Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam

WHEREAS, the mental and physical health and well-being of all Virginians are of the utmost importance to the happiness and prosperity of our Commonwealth’s families and communities; and

WHEREAS, social workers provide services to Virginia’s schools, hospitals, community organizations, public and private agencies, and higher educational institutions, as well as military and veterans centers; and

WHEREAS, social workers offer guidance and assistance to thousands of Virginians every day, which enables them to build brighter futures for themselves and their families; and

WHEREAS, social workers elevate and empower people, giving them the ability to solve problems, cope with personal roadblocks and get the resources they need to succeed; and

WHEREAS, this year’s Social Work Month theme, “Social Workers: Generations Strong,” embodies the heroic work of social workers who for more than a century have worked to make our society a better place to live; and

WHEREAS, the social work profession is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, with more than 777,000 people expected to be employed as social workers by 2028; and

WHEREAS, for decades, social workers have been in the forefront of social justice issues, pushing for equal rights for women, African Americans, Latinos, individuals with disabilities, individuals who are LGBTQ, and various ethnic, cultural, and religious groups; and

WHEREAS, for more than a century, the social work profession has been on the cutting edge of helping create changes to make our society a better place to live, including a minimum wage, improved workplace safety, and social safety net programs that ameliorate poverty and hunger; and

WHEREAS, social workers have been and continue to stand ready to help our nation in times of crisis, including war and natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and hurricanes; and

WHEREAS, social workers believe in the strength, courage, and resilience of the human spirit, and strive to help people lead healthier and more productive lives;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize March 2020 as SOCIAL WORK MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.