> > >

Social Media Toolkit for
Social Work Month 2026

woman smiling at phone with emojis around the phone

Social workers are well-educated, train for years and develop expertise not just to change people, but to reshape systems that can help people live far richer and improved lives. Our society over the course of the last year has seen incredible upheavals that have changed our economy, the way we access and pay for care, and interact with one another.

That is why this year’s theme is Social Work: Uplift. Defend. Transform.

Here are suggestions to help you share information about the positive work social workers do during Social Work Month 2026 and be inspired to make lasting change that can benefit others.

Our hashtags this year are #UpliftDefendTransform #SWMonth2026 #SocialWorkMonth

General Social Media Strategy

Social workers are hard at work during the busiest times of the day, so they aim to post around lunchtime, in the early evenings, or on weekends. That’s when they are scrolling through their phones. We find our best engagement happens outside of traditional working hours—when people are looking at their phones while lying in bed in the early AM, having lunch, taking the train before starting their commute home or curling up to stream their latest Netflix obsession! Consider that when you’re planning to share content.

Post frequently:

Remember, algorithms determine what your audience or friends see and when they see it. They may not see it until days later. If people aren’t engaging with your content, the algorithm may delay when they see it or skip showing it to them altogether. It is why consistency and interacting with your friends regularly matter when it comes to visibility.

For example, consider the last time you watched the Grammys or the Superbowl. You may have posted a comment about a winning touchdown—and your friends did, too. But you didn’t see their posts until days later, and no one commented on yours. That’s because unless they’re interacting with your content regularly it may be days before they see it.

Facebook/Instagram: At least once daily, twice if the content is strong.
X, BlueSky, Threads: Two to three times daily is good.
TikTok: A few times a week is enough. The rumored three times a day isn’t necessary for most organizations, unless you have strong content and you’re trying to scale fast.
Videos, GIFs, and images are your friends! Canva, Adobe, CapCut, PlayPlay, and other tools are great for creating eye-catching content that sparkles. Be sure to give credit.

Video Tips: Before You Hit Record

A picture may be worth a thousand words, videos worth gold! Always add a visual element to your posts!

Look straight into the camera. Not only does it create connection, but it also boosts watch time.
Film vertically (TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts). Keep it under a minute for best reach.
And always: Train a light in front of you and keep your energy set to ON as well!

TikTok: Where Your Voice Travels Fastest

Short, fast, intentional content wins (15–30 seconds). Create videos that:

Highlight social work moments, events, or your daily wins (never film clients without permission).
Step outside. Natural light + Real life = Instant authenticity.
Hop on challenges or trending formats; but do keep your message professional.
Partner with influencers. If their audience is bigger, have THEM post and tag you to broaden your reach.

Pro Tip:
Use trending sounds (the app tells you which ones), add captions, throw in a voiceover.
Shy? Film in 15–30 second bursts and stitch them together. You can pause between takes to get it perfect and fix it while editing.
Use AI apps to add movement, effects, or scene transitions. There is NO shame in leveling up your visuals.

Cross post everywhere: IG Reels, Facebook Reels, Snapchat, LinkedIn.
Upload as YouTube Shorts with #shorts for extra SEO power.

Threads: Be Human. Be Direct. Be Real.

Threads rewards honesty and momentum.

Try:

Personal stories about how you’re uplifting, defending, and transforming your community.
Question threads like:
“What does transformation look like where YOU live?”
“How are you uplifting community during Social Work Month?”
Event/news updates.
No hashtags needed (they don’t work on Threads anyway). Just be clear and authentic.

X (Twitter), Bluesky & Facebook: Quick, Visual, Shareable

These platforms love bold, scroll-stopping sentences + visuals. You can use 6-8 word scroll stopping Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) or Lesson Learned hooks.

Examples:

Stop Scrolling. Read this Twice!
Social Workers: Screenshot this! You Will Need it Later!
It took me years as a social worker to learn this …
This is how you get folks to care.
I wish someone had told me this sooner..
The best thing about transforming a life is …

Place these on the screen above your head or beneath it (make sure that they aren’t covering where your captions will go).

