March is National Social Work Month and Trellis Society is recognizing the powerful, positive impact social workers have on their clients and communities.

Social workers across the globe work hard to ensure all people are treated with the dignity, respect, and empathy we all deserve.

We celebrate and appreciate our incredible team of social workers who do life-changing work with children, families, and individuals every single day at Trellis.

We know hardship, loss, conflict, and trauma are unavoidable in life, and more people are experiencing overwhelming challenges such as homelessness, poverty, trauma, addiction, and mental illness than ever before. Fortunately, highly trained, caring, and trauma-informed social workers at Trellis are here to help people overcome obstacles and flourish into the future.

Social workers and other people working in human services provide crucial support to children, families, and individuals in need. Social work is not an easy field to work in, but the job is extremely rewarding and full of meaning.

Here are 5 things you might not know about social workers:

1. ‘Help’ Means a Lot of Different Things

Being passionate about helping others is important, but being a social worker requires so much more. People who are experiencing the most vulnerable time in their lives rely on social workers to connect them with resources and find solutions to complex problems. Social workers use their skills and expertise to promote good mental health, strengthen relationships, and end generational cycles of trauma and substance use, ultimately creating healthier families and communities. This can look like counselling, housing support, domestic violence intervention, parenting education, and so much more.

2. It’s More Than Just Children’s Services

More often than not, social workers come in to advocate and support a family or individual, not to bring a negative impact or remove children from the home. In cases where Children’s Services is involved, social workers provide services and support to the whole family to resolve conflicts and improve skills to reunify the family unit.

Social work has so many positive impacts from the community level, and you don’t have to be connected to a social worker for a negative reason.

3. They’re In It for Impact Not Income

While social workers make a significant and positive difference in people's lives daily, it is not a career path filled with financial riches. Most people are drawn to social work because they are passionate about helping others and doing meaningful work in the community. As the cost of living continues to rise, social workers also face financial difficulties, and the profession is often overlooked in relation to other human services providers like doctors, therapists, and executives in the field.

4. Every Day is Unique

There is no typical day for a social worker. Our social workers spend most of their time out in the community rather than in an office. Their schedule often consists of meeting with clients, supervising visits, completing training, and advocating for their clients’ needs. Behind the scenes, social workers also build relationships with other professionals in the field to provide more resources and connections for their clients and are diligent in following procedures and filing paperwork that protect and support the people they serve.

5. Social Workers Need Support, Too

Social work can be emotionally demanding, as clients are often experiencing very challenging times in their lives and healing from traumatic experiences. Practicing self-care is crucial for social workers to prevent burnout and maintain their well-being, enabling them to provide effective support to others.

• We can also support social workers in our daily lives by:

• Taking time to understand the complex and critically important field of social work

• Being aware of and understanding current social issues like affordable housing, the opioid crisis, and Truth and Reconciliation

• Stocking community pantries or donating to the Food Bank

• Volunteering with or donating to local social services organizations like Trellis Society, mutual-aid funds, and other community initiatives and fundraisers

As part of a diverse team of 450+ staff at Trellis Society, our social workers can provide support and guidance for you or your family. From housing solutions to financial empowerment, childcare to parenting education, youth outreach and cultural connections, Trellis is here to help you grow and flourish.