Written by: Kiersten ‘KiKi’ Szymecki, MSW Policy Intern
What comes to mind when you hear “social work”? Maybe that they take children away from their families? Or that social workers aren’t well paid nor is there an opportunity for career progression? That they only do case work? Maybe you’ve heard the myth – anyone can be a social worker.
These myths often stem from contorted crumbs of a truth. Yes, in some folk’s horrific experiences – it has been that they were separated from their children maybe due to negligence or bias of an individual who calls themself a social worker. Absolutely, there is room for salary improvement for appreciating the immense undertaking of serving as a social worker. In every industry there are certainly stagnant positions, or roles predominantly held by a certain professional, but valuing the dynamic skills of a social worker instead of viewing the profession through a singular lens across the field, would serve everyone far better.
And no, I don’t think anyone can be a social worker. Let me explain.
Before social work (SW) was coined and regulated as a profession, the embodiment of social work existed out of necessity for survival. Enslaved women in British Colonized America pioneered social work through methods of community care, healing, mutual aid, nursing, child welfare, advocacy, and social justice. These roots created ripples that can be traced back to origins in labor organization, civil rights, medical field advancement, social services, and so much more. The key takeaway is social work didn’t start once the profession was defined with curriculum, degrees, and codes of ethics, it has always existed – where there are unmet needs there are social workers. These women laid the foundation they are too often not properly credited for.
As this profession has evolved, social workers hold a position of privilege and power, with professional ethics and responsibilities to the people and community we serve. That being said, unfortunately there is evidence of some SW’s who let racial bias, lack of cultural competency, poor decision making, and/or power tripping define their actions. I say this because if you are not able to engage in deep self-reflection, seek out supervisory feedback, name power and privilege, confront bias and prejudice, challenge systemic inequities, enthusiastically center social justice, work through conflict, adapt and remain emergent, speak up and speak out, recognize intersectionality and human nuance, give grace to what you do and do not know, and move in an equitable manner – then this profession is not for you. We walk alongside our communities, understanding our positionality and with that awareness we intentionally engage in a way that centers the voices of those we serve.
My Own Origins in Pursuing Social Work
Before I entered graduate school I thought social workers only did case work. Oh, was I wrong! One of the first social workers I ever worked with was a case worker for a Virginia state psychiatric hospital. I remember interviewing her early on for an undergraduate project and hearing the frustrations that seemed to perpetually occur within that environment. Slow movement through treatment plans, lack of resources, minimal pay, chronically understaffed and over worked, disorganized collaboration with internal and external actors, delayed discharge and on and on. However, when she spoke about seeing her clients experience wins, express autonomy, and receive dignified treatment, her joy was unmistakable. To me this was a lesson in resilience and commitment, even in the face of overwhelming systemic short-comings. This also signified that there is opportunity for improvement – we can see what isn’t working. What do we need to do to address this?
The next social worker I met happened to sit next to me on a flight to California. This was in 2020 during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests and my t-shirt choice expressed my alignment with social justice leading to a conversation. She told me a story of a case that came across her awareness involving a family that was on the verge of separation. The father in this home was having difficulty with alcohol consumption and it was starting to affect the well-being of the children. A previous case worker initiated removing the children from the home. However, the woman I was speaking with recognized something else may be going on. She pondered on the fact that up until recently this family was stable. When she inquired further she found out the father had lost his job. In this family’s culture, men are typically the financial providers of the household, and he started drinking because the burden of not being able to provide for his family became increasingly difficult to cope with. This social worker recognized family separation wasn’t necessary at all! What was needed were coping skills, resources to connect with job preparation, and steady employment. She taught me a lesson that day, one that has stuck with me, and one that I think social workers who are in this profession for unselfish reasons align with. At first glance, a situation may appear one way, but it’s the social worker’s duty to dig deeper, think holistically, and engage humanistically.
