Social Work Week Honours Those on Front Lines
Prince George, B.C. – The provincial government has recognized the important work social workers do in this province by proclaiming March 12-18 Social Work Week.
Photo courtesy UNBC
Dr. Glen Schmidt, a social work professor at UNBC, says the recognition is very much deserved.
“I think social work is a challenging job. You find social workers in a wide-range of program areas. You can have social workers in child welfare, at the hospital, in mental health, addictions, probation, parole, community development work, schools,” he tells 250News.
“It’s a very flexible position and social workers tend to deal with people who are very vulnerable, marginalized. The work can sometimes be a matter of life and death in some areas like child welfare for example.”
And often Schmidt says the work can be thankless too.
“When things go wrong, they’re often castigated and pilloried and blamed for what’s happened.”
To coincide with Social Work Week UNBC is holding a fundraising dinner to celebrate the legacy of Bridget Moran on Friday.
Funds raised will be used to establish an endowed UNBC Bridget Moran Bursary in Social Work.
“Bridget Moran was an activist and an author who helped to improve the lives of many people in northern B.C.,” says Schmidt. “The Bridget Moran Bursary will continue that legacy by helping to support students striving to obtain a professional social work degree.”
In 2004, a sculpture of Moran was unveiled in downtown Prince George to recognize her work.
Comments
sometimes they are their own worst enemies.
I have interactions with some and half are on a personal ego/power trip.
the other half actually seem to care.
Throughout my career I have dealt with a lot of social workers all over the province, found the only ones that were very good at their jobs worked in small towns and outlying areas, for them I had a great deal of respect. But, the others? Nuff said.
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