March is Social Work Month: Five ways social work impacts low-income seniors in Chicago
March is National Social Work Month
The theme for what is actually an eight month celebration is “Social Work Paves the Way for Change” and it will convey what NASW and the social work profession have done over the past six decades to bring about positive changes in society and for individuals.
Social Workers Play a Vital Role in Our Individual Lives and at H.O.M.E.
Social workers have worked to improve the rights of women, African Americans and other ethnic minorities, and the LGBT community. They have also pushed to strengthen the social safety net through programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act, and advocated for social justice initiatives such as the Voting Rights Act and the Community Mental Health Act
Chicago's Own Jane Addams is recognized as the founder of the social work profession in the United States.
Jane (September 6, 1860 – May 21, 1935) was a pioneer American settlement social worker, public philosopher, sociologist, author, and leader in women's suffrage and world peace.
Incidently, if you have been following us on Face Book or Twitter you will have noticed that Jane made it to round two in Super Senior Madness. Check it out, today's match up is between Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Jane Addams. Who do you think should win? Be sure to vote! http://hubs.ly/y0CZBB0
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) was founded in 1955.
NASW is the largest professional social work organization in the United States. More than 130,000 members call NASW their professional home because they can access resources that will enhance their professional growth in every phase of their career. From training and CE credits to credentials to ethical and legal guidance, NASW provides the information social workers need.
Gerontological social workers, make up only 5 percent of the nation’s half a million social workers.
The National Association of Social Workers reported ““The graying of America” has been a popular phrase in recent years as the number of older people continues to grow. Statistics project that by 2030, Americans 65 and older will actually outnumber their younger counterparts.
With the aging of the "baby boomer" generation and the lengthening of life spans, both the number and proportion of older people are rapidly increasing. Many of the health related problems that contributed to decreased life span have been combated. Yet, this same achievement presents new challenges in meeting the social, environmental, psychological, economic and health care needs of older adults.
These shifting demographics have created a greater demand for professionals with specialized knowledge and expertise in aging. Social work is unique among the health and mental health professions in that it considers the physical, mental, and social aspects of individuals—an approach that is critical to providing services to older adults and their families.
Gerontological social workers, who make up about 5% of the nation’s half a million social workers, can help older adults and their families maintain well-being, overcome problems and achieve maximum potential during later life. Social workers serve as “advocates” for older people, providing a vital link between older individuals and the services they need. Indeed, a key function of gerontological social workers is to promote independence, autonomy and dignity.”
Social Workers and H.O.M.E.
Social workers play an important role in our intergenerational housing, particularly at Pat Crowley House and Nathalie Salmon House. We are grateful for the social work assistance our residents receive from CJE Senior Life and the VA.
Interns from the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. also support our residents. They work directly with senior residents, and potential residents, of the shared living settings. Tasks include case management, 1:1 and group meetings with residents, home assessments, planning activities for residents, attending community and agency meetings, program evaluation, updating client-related Housing documents and procedures, and participating in weekly supervision. You can read more about our social work interns in a previous blog post.
In addition to what our staff and interns provide by way of social work skills some of our residents work with social workers from CJE Senior Life and the VA.