Why I am passionate about Social work..

I use this blog to talk about our activities of life, my soapbox issues, blessings in my life and just thoughts about things. Most you readers know me personally but i do notice some hits on here from unknown cities and friends of friends blog sites. I had the urge to kind of write a little about what makes me tick and why i am passionate about social work and help others understand social work in a positive light.

Why I am passionate about social work....

Social work is a helping profession that seeks to empower or "lift people up" to be thier best, face thier life challenges, reach out for help and find the resources and support they need in life to address mental health issues, grief, trauma, or just improve thier life and connection to thier community. I have worked in child welfare for 4 years and i am still passionate about how every child deserves a safe home and a loving, supportive family. That will always be the passion that brought me into idea of being a social worker in high school.

I believe every human on earth deserves dignity and respect, no matter thier economic level, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual oreintation, age, criminal history or medical/ mental health condition. My most recent passion is regarding multidisciplinary social work. My bias is that there should be a social worker at not just the schools and hospitals but also churches, and corporate companies to address mental health issues and conflicts. I think that a person's emotional or mental health well being directly affects many other areas of thier life and productivity. I also think that untreated traumatic stress, depression and anxiety accounts for a lot of our country's chronic pain, headaches and unexplained medical issues and there is research to prove this, especially by the Veteran hospitals in our country. I am passionate about people and thier ablity to change, to learn from thier mistakes and make wise choices again. As a social worker, I also value a person's abilty to make thier own choices in thier life, even if i don't agree or think it is best for them or thier safety. I am passionate about God's unconditional forgiveness.

I am also a realist and know that there are not easy answers to the big problems in our society. There are many hurting people in our world and people i work with who have only 2 people in thier support system if a crisis happens where as I could probably make a list of 50 plus relatives, accquaintances, church family and friends that i lean on for support and would help me out and be there for me in a crisis. I am passionate about social work because it is about helping to link people with resources when they don't have the support they need through family or friends. If they have little family support to help support them during a crisis, then we help them find community agencies or mentors to help give them the extra support they need to succeed. There is nothing more fufilling than helping a client who is maybe an abusive relationship, find a safe place to stay for the night, get connected to someone who can help her advocate for herself, get connected to community resources and eventually find a better life for her family. Its very satisfying.

I am also passionate about social work because I believe in the importance of mental health treatment or medication. I encourage people to goto therapy or counseling for depression, a mental health disorder or a traumatic event. Life happens and bad things happen to good people all the time. Life is full of adjustments that can be challenging- relationships, marriage,family issues, parenting, having a child, moving, medical diagnosises and we all can use a little extra support in some way from time to time. Depression can be a chemical imbalance in the brain (sometimes short term) that can be treated with medication and/or therapy. Physical activity or a support group can also be so benefical as well. I wish more people would get the help they need. I am passionate about people getting treatment because I believe that God wants us to be the best we can be and that includes our emotional/mental health.

So thats what makes me tick... I think its one of God's many purposes for my life. I love feeling passionate about my career choice. I am no better or more holy than any one else because of what God has called me to do. I am just so thankful that have a passion that motivates me in my school and work choice. Whether you are retired, a homemaker, garbage man, cashier, teacher, office assistant, doctor, police officer:) or unemployed. I encourage you to let God shine through you and use your passion and gifts in life to glorify him. Then we are truly living as God created us to be.