MADISON - Governor Jim Doyle today proclaimed March as Professional Social Worker Month in recognition of the hard work and dedication of Wisconsin's professional social workers. Throughout the month, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) will recognize the incredible contributions of these caring professionals and will highlight their impact on Wisconsin children, families, and communities.
"Social workers provide important services to Wisconsin families, helping to address critical issues such as child abuse, poverty, drug dependence and mental illness," Doyle said. "By raising the awareness of the important role social workers play in the success of our communities, I hope more people will consider this crucial profession."
Social Worker Month provides an opportunity to highlight the essential role social work professionals play in alleviating some of communities' most difficult problems. Through education, training and dedication, social workers provide assistance in many different areas of practice including health, aging, mental health, child welfare, cancer, end of life, adolescent health, HIV/AIDS and family violence.
Social workers from around the state were nominated by their peers for their extraordinary work in child welfare for the Second Annual Secretary's Caring for Kids Award. DCF received many nominations filled with touching stories of social workers helping Wisconsin children. The winners will be announced mid-March and recognized by DCF Secretary Reggie Bicha in a ceremony on March 23 at the State Capitol.
DCF will also highlight some of the extraordinary work of Wisconsin social workers through a Web site campaign called "Faces of Caring." Each day, a profile of a different social worker along with a story of their hard work will be featured on the DCF Web site, www.dcf.wisconsin.gov, throughout the month.
To learn more about professional social workers and the national campaign for Social Worker Month, visit www.socialworkers.org.
"Social workers provide important services to Wisconsin families, helping to address critical issues such as child abuse, poverty, drug dependence and mental illness," Doyle said. "By raising the awareness of the important role social workers play in the success of our communities, I hope more people will consider this crucial profession."
Social Worker Month provides an opportunity to highlight the essential role social work professionals play in alleviating some of communities' most difficult problems. Through education, training and dedication, social workers provide assistance in many different areas of practice including health, aging, mental health, child welfare, cancer, end of life, adolescent health, HIV/AIDS and family violence.
Social workers from around the state were nominated by their peers for their extraordinary work in child welfare for the Second Annual Secretary's Caring for Kids Award. DCF received many nominations filled with touching stories of social workers helping Wisconsin children. The winners will be announced mid-March and recognized by DCF Secretary Reggie Bicha in a ceremony on March 23 at the State Capitol.
DCF will also highlight some of the extraordinary work of Wisconsin social workers through a Web site campaign called "Faces of Caring." Each day, a profile of a different social worker along with a story of their hard work will be featured on the DCF Web site, www.dcf.wisconsin.gov, throughout the month.
To learn more about professional social workers and the national campaign for Social Worker Month, visit www.socialworkers.org.
