Social Work: Compassion + Action

Each day, social workers help millions of Americans navigate life’s challenges.

Social workers work in many areas of our society—in hospitals, schools, social service agencies, libraries and hospitals to name a few.

Driven by empathy, social workers use their expertise to impact millions in profound ways. Their skills are needed now more than ever.

Social workers are on the frontlines of critical societal struggles. For instance, they push back against racism, inequality, and homelessness. They support individuals impacted by attacks on diversity equity and inclusion initiative—and they advocate for the protection of reproductive rights.

That is why the theme for Social Work Month 2025 is “Social Work: Compassion + Action.”

In a world often fraught by political turmoil and societal upheaval, the theme speaks to the core of our profession: the need to transform compassion into tangible action and produce positive, tangible results. It calls on social workers to not only provide support, but to engage in advocacy, influence policy, and work toward lasting, systemic solutions.

Social workers play a pivotal role in transforming empathy into effective strategies. From ensuring equitable access to health care to addressing the criminalization of homelessness, social workers are working tirelessly to build a more just society.

Social workers have shaped our society in myriad, positive ways for more than a century. They pushed for Social Security, a minimum wage, a 40-hour work week, Medicare, and equal rights for people who are Black, women, and people who are LGBTQIA2S+.

We ask for your support in recognizing the importance of social workers, not only during Social Work Month, but year-round. Together, we can make sure social workers have the resources they need to transform compassion into action and make a real difference in the lives of those we serve, while maintaining a work life balance that empowers them so they can do the positive work they do.