Facing Challenges

March is National Social Work Month, the theme this year for the month is "Forging Solutions Out of Challenges." We all face challenges throughout our lives, we have a choice, we can either hang our heads in defeat, or we can use our creative minds to find new solutions.

Social workers don’t make problems disappear; rather we help those going through difficult times find solutions that work for them individually. As everyone is different, the same solutions do not work for us all.

So think about the challenges you are facing, how can you forge solutions to meet those challenges? Utilize your friends, family or other resources you have. Find a social worker that can you help you find the path that works for you, capitalizing on the strengths you have to accomplish this.

March 1-7th of each year is National Write a Letter of Appreciation Week. This can be as meaningful to the recipient as it is to us. Taking time to write a handwritten letter to someone we care about it and hand deliver, or mail is something most of us have stopped doing. But the value is unmeasurable. I think it is a perfect week to start of Social Work Month.

I urge you to take time this week to write a letter telling someone how much you appreciate them. It could be a teacher, a pastor, a doctor, a server, or anyone who has done something to brighten one of your days or that you have witnessed doing things to brighten others day.

March 1st people around the world celebrate Zero Discrimination Day. The theme for this year is “Stand Out” and encourages everyone to stand for fair and just societies.

Discrimination remains widespread—gender, nationality, age, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, education, and social standing and religion are often the basis for some form of discrimination. In only 4 out of 10 countries worldwide is it true that an equal numbers of girls and boys attend secondary school. 75 countries—including 11 in the English-speaking Caribbean—have laws that criminalize same-sex sexual relations.

On this year’s Zero Discrimination Day, people are being urged to value and embrace diversity and recognize the diverse set of talents and skills that each person brings—talents that enrich society and strengthen communities. Welcoming diversity in all its forms reinforces social cohesion and brings valuable benefits to societies around the world.

Often we discriminate without even knowing it, or meaning to. Churches are often divided, such as the Methodist church and their separate AE churches, and the Catholic churches and their separate Spanish speaking services, this does not promote inclusion. In addition, many use religion to discriminate against same sex relationships. The undereducated or less educated are often discriminated against, when often the luxury of an education was just not something they could sacrifice their survival for, or in some cases, may not even have had access to. Opening our minds, inviting inclusion, and saying no to discrimination is what today is what March 1st is all about.

So create a plan. What will you do to celebrate? Can a social worker help you? Are you even aware of all that they do? We are advocates, marriage counselors, individual and family and child therapists. We are legislators, educators, and speak out against injustice. Who can you help by writing a letter of appreciation to? What kindness have you overlooked or taken for granted? Where do you see discrimination? Is there anything you can do in even a small way to stop it or shine a light on it?

If so, do it. Call a social worker (I am one). Write a letter of appreciate. Stand up against discrimination. I challenge you to, each of you!

#zerodiscrimination #nationalletterappreciationweek #socialworkmonth