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• Social Work Month 2011
  • Social Work Month 2011 Toolkit
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  • GET INVOLVED! HELP PROMOTE SOCIAL WORK!
  • Get Interviewed
  • Recruit A Student
  • Secure Endorsements
  • Host/Attend an Event
  • Honor Colleagues
  • Network Online
  • Publish an Article
  • Promote Yourself
  • Fund National Advertising
  • Find a Partner
  • Social Work Month 2011 Photo Campaign
• NASW NEWS Articles
• November 2010
• January 2011
• February 2011
• May 2011 Round-up

Promote Yourself

Social workers can be uncomfortable with image management and public relations. However, marketing social work services is an essential function of both a successful business and an effective non-profit organization.

If you own a private practice, have you already developed a marketing plan to generate referrals? If not, think about where potential clients might be looking for someone with the services you provide. Online directories, including the Yellow Pages, partner organizations, and insurance companies are all places to consider promoting your services through advertising, networking and general listings. There are also numerous psychotherapist finder sites where social workers advertise their services.

If you are part of an organization, it is important to make sure that your non-social worker colleagues understand exactly what you do and what your contributions are to the team's success. Social workers are generally part of workplaces dominated by professionals from other disciplines (e.g., hospitals, schools, courts, agencies). Don't miss opportunities to present information about the social work department to other staff in your organization.

For example, many organizations host groups of constituents for "customer appreciation days" and similar events. Help the public relations or community relations staff people at your organization plan these events and distribute audience appropriate literature about social work.

Similarly, Schools of Social Work must consider ways to stand out at large career days on campus. People know less about social work than other professions, so we have to be more creative and bold in our presentations.

Media interviews and published books also help raise awareness about your services while educating the public about consumer issues.

Social Work Tools

• Who Are Social Workers?
• www.HelpStartsHere.org social work consumer website
• BeASocialWorker.org
• Social Work Month Merchandise

Additional Resources

• Social Workers Desk Reference: Self-Promotion
• VIDEO: New Haven Hospital Video
• Who Are Social Workers? (general flyer about social workers)
• www.HelpStartsHere.org (social work consumer website)
• BeASocialWorker.org (tools for student outreach)
• Social Work Month Merchandise (event giveaway ideas)

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Email: socialworkmonth@naswdc.org

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