March is National Social Work Month with a 2022 theme: The Time is Right for Social Work. The social work profession for decades has been dedicated to improving human well-being and enhancing the basic needs of all people—especially the most vulnerable among us.

Social workers encourage and assist people every day—whether in person or remotely—to access and participate in social safety net programs that offer the best options and services for their health and well-being, ensuring improved health care and mental health care for all. Social workers work in all facets of our society to meet people no matter their circumstance and empower them to live to their fullest potential.

Social workers from hospitals, home health agencies, doctor’s offices, senior living facilities, nursing homes and service organizations contact the Johnson County Area Agency on Aging every day for services. Information specialists take the calls, offer options, and start the process to refer Johnson County residents in need to our eligibility and options specialists who assess and advise aging adults and people with disabilities looking for in-home services, assisted living, nursing home care and a wide variety of long-term care resources.

Outreach Services staff connect individuals with disabilities and low-income residents to supportive in-home services, transportation, utility assistance, food pantries and community resources that support their independence, dignity and self-sufficiency.

In recognition of the numerous contributions made by America’s social workers, we celebrate the month of March 2022 as National Social Work Month and call upon all citizens to join the National Association of Social Workers and Johnson County’s Aging and Human Services Department in celebration and support of the social work profession. Particularly in this time of health and economic challenges, we are happy to recognize the efforts and accomplishments of social workers. In accordance with the theme for the month, we proclaim: “The time is right for social work!”

Read about the National Association of Social Workers at socialworkers.org/About.