Sample Op-Ed
Who do you consider to have strength? Every individual, family and community has strengths that help them face life’s difficulties.
When challenges loom for an individual, family or community, the tendency is to focus on what is wrong and how it got that way. Social workers look at challenges through a unique lens. By focusing on the abilities, resources and supports that are available, social workers assist people during challenging times.
Social workers support American families and communities by providing connections between the areas from which people draw their strength – home, health, family friends, and community. Social workers have the unique ability to look at the whole individual, family or community to identify factors that can contribute to success.
Throughout the year and during National Social Work Month, social workers encourage people to focus on the strengths and resources they have that will enable them to achieve their goals. This year’s Social Work Month theme – “Building on Strengths: Help Starts Here” – highlights the unique education and training of the nation’s 600,000 social workers who work with families and communities to assist them during challenging times.
[Optional section: provide an example of a local social worker who is building on the strengths of an individual, family or community to bring about positive change.]
Information about social workers and strengths of individuals, families and communities can be found at www.HelpStartsHere.org.
By [Name, Title, Organization]
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