Social Workers Make a Difference in the Lives of Children in Foster Care

NASW Highlights National Foster Care Month, Potential Shortage of Social Workers

Washington – More than 168,000 social workers strive each day to improve the lives of children and families, particularly the half-million children living in the foster care system. In partnership with Casey Family Programs, the National Association of Social Workers recognizes the dedication of child welfare social workers during Foster Care Month.

“Social workers strive to determine the best placement for the child, whether that is with a family member or with a foster parent,” says NASW Executive Director Elizabeth Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH. “The biggest challenge facing foster care social workers is finding appropriate placements for displaced children.”

Foster care promotes the healing process by offering a stable and secure environment until the child can either return home or establish an alternative lifelong relationship with a caring adult, such as through adoption. National Foster Care Month honors and recognizes social workers and other caring individuals who work on behalf of our nation’s most vulnerable children.

Released in March, the findings of a national study by NASW’s Center for Workforce Studies of licensed social workers found that that supply of licensed social workers may be insufficient to meet the needs of organizations serving children and families. While new social workers are entering child welfare, this study found that it is difficult to retain them in this area of practice.

“Social work is the lifeline for children and families in need,” said William Bell, MSW, president and CEO of Casey Family Programs at the news briefing announcing the study results.

NASW is working on Capitol Hill on various legislative initiatives that support the thousands of children in foster care and the social workers who serve them. In particular, NASW supports the Kinship Caregiver Act (S. 985) that would assist the millions of children being raised by their grandparents and other relatives because their parents are unavailable to care for them. NASW is also working on social work recruitment and retention incentives through various student load forgiveness legislative initiatives.

A significant piece of the National Social Work Public Education Campaign is a comprehensive social work consumer Web site, www.HelpStartsHere.org, highlighting many practice areas, including adoption and foster care. For more information, visit http://www.helpstartshere.org/kids_and_family/adoption_and_foster_care/default.html

For more information regarding NASW, the Center for Workforce Studies, or child welfare social workers, please visit www.SocialWorkers.org.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, D.C., is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 150,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 145,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.