Washington—Today at the United Nations, social workers from all over the world will discuss the link between poverty and health in a family context. 

 “One role of social work within the context of health and poverty is community development," according to Terry Mizrahi, PhD, MSW, president of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). " Community development requires skills in a variety of areas including community analysis, social planning, community organizing, and social action.”

Another role for social work, Mizrahi notes, is community practice.  Poverty involves a complex set of interactions between personal characteristics and a community’s resources and opportunities.  Social workers can be the link guiding individuals and families to health resources within their community.

Research has shown that poverty contributes to ill health and health problems worldwide.  Of most importance to poor people within the context of family is the ill health of the family's breadwinner.  When its members remain healthy, a family is better able to learn, work, and ultimately make an effort to escape from long-term poverty.

NASW joins other social work organizations today to bring this important issue to light at the international level. 

Journalists interested in more information or to find a social worker as a source for a story, please contact NASW Public Affairs at media@naswdc.org.