March is National Social Work Month—a time of reflection, education and involvement. For organizations like The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), it is a time to celebrate the work and contributions all around the nation.
NASW, founded in 1955, is the combination of seven different organizations that work in the discipline. Since its founding, NASW has done much to contribute to the recognition of those involved in social work from the college level to the professional world.
As a part of National Social Work Month, and in partnership with the NASW, APU’s social work program is featuring a number of events, programs and information sessions to promote both the social work program and current social issues.
Last fall, nearly 150 students on campus were reportedly either part of the social work major or in a major with a specified interest in social work. Because the number of social work majors on campus is just under two percent of the entire undergraduate population, the program has sought to increase its presence at APU.
Last Thursday in LAPC, the Department of Social Work hosted a forum dedicated to the discussion of poverty and its lasting impact on today’s society. This event promoted awareness and raised critical discussion points, as many attendees came from different backgrounds and points of view. Questions raised at the event ranged from the origins and definition of poverty to the nature of poverty itself to how to end poverty nationwide and globally.
Anupama Jacob, Ph.D., professor of social work at APU and one of the organizers of the event, highlighted the importance of the forum in producing well-rounded conversation among a number of individuals.
“The main goal of the poverty forum was to initiate an interdisciplinary conversation and discussion on poverty in America, particularly around the issue of defining and measuring poverty,” Jacob said.
The Social Work Club, made up of all social work students, also contributed to the event.
“[The forum was meant] to talk about poverty through a multidisciplinary lens,” said Jennifer Fraga, a senior social work major and president of the Social Work Club. “[The goal was] not to solve it but to have an open conversation. Social work exists to help those in the margins. [We] aim to lessen the gap that people put between different groups.”
For social work majors and APU students in general, National Social Work Month presents an opportunity to learn and converse about current issues, as well as consider future opportunities to become more aware of social issues.
For Fraga, the hope is to not only raise awareness about social issues post-graduation, but to make an impact.
“I want to work in policy to help create and change existing policies,” Fraga said. “I want to ensure policies are achieving what they were [meant] to achieve, and to fix ones that aren’t.”
As National Social Work Month continues, the social work program and the Social Work Club will continue to spread awareness and seek support for the program, social workers and current social issues.