Use GIFs, Canva graphics, portraits, or quick clips.
Lean into hashtags that rank: #SWMonth2026 #UpliftDefendTransform

Sample Posts:

Here’s to everyone uplifting, defending, and transforming lives every day. #SWMonth2026 #UpliftDefendTransform
This month I’m showing what #UpliftDefendTransform looks like in my world. #SocialWorkMonth #SWMonth2026
Social workers change the world one transformation at a time. Grateful for this profession. #SWMonth2026 #UpliftDefendTransform

Tag: @naswsocialworkers @nasw or your friends and colleagues

Instagram: Show the Heart of Your Work

Remember, Photos + Reels = visibility.
People connect to behind-the-scenes, so share moments that capture:

Advocacy wins
Community events
Field work
What “Uplift. Defend. Transform” means to you!

Sample Posts

Celebrating Social Work Month by showing what it really means to uplift, defend, and transform our communities every day. #SWMonth2026 #UpliftDefendTransform
Social Work isn’t just a job — it’s a commitment to uplifting people, defending justice, and transforming lives. Proud to be part of this community. #SocialWorkMonth #UpliftDefendTransform
There are more than 810,000 Social Workers in the United States. Each day they work to build stronger, safer, more equitable communities. That’s what uplift, defend, transform looks like in action. #SWMonth2026 #UpliftDefendTransform
Tag colleagues + influencers who inspire you — it boosts reach instantly.

LinkedIn: Lead With Impact

Keep it professional, purpose-driven, and tied to the mission.

Try posting:
Workforce + industry stats
Policy or advocacy updates
System-level insights
Personal reflections on uplifting, defending, or transforming your community

Sample LinkedIn Posts

For over a century, #SocialWorkers have uplifted voices, defended human rights, and transformed communities. Proud to carry this legacy forward. #SWMonth2026 #UpliftDefendTransform (show a add a photo of yourself at work)
Did you know the profession is projected to grow 7% between 2022–2032, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics? #SocialWorkers are stepping into essential roles that uplift families, defend equity, and transform systems. #SWMonth2026 #UpliftDefendTransform

Share resources on salary negotiations, safety, licensure, supervision, career advancement, and advocacy — those posts perform best on LinkedIn. All of this can be found on socialworkers.org

Extra Visibility Boosters

To hit algorithm gold during Social Work Month, use:

Vertical videos (Reels, TikTok, Shorts)
Infographics + data about social work impact
Photos from events or fieldwork
YOU Proudly Wearing your Social Work Month gear – visit www.jimcolemanstore.com/sw/
Tags: colleagues, supervisors, influencers, community partners

Core hashtags: #SWMonth2026 #UpliftDefendTransform #SocialWorkMonth #SocialWorkers

Last year, 429 million people engaged with the social work month content shared by NASW.
This year is your chance to be part of that momentum — or amplify it. AND, more importantly, to showcase what you do best.

Call to Action Highlights

You can use these to increase engagement on your posts. These are actions your followers can take when prompted. Add these on to any or your posts. For example:

Drop a comment and tell me how you uplift, defend, or transform your community.
What part of the work makes YOU feel most connected to the mission? Tell me below.
Share one change you wish you could make in your community. Let’s talk solutions.
Share this to uplift another social worker who inspires you.
If this resonates, repost it and help amplify the impact of social workers everywhere
Pass this along to someone doing the work every day. They deserve the recognition.
Tag a colleague who lives these values every day.
Know a social worker who uplifts, defends, and transforms? Tag them here.
Save this for later — and share it when someone asks what social work really means.
Join me in celebrating Social Work Month — share your story today.
Post your own Social Work Month moment and use #SWMonth2026 to connect.

Final Thoughts

Social Work Month 2026 is all about how social workers Uplift. Defend and Transform.
Your story matters. Your voice carries. Your work shapes communities.

Share boldly. Share proudly. Share often. Share repeatedly.
Tag us, use #NASW #SWMonth2026, and make this the most visible, inspiring, and impactful Social Work Month yet.