Author: Ebony L. Davis
Social workers are at the forefront of mental health care, providing critical support to diverse individuals and communities. They play a crucial role in identifying and addressing mental health challenges in schools, hospitals, substance abuse treatment centers, foster care, veteran’s hospitals, and prisons. In any significant system, you can and will find a social worker there supporting some of the most vulnerable clients and communities.
In fact, social workers are often the first point of contact for individuals seeking support. Social workers use their specialized expertise to connect clients with resources, support them in achieving wellness and assist them in navigating complex systems. Social Workers are unlike any other profession, as their training is grounded in working with the person and operating within various complex systems.
As such, we must recognize the inequities in pay within the field of behavioral health toward social workers. Many social workers are being paid poorly compared to their counterparts – psychologists, nurses, public health officials, etc. This, in return, has contributed to a workforce shortage in mental health care. Achieving pay equity for social workers requires a concerted effort from policymakers, employers, and society as a whole.
These efforts include but are not limited to:
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