Socially Motivated

A Tale of Two Professions

Social Services is a small field of professionals who work with a large part of the population. Everyone has come in contact with a social services worker at some point; intentionally, accidentally and sometimes unbeknownst to you. The majority of people think that social services and public aide/government assistance are synonymous. Most don’t realize that The Department of Veterans Affairs, Child Support, Juvenile Court, Social Security, Hospital Social Work and plenty more entities fall under the umbrella we call social services. What is even more surprising is that some people employed by various agencies don’t realize that they are in the shade of said umbrella. 

Anyone who understands the work knows that social work is a calling rather than a choice. When I say social work, I don’t mean the letters behind your name that tells an email recipient your licensure and educational background. I’m talking about the “in the trenches 24/7/365” type of social work. The type that reassures you that your thankless career matters even on the days when you can’t save the families you give your essence to whether it be for a day or an extended period of time. 

Let’s be clear, the sacrifice and dedication of workers who choose the field are no less valuable than those of us called to do the work. My goal is not to discredit the people who choose to “save the world.” My goal is to merely highlight that some workers are seeking shelter from a storm under this umbrella while others are seeking shade from a brilliant sun under a parasol. In my various roles I have had the opportunity to observe and delve deeper into the mindset of people who make up this often overlooked yet very necessary profession.

I have had the pleasure of working closely with many women (and a few men) who work tirelessly to be the change agents that people need, whether it be taking that extra step to get a veterans disability approved or holding the hand of an elderly grandmother as she jumps through hoops to access her well earned benefits. Yet these workers are often the ones who are struggling to make ends meet in their own homes or qualify for the same programs/services they provide that would give them peace of mind and allow them to be even more invested in their jobs. Lets be honest, it’s difficult to give 200% when the back of your mind is focused on if you have enough gas to get home from work after completing home visits or whether or not the daycare will call child protective services on you for being late again because your last call of the day took an hour longer than expected but your client in crisis could not be postponed until tomorrow.

It wasn’t until recently that I realized that the very best social service professionals are the ones that have needed services at one time or another in their lives. Those workers are the ones who know how it feels to be backed onto the edge of a cliff and have to depend on a virtual stranger to save you. Those are the workers who take off work for school breaks because they cannot afford childcare as opposed to the ones who take off to take their children on vacations to exotic islands. What is scary is the fact that the former group gets criticized while the latter gets praised and the imbalance in wages is either ignored or excused.

In a field where compassion and empathy are key components workers are being judged, ridiculed, disrespected and in some cases verbally abused by the people who can’t “see the forest for the trees!” Arrogance and ignorance allow those who feel powerful enough to demand an outcome without having the desire to understand the process. The same people who don’t realize that dragging a person to the finish line in first place is more detrimental than helping them navigate the hurdles and finishing last.

So, to all those social services workers who are invisible, overworked, underpaid and unappreciated know that you are not alone. Those of us who have seen the days when social services was a thriving and highly sought after profession are optimistic that there will be greater days later!