Superhero Social Workers!
By Natalie Graham, FieldWorker.ai
What or who do you think of when you hear the term “hero”? Iron Man? Spiderman? Look, I think we all can agree these Marvel characters are in fact heroes. What about the more subtle heroes? Here, think of someone who made a positive impact on your life. Think of someone who made a positive impact on your community. Was it a teacher in grade school? A family member or friend maybe? A non-profit or charity organization? A mayor or governor? Well, for some people it’s their social worker or a social worker they know!
When they’re not focusing on all of the required paperwork and administrative tasks to do their job, social workers are responsible for assisting families and clients struggling with an array of issues. They are often involved in complicated and sometimes even dangerous situations. Despite that, several go to great lengths to serve their clients and communities. Let’s take a look at three heartwarming stories of some who did so:
- There was a 96-year-old World War 2 vet who lost his wife to COVID-19 and was battling the illness himself. A trained social worker in the US Army Reserves was dispatched to the NYC hospital in which the vet resided to provide counseling resources for patients battling COVID-19. There seemed little hope for this vet considering his old age and the fact that he was simply refusing any kind of medical care and food. The social worker was assigned to assist the vet, and they found common ground as they both shared plenty of stories and laughs about their experiences in the US Army. The social worker was such a good friend to the vet that he eventually started eating food and not resisting medical care. A little over a month later and he fully recovered from the COVID-19! At 96 years! All because of the endless support and love the social worker showed him!
- Janelle Posey-Green was a 37 year old social worker who started to notice the negative effects the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd were having on the black community. She wanted to make mental health resources and counseling more accessible for those in her community experiencing trauma due to systematic racism and police brutality. She created the Connecticut Black Mental Health & Wellness Initiative, which provided a safe space for people of color in her community to vent, interact with one another, and talk about their various experiences. Because of her initiative, several mental health professionals started launching free virtual forums via social media sites like Facebook that provided people suffering from racial trauma with strategies and counseling resources.
- And finally, there’s Stephanie Daniels-Wilson. She was a social worker for 20 years and decided to create a nonprofit organization called Dream Center and DreamCatcher Foundation with a former prostitute. This nonprofit provides survivors of sex trafficking with counseling, recovery, and resources for adjusting back into society. Back in 2010, she reached over 1500 women and helped 70 sex trafficked women leave their lives of prostitution. The impacts she had on her community were so eminent that there was a documentary created in her honor called “DreamCatcher.”
These are our everyday heroes! These are the people who are bringing communities together and inspiring the next generation of leaders! Let’s show support to our social workers and acknowledge their perseverance and sacrifice!
What is FieldWorker.ai? Answer: The best mobile app for Social Workers! Simplify your day to day with talk to text case notes, easy document upload, organize your tasks & reminders, schedule and stay on top of your UIR, ISP & MT reports all from your mobile phone!