Give them their flowers!

By: Leticia Vaca
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March is National Social Work Month, it is a time to share awareness of the field and highlight the many ways that social workers contribute to the betterment of society. 

My fondest memory of being a social worker was my experience interning and working at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California; the social work department was 100% Black, Indigenous, People of Color from the Director to the receptionist at the time that I was there. (side note: this was a major selling point for me since the other hospitals that I attempted to get placement at were not diverse and the interviews for just a internship were cold and off putting). The Social Workers at Highland represented the demographic of the community, a largely residential area of East Oakland, Black, Brown, Native, Immigrant and refugee community. 

We celebrated National Social Work Month in a major way!   Seriously, we made sure we had activities Monday- Friday, acknowledged the medical providers that exemplified social work values and supported staff social workers, and ended the month with a speaker of our choice. My favorite activities were bowling and the International Salad bar. We all brought different toppings from our culture to share with one another: Indian, Filipino, Fijian, Nicaguaran, Mexican, Southern African American were some of the foods. I totally enjoyed seconds and thirds helping of Pancit and lumpia. Some other services in the hospital would host lunches for us, but largely we coordinated our own celebration. We gave ourselves our flowers! 
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I’ve worked at other institutions and never had the same social work month experience. I was disappointed that the leaders did not celebrate the contribution of social workers to the patient care experience, so I was not too surprised that the social workers themselves in the hospital did not have much enthusiasm about the month. 

I’m often asked “what do you do?”. According to the National Social Worker Association,  “Social workers are essential to community well-being. As practitioners, social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living. They are employed to effect positive change with individuals, families, groups and entire communities.” 

I am a medical social worker. 

Medical social workers help people navigate and address issues related to mental health, aging, hospital navigation and health care decision-making, as well as bigger public health challenges in the community.

• Educating patients and families about illnesses and treatment plans
• Conducting psychosocial assessments to identify mental or emotional distress
• Counseling those in crisis or experiencing distress
• Connecting patients and their families with necessary resources

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Social Work Month in March is a time to celebrate the great profession of social work. 

During Social Work Month it is encouraged to take time to learn more about the many positive contributions of the profession. But it’s the people for me! 

I’d like to celebrate the Social Workers and others in the field of social services that have supported me on my journey: 

• My mom, Monta Vaca, Social Worker Specialist with the City of San Francisco; she showed me what caring looks like both personally and professionally...and continues to this day. 
• Stacy Vann, She gave me my first social work job when I was 17 years old with the Pathways to Career Program supporting transitional, foster care youth with vocational training. She now goes by “ Auntie”. 

https://ebcrs.org/health-and-wellness-ministry/

• Lita Gloor-Little, LMFT, she was my manager with the Family Stress Center. She knew the pay wasn’t great but always gave me encouraging words, she’d say “ this is a stepping stone…”. She respected me, gave me a lot of autonomy as a young professional, and approved every training. It still sticks with me the training around ACEs and impacts of witnessing domestic violence for children. https://www.brighter-beginnings.org/about/our-team/
• Sharon Abram, MSW, LCSW, my supervisor at Highland Hospital. She challenged me whenever I Said I was uncomfortable with working with elderly and supporting families that lost a loved one; she’d tear up my documentation with a red pen asking questions about my clinical assessment, “what about a patient's right to self determination?”, helped me develop treatment plans, and often sent me to the morgue to help families with the final meeting with loved ones. Thank you! The first Rockstar Social Worker I’ve ever met. 
• Lisa Jackson, MSW, MPH, LCSW, the best manager ever! A true advocate for social workers and the profession, uber smart and kind. She has the best laugh. She showed me how to become a Sexual Assault Advocate and continues to offer her support to me. 
• Pat Hanson, MSW, LCSW, she allowed me to shadow her as an intern even when she said she was not having interns that year. She knew the ER staff was giving me a hard time and she'd gently say “ let them do what they have to do, you just make sure you do what you need to do…”. 
• Ricka White-Soso, MSW, LCSW, she kept the NASW Code of Ethics by her desk and wrote beautiful notes that she happily shared with me for my own learning.
• Dr. Tiffany Saucer, DSW, LCSW, my dear friend that mailed me dividers to organize my DSM and frequently check on my well-being, thank you! 

https://www.betterhelp.com/tiffany-saucer/

• Briahn Badelle, MSW, LCSW, my rider from Graduate school to our first job at Highland. Thank you for keeping me encouraged, feeding me, and checking in on me. 

https://www.thriveoakland.com/

• Nneka Wooten, MSW, MPH, LCSW, thank you for sharing your poetry with me. I am looking forward to your book ( speaking into existence). 

https://www.itscomplicatedcs.net/

• Brandy Gadson, MSW, LCSW, an awesome business partner! So excited to have started Urban Catalyst Psychotherapy together, offering support to therapists and the diverse community we live in. Thank you for your patience and encouragement.

 https://www.urban-catalyst.org/

• Deborah Son, MSW, thank you for showing me around the ED and your continued support. You were the 2nd Rockstar social worker I’ve met. 

https://www.naswca.org/page/A1

• Courtney Watson, LMFT, thank you for offering to help me getting my therapy practice up and your continued support. 

http://www.doorwaytherapeutics.com/

• Nakia Linzie-Shavers, MSW, LCSW, thank you for our moments talking spirituality

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/nakia-linzie-shavers-berkeley-ca/464802

• Vanessa Solis, MSW, LCSW, you were the first person I reached out to professionally because I thought you were cool...and you are! Thank you for our coffee dates discussing ways that we could develop professionally. 

https://www.vanessasolislcsw.com/

• Efiya Asabi, MSW, ACSW, thank your our many conversations about life, health, and intentionally. Thank you for supporting Urban Health Group 2nd Run for a Cause by donating products from your amazing skincare line!

https://iyoba.com/

• Camila Jimenez, MSW, ACSW, thank you for always supporting me and being a positive presence on our crazy NICU, Labor & Delivery, Postpartum, and OB/ GYN service. 
• Carmen Luk, MSW, LCSW, wow you were a support I didn't even know I needed. Thank you for listening and helping me problem-solve. 

https://www.goldenheartcounseling.com/

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I landed in the field of social worker after researching all the other related fields, Social Work is for me. 

It is an honor and privilege to support folks in a time of need. I have also been a recipient of support from others.. and boy does it feel good! It is important for me to give praise to those that have supported me and continue to participate in the betterment of others.

I am celebrating Social Work Month intentionally. 

March 12th, I will host a two-hour workshop for therapists, social workers and other mental health professionals: Addressing Racial Trauma Fatigue with Radical Self-Care for BIPOC Clinicians with Women's Cancer Resource Center. 

Register Here

March 23rd, I will host COVID-19 Vaccine Forum in collaboration with NASW- CA.

Register Here

Social workers have been the invisible heroes supporting folks with both their health and mental health needs. This year, I am encouraging you all to celebrate Social Work Month by giving the Social Workers you know and love their flowers ( both literally and figuratively). 

Who are your favorite Social Workers? In what ways have you benefited from the support of a social worker?

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Sources: 
https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Social-Work-Month