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• Social Work Month 2011
  • Social Work Month 2011 Toolkit
  • 
  • 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

Recruit a Student

Research shows that people who are involved in community volunteer work early in life are more likely to know social workers and to be interested in social work as a career.  Unlike with other professions, such as doctors, nurses and teachers, not every one is going to have contact with a social worker in their formative years. And television depictions of the profession remain narrow.

Through qualitative research conducted in 2008 with admissions personnel at several Schools of Social Work, NASW found that many social work majors found their way into social work classes after “trying out” classes for complementary disciplines such as psychology, education and sociology. We want to introduce students earlier to the profession.

Most high schools and universities have career and guidance counselors who plan career day presentations, identify internships, and/or coordinate job fairs.  In addition, many students in our nation’s community colleges are taking human services courses that prepare them well for transition to four-year social work degree programs.

Fortunately, the social work profession has more tools than ever to present clear and compelling reasons for students of all ages to consider a rewarding career in social work. 
This Social Work Month, consider making a presentation in a local school or university.
  

Student Recruitment Tools

• www.BeASocialWorker.org - This NASW website provides profiles of 60 social workers, a salary calculator, and quick links to schools of social work by state.
• BeASocialWorker.org—tools for presentations 
• VIDEO: “On Any Given Day, Social Workers Help”
• VIDEO: NASW Massachusetts recruitment video
• VIDEO: “How to Become a Social Worker” video series
• Social Work Month Merchandise at Café Press

More Outreach Ideas

1. The youngest cohort of the Millennial Generation (Gen Y) is still in middle school and high school—and they spend a lot of their time online.  When researching colleges and employment opportunities, these young people are likely to visit one or more career exploration websites, but the information about social work on these sites varies widely.  Are you interested in improving the content on one of these sites?  

2. In 2009, NASW sponsored a Facebook campaign that exposed more than a million young people who listed “community service” in their online profile to the BeASocialWorker.org website. 
   
   Would you like to help NASW continue this Facebook outreach to youth?
   

Additional Resources:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics now provides teen-friendly descriptions of the helping careers.

Council on Social Work Education 
Site features interesting projects and programs at the nation’s Schools of Social Work.

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Email: socialworkmonth@naswdc.org

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