During Social Work Month take time to learn more about the many positive contributions of the profession.
Advocating for our patients on a daily basis
The theme of Social Work Month 2023 is “Social Work Breaks Barriers,” which underscores the innovative ways in which social workers for more than a century have empowered people to overcome challenges so they can live to their fullest potential.
People become social workers because they have a strong desire to help others and make society a better place. Social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). More than 700,000 professional social workers are hard at work nationwide, but that number is expected to rise to almost 800,000 by 2030.
Kaleida Health’s dedicated team of social workers are stationed at our hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, school-based health centers and the Visiting Nursing Association of WNY. They assess a patient’s ongoing needs and work in partnership with the clinical staff and other departments to implement and coordinate multidisciplinary care and services for the patient in a time-efficient manner.
Our social workers provide comprehensive admission and discharge planning. They listen and act on the patient’s behalf to facilitate a positive outcome, ensuring that a patient’s rights and dignity are upheld, advocating for their personal care needs, and promoting interagency communication and coordination to achieve continuity of care in service to our community
Each day, social workers break barriers in a plethora of innovative ways that help millions of Americans live their best lives. Social workers also work in politics and in communities to improve living conditions for all. During Social Work Month we urge you to educate yourselves about this amazing profession, thank the social workers in your life and help support the profession.
Photo above: Mervat Kassis (subacute rehab) and Ellen Glanowski (long-term care) from the DeGraff Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility.
Door decorating at Hillery Park, PS # 27 (l to r): School-Based Health Center medical assistant Aishia Murphy, social worker Emilie Tothero and nurse practitioner Kim Utech.
Open house night.
Nadine Jensen, social worker, working the phone at Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center, PS # 99.
The social work team at Buffalo General Medical Center.