The need for social workers is great. There are nearly 720,000 social workers in our nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that number is expected to grow by 12 percent by the end of the decade, making social work one of the fastest-growing professions in the nation.
Social workers have been an integral part of our nation for decades. Social workers played critical roles in the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements. They pushed for social programs we now take for granted, including the minimum wage, a 40-hour workweek, Social Security and Medicare. The time is always right for social work. However, more people are entering the field because the life-affirming services that social workers provide are needed more than ever. Read more on the History of Social Work.
Throughout U.S. history, social workers have:
- Fought for civil and voting rights for people of color
- Protested American intervention in wars
- Achieved the minimum wage and safer workplaces for poor people
- Expanded reproductive and employment rights for American women
- Supported marriage and employment protections for LGBT people
- Advocated for immigrants seeking asylum
- Pushed for sensible gun laws and anti-violence initiatives
Raised awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment - Fought for client privacy and mental health services
Why here (Prince William Country Area): With a population of over 8.5 million and a social work labor force of nearly 18,000, Virginia offers many options for finding employment in social work.
Aspiring professionals interested in pursuing a career in the field should carefully review the various educational paths and licensure for social workers in Virginia.
The Virginia Board of Social Work regulates and sets standards for licensed social workers in Virginia. The overview below provides information on becoming a social worker based on the Virginia Board regulations. Licensure Process Handbook.
Why us (Marriage and Family Therapy Solutions): Through a grant from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), Marriage and Family Therapy Solutions have partnered to implement the Equity at Intercept 0 project. This project’s aim is twofold:
- Increase participation of providers of color in crisis services
- Increase the number of students of color seeking jobs in crisis services
We are in the preliminary stages of launching this exciting project, and I am super excited to get this project off the ground! We wanted to keep you informed; follow us on social media!
If you would like to hear more about how you can help answer the call to improve the quality of behavioral health crisis response in the Greater Prince William Area, please contact us at Laurie.wilson@mftsva.com and sign up here for our Newsletter.