Happy Social Work Month!

March 2006 Social Work Month
General Facts about Social Work

1. Social workers help people of all stages of life, from infants to the elderly, and in all situations, from adoption to hospice care.

2. You can find social workers in hospitals, police departments, mental health clinics, military facilities, and even in corporations.

3. Professional social workers are the nation's largest providers of mental health services.

4. More than 600,000 people in the United States hold social work degrees.

5. The Veteran's Administration employs more than 4,200 MSWs to assist veterans and their families with individual and family counseling, patient education, end of life planning, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention and other services.

6. There are more than 170 social workers in national, state, and local elected office, including two U. S. Senators and four U. S. Representatives.

7. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for social workers is expected to grow twice as fast as any other occupation, especially in gerontology, home healthcare, substance abuse, private social service agencies, and school social work.

8. 77 million people are considered part of the 'baby boom' population, which represents 27% of our population. In 2011, the first group of baby boomers will turn 65. Working with older adults can mean involvement with active, health clients as well as those who are ill.