When did you decide to become a social worker?
Who influenced you?
Was there an event or person who most influenced your decision to become a social worker?

Let us know the answers to these questions below, in the comment box.

New Report from The Center for Workforce Studies
Who Wants to be a Social Worker?
Career Influences and Timing

The 2004 benchmark national study of licensed social workers provided a wealth of information about social workers’ roles and work environments. The study also raised new questions about the social work workforce that required further exploration. Although the 2004 findings pointed to a looming shortage of licensed social workers, there was still much to learn about why this was the case. In what ways did career decision points, educational debt, workplace stressors, and other factors influence the recruitment and retention of this professional workforce? The NASW Membership Workforce Study was an effort to respond to such remaining questions and to gain more insight into the social work workforce.

Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise – Leadership

Leadership calls for creativity, integrity, and competence� …..� all core values of the social work profession.

The theme for World AIDS Day 2008 is LEADERSHIP. � Started on December 1, 1988, World AIDS Day is about increasing awareness, fighting stigma and discrimination, and improving education.� � For social workers worldwide - World AIDS Day provides the opportunity to remind others that HIV/AIDS has not gone away.� There is still much to be done.

Through individual and institutional efforts – social workers from diverse areas of practice have been on the forefront of the response to the HIV/AIDS global pandemic.� � � Social workers have� demonstrated leadership through applying our professional skills and expertise � in practice settings ranging from health and behavioral health clinics and non-profit community based programs� to schools and private practice.� � Social workers continue to show leadership in advocacy efforts at the local, state, and federal levels; protecting civil liberties, ensuring access to confidential testing and diagnosis, and comprehensive care and treatment.� � Social work leadership has and must continue to work to improve the quality of life of all persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.� � (See NASW Policy Statement: � http://www.socialworkers.org/resources/abstracts/default.asp )

Globally, the social work professional must work to ensure that HIV/AIDS issues are mainstreamed into development efforts, emphasizing awareness, prevention, and care and treatment as priority areas to be actively included in organizational systems and policies.� (See IFSW policy statement http://www.ifsw.org/en/p38001031.html )
“Leadership makes or breaks the response against AIDS”.� Peter Piot, UNAIDS Executive Director, March 2008.

For more about World AIDS Day, go to: http://www.unaids.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/Resources/FeatureStories/archive/2007/20070316_WAD_Theme_2007.asp or http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/

For additional social work practice resources:� http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/hiv_aids/siteInfo/resources.asp

- Visit www.socialworkers.org after you vote and let NASW know that you voted and see how other social workers are voting.

- Election Night Watch With Your Social Work Colleagues - If you’d enjoy some good social work company tonight as history is made, the chat room will be open at www.socialworkchat.org starting at 9 PM EST