Columbus, Ohio, recognizes social workers and funds new training program

Councilmember Melissa Green and a lineup of local social workers at a city council meeting celebrating Social Work Month. (Courtesy Photo/Columbus City Council)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — March is National Social Work Month, and Columbus is using the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the profession.

The theme for Social Work Month in 2024 is “Empowering Social Workers,” which Columbus City Council recognized at a recent meeting. Councilmember Melissa Green, a licensed social worker, said the work often goes unnoticed.

“We’re really trying to elevate and shine a light on the important role that social workers play across our community,” Green said. “People historically, in my experience also being a social worker, have sort of had a very one-dimensional view of what it means to be a social worker.”

Green said social work is a diverse field that includes people from different positions and sectors, all with the mission of advocating for social justice and the welfare of a community’s most at-risk and vulnerable populations.

“You’ll find social workers in our schools or in behavioral health care, certainly in our child welfare system, and even in elected positions, like being on city council,” Green said.

Danielle Smith, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers’ state chapter, echoed that point.

“Every person, whether they know it or not, has benefited from a social worker,” Smith said. “We often have other job titles like a therapist or counselor or director. So, you might not realize that you’ve worked with a social worker, but social workers are in every practice setting, doing work to help folks live happy and healthy lives.”

Green announced a new partnership Monday related to social work. A program from NASW Ohio, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Tepper Counseling, and SAIGE Ohio will train mental health professionals in gender-affirming care. The partnership was launched ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility on Sunday.

Smith said the passage of House Bill 68, which will prohibit children’s hospitals from providing gender-affirming treatment to minors once it takes effect in April, highlighted the need for social workers. The funding will help local social workers update their practices to reflect changes in the state.

“For social workers that keep providing mental health services to gender-diverse youth, there’s a lot of considerations of how their practices are going to need to change,” Smith said.

There are other ways that social workers can help with those seeking gender-affirming care, according to Smith.

“Social workers also help with case management and can help families who need to go out of state to access medical gender affirming care, who need other resources, like housing or support in other ways,” Smith said. “Social workers can help across the board in both medical and mental health spaces.”