Social Work Reality vs Public Perception
by Sherry Saturno, LCSW, DCSW
Over the years, I have received a lot of interesting responses accompanied by a searching look when I say I’m a social worker: “Oh, they don’t make any money.” “They take people’s kids away.” And “Why would you want to do something like that?” There are pervasive public and media misconceptions of our profession that are prevalent and concerning. We sometimes encounter vitriol and misguided comments about social work from people who don’t really understand what we do.
Social work, a versatile degree, encompasses professionals in healthcare, business, nonprofit management, military, private practice, and more. So why do so many people think of us exclusively as child welfare workers, and what can be done to rectify the misperceptions of our profession? The public’s perception will gradually begin to align with increased visibility of the diverse roles social work professionals play, coupled with a realistic portrayal by the media.
How do we effect change through education? The NASW’s 2017 “Social Workers Stand Up!” campaign seeks to enlighten the public about the professional contributions of social workers. Through incipient steps such as responding to news articles that erroneously identify local volunteers as social workers - and by following up on reports of misidentified individuals who are not social workers by education, training, or licensure - incremental change can be achieved. Some states lack licensing laws that include social work title protection. Clients should be afforded the knowledge to discern the difference.
Social workers often work in dangerous conditions for low pay. In New York, it is a felony to assault a nurse. However, social workers are not afforded the same safeguard under the law. Social workers provide a voice for the marginalized. That type of work and the individuals who are strong enough to do it speak volumes about the humanity of care. I have seen my colleagues threatened and exposed to violence in the field. I have read with a heavy heart accounts of fellow social workers who were murdered while performing their duties. I bore witness to a shooting on the job. Every one of these acts failed to obliterate the intent of the work that was being accomplished.
There are so many things that cannot be explained: the senseless acts that inflict pain upon each other, and the unexpected compassion of strangers. Even in times of darkness, social workers affirm the power of good in the world by not giving up.
Sherry Saturno
Sherry Saturno
Sherry Saturno, LCSW, DCSW, is a graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work seeking participants for an upcoming documentary film about social workers. Contact her through LinkedIn for more information. Her awards include NASW Media Award for Best Documentary Film, Champion of Justice for NYS, Social Worker of the Year for NYS, and Social Worker of the Year for Westchester County, NY.