NORTH BRUNSWICK, N.J. – There’s nothing ordinary about our current state of the state, union, or global climate- but each day, hundreds of thousands of social workers are serving their communities and working tirelessly on issues that you see on the news every morning.

March is Social Work Month in New Jersey, and the professionals that occupy this space can be found in many roles and sectors of the workforce. From immigration reform, to addiction counseling, to child welfare, social workers fill a need for trained professionals in a variety of sectors. There are an estimated 682,000 active social workers in the United States, with 110,000 more expected to enter the profession in just seven years.

“Social workers are deeply embedded in the framework of our nation’s health care and social services systems,” says Tawanda Hubbard, President of NASW-NJ, the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. “Many would be surprised to hear that clinical social workers, for example, are the largest group of mental health care providers in the U.S.”

With extreme income inequality, one of the highest rates of disparity between black and white incarcerations, and a ravaging opioid crisis, there’s a particularly strong need for the efforts of social workers in New Jersey. During the last legislative session, the New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Social Workers took firm stances on a range of legislation that fought for the state’s underprivileged communities and residents, from implementing paid family leave to raising the minimum wage.

“This Social Work Month, I’m reminded of the tireless efforts undertaken by the profession to make a positive impact on our state,” says Jennifer Thompson, Executive Director of NASW-NJ. “In these extraordinary times, the ordinary service of our state’s social workers is needed more than ever.”

Despite industry-wide low compensation that lags behind similar professions, with Bachelor’s degree-earning social workers earning an average of $26,000 across the country, social workers continue to uplift their communities, advocate for social change, and fight for our most vulnerable populations.

ABOUT NASW-NJ

The National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey (NASW-NJ) seeks to enhance the professional growth and development of social workers, to maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies on behalf of the populations, clients, and communities that they serve. For more information on Social Work Month or NASW-NJ, visit https://www.naswnj.org/.