WHEREAS, Virginia social workers selflessly dedicate themselves to the common good and to the promotion of human flourishing out of a genuine desire to make a positive difference in our Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Virginia social workers are first responders to the human condition, providing crucial, trauma-informed support and empathy in times of crisis; and

WHEREAS, social workers in Virginia are on the frontlines of supporting those with addiction and mental health challenges including substance abuse, depression, and anxiety; and

WHEREAS, social workers work diligently to serve the elderly, protecting them from challenges that disproportionately affect this population like elder abuse, mental health challenges, and identity theft; and 

WHEREAS, social workers in Virginia consistently protect vulnerable children, work to keep families together, and commit themselves daily to ensuring the health and well-being of children and their parents; and

WHEREAS, by providing prevention, early identification, intervention, and services, social workers support children and families to overcome barriers while promoting fulfillment and academic success; and 

WHEREAS, social work is an honorable and fast-growing profession with potential for growth and professional development, and social work positively touches the lives of millions of Americans each day and in a variety of places, including schools, hospitals, the military, child welfare agencies, community centers, and in federal, state, and local government; and

WHEREAS, Virginia has over 12,000 social workers but currently suffers from workforce shortages in the social work field which deeply affects vulnerable populations and creates workload challenges; and

WHEREAS, Virginia’s social workers are committed to the highest professional standards and entrusted to seek supervision without additional regulatory burden; and

WHEREAS, social workers routinely model resilience, caring for others with trauma-informed skills, and helping others reach their God-given potential; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize March 2023, as SOCIAL WORK MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens to join in celebrating and supporting the social work profession.