The Future of Social Work

It may come as no surprise to you that right now, the median age of professional social workers is 50. Additionally, there is significant evidence to show that social workers are aging out of the field at a faster rate than new social workers are entering it. Even though social work school enrollments in Massachusetts have held steady, the future is uncertain. As a career social worker, I know first hand, the services rendered by our community are invaluable. And, we have to protect our place in society to promote our work. I am pleased to announce that NASW has taken significant steps to address this trend. Next week, the Massachusetts Chapter will launch a campaign to promote social work careers to high school and college students.

As a member of the MA Chapter’s Social Work Reinvestment Initiative (SWRI), I have had the pleasure of working alongside a Taskforce of devoted and creative members who developed a strategy for increasing the ranks of the social work profession as our senior members retire. Over the course of the last year, the SWRI Taskforce commissioned a 6 minute, broadcast quality, video that will be aired in local high schools and colleges throughout the state. The video is titled “This Could Be You: The Many Faces of Social Work.” I am proud to launch the video on Tuesday, July 20 at its premier at the home of our President and SWRI Taskforce Chair, Dr. Betty Morningstar.

I invite you to join us in our mission to secure the future of social work. For more information about the July 20^th event or the SWRI Taskforce, please contact Meagan Coons, 617-227-9635 x 14 or coons@naswma.org.

Best,

Carol Trust