Through these experiences and so many others, I find myself in my final semester of my graduate social work program at VCU. My concentration is called macro social work, different from the typical clinical track (LCSW’s). Social workers are often viewed through two lenses, micro and macro. Micro social workers tend to focus more on direct practice which can encompass psychoeducation, therapeutic interventions, therapy (individual, group, family/couple), and more. The macro concentration focuses on the broader picture – examining root causes that drive societal and systemic challenges, often reflected in patterns across policy, programs, and practice. Of note is that neither of these brief descriptions are all encompassing of the dynamic and interdisciplinary skills that social workers in general have and are capable of. However, I believe that clinical social work, micro-level practice, is what most people think of when they hear about our profession, and it is often what schools tend to prioritize.
Macro Social Work – How I Landed Here and What It Is
Before I decided on my concentration, I met an exceptional social worker who has made a lasting impact on my life. I expressed an interest in zooming out, examining broader patterns and identifying the root causes of these issues. In my professional experience, individuals with very different life circumstances often present with similar needs: housing, stable employment, food, education, and mental health care. This points to a larger systemic issue and reinforces the need to address underlying causes rather than only responding to immediate needs. Once I learned from her that this is exactly what macro social work can do, and so much more, I knew I had found where I belonged.
Defining macro social work requires comfort with ambiguity. You don’t type in “macro social work” when seeking out employment. However, if you can be creative, you can be a macro social worker almost anywhere! Unfortunately this isn’t always well known. Several times throughout my education I’ve engaged in heated debates with a few clinical peers who seem determined to uphold the false narrative that there’s no money in macro social work or that you will struggle to find a job. My response, besides pointing out the harms of perpetuating false rhetoric, were:
- I didn’t get into social work to become a millionaire.
- The job market isn’t a cake walk for anyone, but the opportunities are absolutely there.
A broad overview of macro social work is that the focus area is concerned with systems level change, advocacy, and social justice – with curriculum built around policy, planning, programming, and administration. There is no one definition that perfectly captures the dynamic set of qualities and skills that inform macro social work. Macro social workers can work at a city, state, or national level. We excel in positions such as policy analysts, community organizers, non-profit leaders, program evaluators/developers, grant writers/fundraisers, researchers, lobbyists/advocates, facilitators, professors, and consultants (with so many other options it’s impossible to name them all). The beauty of macro social work, in my opinion, is that you’re basically equipped to pursue any role you are drawn to (that doesn’t require some sort of licensure, or niche degree). The options are endless!
Though micro and macro social work are often viewed as separate from the other there is undeniable intersectionality, much like the human experience we seek to improve upon. Policy should not be written without input from micro level experiences and observations. Micro interventions and resources have policies written around them that directly impact the clinician’s abilities and client’s experience. We focus on different aspects, but the root of it all is the same – to be in service as a social worker.
Celebrating Social Workers Month
March has led me to reflect on my time spent as a macro social work intern at Mental Health Virginia. During my time here I have had the privilege to expand my skills and acquire new ones that prepare me to enter the next phase of my professional career. In this role I have:
- Created presentations using program data to support internal decisions and share updates with stakeholders
- Developed and shared social media content to raise awareness and connect people with mental health resources
- Met with local, state, and federal stakeholders to discuss and advocate for mental health policy priorities
- Attended General Assembly sessions to follow and support mental health-related legislation
- Built and maintained a tracking system to monitor 100+ pieces of legislation relevant to the organization
- Wrote a grant proposal to help secure funding for organizational programs and services
While this list only captures a portion of my experience here, the most rewarding part has been contributing to an organization dedicated to improving mental health access and quality for all Virginians. A central initiative of Mental Health Virginia is destigmatizing mental health care. Stigma remains a pervasive barrier shaping outcomes at the individual, community, practitioner, and policy level, and one that continues to compound harm for those who seek help. My supervisor offered a perspective early on that has stayed with me throughout my time at MHV, “’Not everyone has a mental illness, but everyone has mental health.” I hope we keep moving toward a culture that treats mental health with the same weight as physical health. After all, you can’t fully have one without the other.
Happy Social Work Month, I am honored to know so many wonderful social workers. Gratitude to all that do this work!
