Contact: Kari Nye
kari.nye@maryland.gov
(410) 767-8592
DHR Celebrates Social Workers and Honors National Social Work Month
Baltimore—The Md. Department of Human Resources (DHR), the state’s human services agency, joins together with government agencies, universities, community leaders, and others across the U.S. in celebrating the nation’s social workers. Each March, National Social Work Month invites us to honor the invaluable role that social workers play in promoting service social justice, the dignity and worth of individuals, and positive human relationships. Nationwide, nearly 650,000 professionals identify as social workers—a number that is expected to rise in the coming years with increased demand for comprehensive healthcare.
“It’s with great respect that we honor the compassion, courage, and strength of DHR’s social workers,” said DHR Secretary Lourdes Padilla. “From protecting young children, to consoling families experiencing tragedy, to supporting adults in need, to advocating for important legislative advancements, DHR’s social workers are doing demanding, life-saving work.”
Across Maryland, DHR social workers and associated professionals serve more than one million residents annually. Their outreach, intervention, and follow-up reach veterans, children, families, vulnerable adults, and entire communities in need. They are considered the largest group of mental health care providers in the United States, and work daily to help people overcome substance use disorders, mental illness, and other barriers to health and prosperity.
“Social workers are on the frontlines protecting, helping, and healing our loved ones,” said Secretary Padilla. “We’re proud of DHR’s social work professionals, and we thank them for their work to keep everyone safe from harm.”
To learn more about the social work profession, visit the National Association of Social Workers at www.naswdc.org.
DHR—the Maryland Department of Human Resources—is the state’s primary social service provider, serving more than one million people annually. Through its 24 local departments of social services, DHR aggressively pursues opportunities to assist people in economic need, provide preventive services, and protect vulnerable children and adults in each of Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City. Additional information may be found at www.dhr.maryland.gov, or on Facebook and Twitter.
