(CMR) The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) will celebrate and highlight social workers' importance to the community during Social Work Month in March.
“This year’s Social Work Month theme, ‘Social Workers are Essential,' reflects the vital function social workers have in preserving the emotional and physical resilience of the nation,” said DCFS Director Paulinda Mendoza-Williams.
Mendoza-Williams said social workers have been instrumental in helping people to cope with this pandemic.
“As professional social work practitioners, we are trained to support individuals, families, groups, and at times of crisis the whole community. During the lockdown, DCFS staff operated the Older Persons Helpline, which was an essential resource for the vulnerable. Additionally, social workers provided counseling and support to occupants of government quarantine facilities, along with managing new and existing cases that addressed family issues, child safeguarding, youth justice matters, and seniors’ concerns,” she added.
Throughout March, social workers will be recognized globally for their role in government, schools, the health service, crucial private practice, and the justice sectors.
Locally, Social Work Month will also educate the public about the Department’s social work teams' community-sustaining work, including the Elderly Services Unit, Community Development Services, Youth Services, Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), Adoption, Foster Care & After Care, and Family Services.
Throughout the month, there will be team-building events specifically for social workers. There will also be key public events that include a Q & A Mix and Mingle at UCCI for social work students and interested public members.
Other community activities include work-life balance presentations, women’s empowerment workshops, and a wellness hike.
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