National Social Work Month
Supporting and uplifting individuals through life's challenges, offering a helping hand when it's needed most.
Celebrate and recruit social work talent while positioning your organization as a champion of mental health and community welfare.
- Spotlight employee social workers and their impact stories
- Partner with NASW on awareness campaigns around homelessness or mental health
- Offer pro-bono services or volunteer opportunities tied to March themes
- Highlight your organization's commitment to social welfare and employee wellness programs
National Professional Social Worker’s Month began in March 1963, introduced by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). This initiative aimed to raise awareness about the important role of social workers.
It gained formal recognition in 1984 when President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation, officially dedicating March to celebrating social workers. The NASW sought to spotlight the profession’s contributions and encourage public support through various campaigns.
The NASW, established in 1955, brought together several social work organizations to enhance professional standards and advocate for social policies.
Some past themes have focused on issues within society like AIDS/HIV, hate crimes, violence prevention, children in poverty, and homelessness just to name a few. In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, the themes for this month were geared more towards awareness on how social workers can help their communities.
The National Association of Social Workers sponsors this event each year intending to acknowledge those who are practicing and to help children understand the profession so that they might choose to make social work their profession.
Statistics from the Department of Labor stated in 2008 that the need for social workers has been expected to more than double in size. This was expected in the areas of substance abuse, home health care, school social work and social service agencies.