JFCS’ social workers are part of thousands across country working to ‘uplift, defend, and transform’

By Jill Kozberg • JFCS Mental Health and Senior Services Director

For over 100 years, we’ve been very fortunate to have many social workers on our staff at JFCS. We are honored every day to work side-by-side as we support individuals, families, and communities as they face unbearable challenges. Social workers at JFCS are involved in critical work across the agency, including advocacy, community organizing, aging, caregiver support, vocational programs, developmental disabilities, mental health, and substance abuse.

March is Social Work Month and its theme this year is “Uplift. Defend. Transform.” This year’s theme was chosen in response to the current experience of “deep cultural, political, and economic divide” in our country, according to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

The theme honors a foundational principle of this profession – “to enhance human well-being, meet the basic human needs of all people, and put special attention on the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.” This strongly aligns with JFCS’ mission to provide essential services to people of all ages and backgrounds to sustain healthy relationships, ease suffering and offer support in times of need.

Our social workers at JFCS are part of nearly 20,000 social workers across the state of Minnesota working to address the core values of the profession – “service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence” (NASW). We have deep gratitude for the commitment, dedication and hard work of all social workers across our organization and the community.