Behavioral Health Specialist Elizabeth Osborne and BSSW Program and Field Placement Coordinator Carmen Cupples of OSU-Lima met to discuss the field of social work on campus.
Precious Grundy | The Lima News
LIMA — Social work is a field of practice that teaches, trains and prepares men and women to advocate for others.
According to the National Association of Social Work, the profession was established in America during the late 19th century. Over the years, social workers have paved the rights for civil rights, for anyone suffering from abuse, mental illness and so much more.
What do they do?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, social workers help others prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
Social workers provide this support for others through years of training in the classroom and in person.
Hannah Ware, Development Associate for the Ohio National Associate of Social Workers, weighed in.
“We are a very values-based profession,” said Ware. “A lot of our orientation comes from our code of ethics. The way we look at situations is the way that we determine self-determination. The center is systems focused we don’t just look at the individual we look at all the systems that are impacting them. Their family, their community, and the larger political and social systems.”
Workforce shortage
Over the course of a few years, the need for social workers has increased.
Ware said the need for social workers has risen by 300% across the state of Ohio since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
BSSW Program and Field Placement Coordinator at OSU-Lima, Carmen Cupples, weighed in on the growing need in the field.
”(Working in private practice) there was never a day where someone did not keep coming and calling or needing services,” said Cupples. “I felt like that made counseling to be very overwhelming. The need never ended.”
Cupples said the shortage came about when other organizations saw the value of having social workers on their teams. From school systems to veterans offices hospitals and even hospice care, the desire for social work has grown astronomically.
Licensed social worker Sarah Miller is a prime example of the need increase. Miller works in the Lima City School district. She said the elementary schools are making room for social workers to be a part of their systems.
Miller joined the field because of exposure at an early age. Learning of the field created a desire for her to help others in their time of need.
Miller said her role in the school system is to meet with children on an individual basis. She added that the increase in behavioral crisis has prohibited her from fully stepping into that role.
“Lima City Schools have several social workers between all of the city schools,” said Miller. “My school is the first to have two social workers because of the need for it. I am like the trial run to see if it is helpful for the schools to each get an additional social worker.”
Miller added that she sees an increase in the need for social workers. Even organizations like veterinarian clinics are requesting social workers for grief counseling.
Changes to the field
Fortunately, people from every walk of life are becoming more intrigued with the profession.
Cupples shared her experience working as a private mental health provider and a staff member of the social work program at Ohio State University in Lima.
“From the time I started the people who are interested in social work is changing,” said Cupples. “We are getting a lot more people who started out with an associates degree in human services from Rhodes. They are coming back like 10 years later saying I want my bachelor’s and I want my master’s. Our classes are holding steady. The population did not drop. We are averaging 25 students a cohort and that has not changed at all.”
Cupples said students are from many different walks of life. OSU-Lima sees students from every age, range and geographic location.
“We have people that drive an hour and a half to campus,” added Cupples. “We have people that live in the community. They are from all seasons of life. We have the traditional student to the 40-year-old student. It is kind of neat to have an education program with people from so many different cities, backgrounds and stages of life.”
Increase in Funding
To address the growing need, Governor Mike DeWine announced the proposal for $85 million to be invested into the growing need for Behavioral Health in Ohio.
According to the press release, once adopted the plan is to make education more attainable and affordable for students interested in the field.
Locally, Cupples said Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board Tammie Colon is advocating for the profession and speaking with legislatures to make desired changes to the field.
“We will have to think of creative approaches like what Tammie Colon is doing and what Governor Mike DeWine is hoping to accomplish with the paid internships,” added Cupples.
Recent Bills
In addition to the daily care of clients, one part of social work is legislation and advocating for the rights of the people they serve.
According to a National Association of Social Workers press release, on Nov. 30 the Ohio Senate amended Substitute HB 509 to permit undergraduates from related fields of study other than social work to become licensed social workers.
After just a few days of advocacy, social workers across the state of Ohio preserved the value and heart of their profession.
Following the proposal, social workers rallied together by sending letters to legislatures to have this amendment changed before it was passed.
On Dec.6, the day before the Ohio NASW planned to address the legislature, the voice of many was heard.
The Senate changed the bill keeping social workers as the only people who can obtain an Ohio social work license.
The hope of the amendment was to address the workforce shortage.
Ware weighed in on the amendment change.
“I think it just reaffirms our place as a profession,” said Ware. “It is not just a random set of skills but a highly professionalized skill base and knowledge set.
Future Hopes
As social workers continue to advocate for change, the pursuit of justice and freedom remains the same.
“There is so much power coming together with a collective voice although it is easy to get apathetic,” added Ware. “When we come together we can make change in our policies and in our society.”
The mother of social work, Jane Addams, led the profession by saying “we stand today united in a belief in beauty, genius and courage and that these can transform the world.”
Reach Precious Grundy at 567-242-0351.
