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Adopt a resolution recognizing March 2025 as Social Work Month in Solano County
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Published Notice Required? Yes _____ No __X__
Public Hearing Required? Yes _____ No __X__
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Health and Social Services recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution recognizing March 2025 as Social Work Month in Solano County.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The month of March is designated nationwide as Social Work Month and remains an important opportunity to acknowledge Solano County’s social workers for their invaluable contributions helping individuals, families, children, and older people in need of care and protection. Nationally, there are currently more than 700,000 professional social workers employed in the United States with more than 800,000 expected by 2033.
National Social Work Month is an opportunity for social workers around the nation and their supporters to educate the public about the invaluable contributions of the profession. Social workers perform a multitude of tasks requiring knowledge and skills in psychology, crisis resolution, and complex legal requirements governing intervention on behalf of their clients. Social workers provide a 24-hour safety net for the protection of children, the disabled and the elderly, and provide services designed to improve and stabilize the lives of their clients. They also respond and assist victims where allegations of violence have occurred and provide crisis management and intervention, resource coordination, biological and psychological social assessments, safety planning, case consultation, and arrange for treatment and services along with referral linkages.
Solano County has approximately 185 Social Workers providing services through various programs, including Child Welfare Services, Employment and Eligibility Services, Public Defender’s Office, Older and Disabled Adult Services, Public Health, and the Probation Department.
The 2025 theme, “Social Work: Compassion + Action,” embodies the fact that social workers go through years of education and training to have the skills and expertise to help navigate children, youth, adults, and families through tough life challenges. Social work is the only profession which requires advocacy of its professional code of ethics and is therefore a large workforce mandated to advance the rights of the vulnerable in society. Social workers are at the forefront of pressing issues our nation is addressing, including increased need for mental health care, especially for children and adolescents; and substance use disorder treatment.
As the nation commemorates Social Work Month, it is an opportunity for the public to recognize social workers’ contributions in empowering and elevating their clients. The exceptional work of social workers is acknowledged and valued by recognizing March 2025 as Social Work Month in Solano County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing this agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget. The costs associated with preparation and purchase of the resolution materials are included in the Board’s FY2024/25 Working Budget. There is no additional impact on the County General Fund.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to adopt this resolution. This is not recommended as this is an opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of the County’s Social Workers.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION