Sample Op-Ed
Social Work – An Investment in Care for Baby Boomers
By [Name, Title, Organization]
More than 77 million Americans are considered part of the baby boom generation.
Adults born between 1946 and 1964 have the distinction of being the largest
generation, representing 27% of the population. With the aging of baby
boomers and the lengthening of life spans, both the number and proportion of
older people is rapidly increasing.
The demand for social work will only increase as the needs of this large section
of the population increases. The National Association of Social Workers
Center for Workforce Studies recently completed its first major study of the
social work labor force where findings show that the supply of professional
social workers may not be sufficient to meet the demands of aging baby boomers.
[Optional Section – provide the name of a social worker in your community
that has made a difference in working with older people and his/her accomplishments.]
National Social Work Month is the ideal time to highlight the immediate and
on-going need for an investment in the social work labor force. Social
workers have the specialized knowledge and expertise to address issues facing
older Americans. This year’s Social Work Month theme – Life’s
Journey: Help Starts Here – focuses on how social workers help all people
at every stage of life, while promoting dignity for everyone, especially the
most vulnerable among us.
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