issues.

So, let's extend our heartfelt appreciation to social workers. It's highly probable that at some stage in your life, you've been positively affected by the work of a social worker. Moreover, for those among the 20% of the population with a mental health diagnosis, it's very likely that your therapist was a licensed social worker.