Leading the Way: Social Work Redefined

How can I help? That is the question at the heart of the field of social work. The question drives social workers as they engage on a daily basis with some of the most challenging issues in our society. It also propels them into roles that some may find surprising.

Sitting down with a social worker at a nursing home to explore the services that are available for an aging parent would seem normal. It also might seem normal to findsocial workers serving as case managers at a homeless shelter. Those are the types of social workers that most have seen in action.

But would you expect to find social workers at the forefront of the development of virtual reality and the metaverse? Or leading national efforts to legalize and decriminalize cannabis use? Would you imagine social workers are leading financial conversations in the workplace, even serving as CFOs? These are just a few of the hidden spaces in which social workers change the narrative about what the profession does.

More than case management: The broad spectrum of modern social work

"The biggest challenge we face is a broad misunderstanding of what the profession of social work does and the depth and breadth of the contributions social workers make to the communities they serve," says Jennifer Thompson, Executive Director of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. "Most people see social work through a singular lens—either how they have interacted with a social worker or how they've been portrayed in the movies. But the reality of the profession is that social workers are highly skilled researchers, academics, community organizers, and more."

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was founded in 1955. It is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with more than 120,000 members. The New Jersey Chapter (NASW-NJ) is the second largest chapter in the nation. Thompson brings more than a decade of service in programmatic, advocacy, and management roles in both the nonprofit and public sectors to her position at the NASW-NJ.

"There is not one space or place where social workers cannot be found contributing on a daily basis," explains Thompson. "Most individuals come in contact with a social worker regularly. Social workers can be found in schools, hospitals, community organizations, higher education, police departments, and the human resources department of your company. The list goes on and on."

Leveraging the skills that social workers bring

"When we think about all the challenges before us, both in this country and beyond our borders, in the nonprofit and for-profit space, it is clear we are at a pivotal point," says Dr. Widian Nicola, LCSW and President of NASW-NJ. "Communities are building back after the pandemic. Companies are adapting to the evolving needs of their consumers who are seeking to support companies and products who share similar values."

The fact that social workers are being found in unexpected spaces does not mean that they are no longer involved in the spaces where they have traditionally served. Many people who seek out mental health services will still most likely engage with a social worker. In fact, 60 percent of the mental health services in the US currently are provided by social workers. Addiction therapy, domestic violence relief, and child protective services are other traditional areas where social workers continue to provide their services.

Rather, the skills of social workers are now being understood and leveraged in different spaces, and most likely will continue to expand into new spaces, because social workers continue to apply their unique passion and skillset to the needs of a changing culture. The question of how to help people and communities remains the same. Finding the answer, however, requires that social workers continually face new challenges and enter new forums.

Inviting social workers into the corporate space

Another misunderstanding of social work is that its value lies solely in the public or non-profit sector. The unique skills that those with training in social work exhibit can contribute significantly to the effectiveness of any corporate team.

"There is not one department in any company that would not benefit from a social worker's unique training, skills and expertise," says Thompson. "Those with a background in social work bring invaluable skills in innovation and communication, as well as a nuanced understanding of human behavior and a unique lens and approach to building and growth."

"Social workers are leading companies and rounding out leadership tables, bringing critical insight on community issues and elevating the needs of the general public in these decision-making meetings," Dr. Nicola adds to Thompson's point. "We are finding social workers leading financial discussions; we see social workers leading diversity and equity work in corporations. Now, more than ever, our profession is needed. It's a call for all leadership tables to discard what they thought they knew about social work and think about ways in which our unique skills may support their multidisciplinary teams."

For private sector companies, inviting those with a social work background to the team may require looking beyond the obvious. While other applicants may have more immediately represented experience, few will have a better framework for understanding and addressing concerns such as environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) that have come to be critically important in the business world. For those who understand that a company's success relies on healthy relationships – both internal and external – leveraging the skills of social workers can easily be seen as a best practice.

"Social workers today are not only on the front lines, but also in corporate America. Our skills in critical thinking, the ability to partialize as well as problem solve are essential and help round out every leadership table. Social Workers continue to provide families, individuals, and communities the support they need to navigate systems and flourish, but we are also helping change the systems in which they operate," said Mit Joyner, MSW, LCSW and President of the National Association of Social Workers.

There are very few major issues being confronted today around the globe that are not benefitting from the contributions of social workers. In expected and unexpected ways, social workers constantly are making progress in their quest to help people to live better lives.