NFPA RECOGNIZES NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH 2023

As this March, National Social Work Month, is winding down, the NFPA asks that all of us who are foster and adoptive parents, kinship caregivers, and colleagues from other disciplines recognize the unique contribution that social workers make to our families and communities.  The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) has selected “Social Work Breaks Barriers” as the theme for this year.  This is because the 700,000 social workers nationwide try to break barriers to help people live better lives. They work round the clock in emergency response and protective services to try to keep children and parents together. When families have to be separated, they must know how to help children join our families. None of us could be foster or adoptive parents or kinship caregivers without social workers who have the knowledge and skills to recruit, assess, train, and support us.  Social workers also are charged with the responsibility of helping us keep children safe.  They facilitate the teamwork essential for family reunification or adoption. 

The Many Roles of Social Workers

In addition to the social workers we know through child welfare services, many thousands of social workers have other roles. They help people get jobs and housing.  They provide veterans and their families with critically-needed services.  When most of us were quarantined at home, social workers were out in their communities making sure children and at-risk youth were attending classes over Zoom; providing food and other resources to the elderly; helping those with substance-use disorder get the help they needed to stay sober; and helping tens of thousands of people of people stay connected to loved ones quarantined in nursing homes or at hospital. They continue to break barriers by advocating for student-debt relief, equal rights for all, and improving delivery of health care and mental health care. These helping professionals work everywhere —including in local, state, and federal government. They teach in Schools of Social Work. Some are in state and local governments and Congress advocating for policies that reflect the six major principles of their Code of Ethics:  being competent, providing dignity and integrity, supporting relationships, providing services, and advocating for social justice.

Social Workers Need Support, Too.

Social workers need our support. They deserve higher salaries and more programs, such as student loan forgiveness, that make it easier for people to enter, work, and remain in the field. You may want to consider contacting your lawmakers and urging them to support the Improving Access to Mental Health Act and the Social Work Reinvestment Act, legislation that would support the profession. During National Social Work Month and beyond, please learn more about the social workers you meet and how you can be a valued member of their teams. 

Like Us, They Make a Difference.

Sometimes people want to know what social workers make. The answer is: like us, they make a difference. 

More Information?

For more information about social workers, please contact the National Association of Social Workers:  www.socialworkers.org.

--   Compiled by Foster/Adoptive Parent and Social Worker Eileen Mayers Pasztor, DSW

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A special thank you goes to each of our 2022 Strength Conference Friends!

Get to Know our Executive Director, Arnie Eby

Arnie is known as 'Mr. Arnold' to over 130 children in foster care that joined the Eby family over the years; ‘The Monster' in roughly one million (and counting) games of monster tag; and as just 'Arnie' to his friends. He has been married to his wife Donna for 30 years, and together they have been foster parents for over 20 years, including three foster children (ages 5, 7 & 9) through the COVID-19 pandemic. They are the parents to three daughters and three sons, four of which are adopted from the foster care system.

Arnie most recently served as the Executive Director of the Maryland Resource Parent Association (MRPA) and has been involved with MRPA in various capacities since its inception 17 years ago. He is also the past Chair of the Maryland Children’s Justice Act Committee, and serves on multiple other national, state, and local government committees, including as the current Public Policy Chair for the National Foster Parent Association. The NFPA is excited to bring Arnie's leadership and expertise onboard.

Please join us in welcoming Arnold “Arnie” Eby to the National Foster Parent Association!  

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