With the advent of March, students have a lot to look forward to: finishing midterms, enjoying spring break, and possibly returning to warmer weather.
For senior Shawn Pham, this month brings about new possibilities to further dialogue about well-being practices within the demanding field of social work.
“Social Work Awareness Month has always been about destigmatizing the work we do. Our work is about advocating for social and economic justice in underrepresented and underserved communities," said Pham
Pham believes that it is necessary to empower and uplift clients within his field, who too often, haven’t received the same affirmations throughout their livelihoods. This can lead to trauma and a worsened quality of life.
“We’re known as agents of change, which means taking the environment of a client and the context that they are in to empower them to make positive changes in their lives” he added
While being heavily involved in this line of work can bring about great change, the department of social work urges social work majors and practitioners to set aside personal time to relax and take time for self-care.
“It’s so important for social workers to really have a self-care regime because many [social workers] handle multiple cases at a time that can be emotionally charged and often result in second hand experiences to trauma,” said Pham
Students and faculty are encouraged to visit the social work office in Peterson Hall, where events and raffles take place every week this month to celebrate Social Work Awareness Month and bring light to the work social workers contribute to.
"By staying true to the values of social work, the National Association of Social Work (NASW) has coined the word ‘Elevate’ as the word of the month” said Pham
As a major part of well-being practices emphasized by the Social Work department, the values of self-care and obtaining cultural competency are also explored by the Study Abroad Office.
A well-being arts and business practices opportunity is offered in Japan this summer. Applicants are encouraged to apply by March 17, extensions may occur for those interested.
“With expressive arts therapy becoming more popular within the social work community, this study abroad trip embodies all the values that social work awareness month proudly represents,” said Pham
Expressive arts therapy is performed by taking creative mediums and implementing them as therapeutic practices for clients. The five main mediums typically used are art, music, movement, drama, and writing.
“It uses these mediums as a talking point and engagement activity for clients of all backgrounds, but anyone can truly benefit from it [expressive arts therapy],” said Pham.
For more information about Social Work Awareness Month and well-being resources, visit:
Social Work Awareness Information
March 14, 2019
