This year's theme, "Hope and Health", focuses on issues related to wellness.

The Washington, DC VAMC Social Work Service along with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), proudly announces National Social Work Month 2007.

This year's theme "Hope and Health": Help Starts Here highlights the important role of health social workers in the well-being of their clients. More than simply treating a client, health social workers take a holistic, psychosocial approach to working with a client providing the best overall care.

Social workers in the health setting remove barriers to effective treatment for a client, says Elizabeth Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH, executive director of NASW. They provide hope throughout the course of an illness, helping clients to overcome their devastation and look to the future.

As an integral member of the interdisciplinary team, more than 110,000 health care social workers across the country act as the advocate for a client's needs and guide them in making decisions about their physical and emotional care. Social workers also work with the family to understand and to help the client through counseling or support groups.

Social workers play a key role in the quality of care for clients in the VA's hospitals and clinics. Social workers see a client through the entire trajectory of their illness from diagnosis to treatment to recovery and beyond.

Social Work Month also provides an opportunity for social workers to highlight the essential role they play in alleviating some of America's most difficult problems. Through education, training and dedication, social workers provide assistance in many different practice areas including aging, mental health, child welfare, cancer, end of life, adolescent health, HIV/AIDS and family violence.

Social workers are essential to the hope and health of their clients. To find comprehensive information about the role of social work and where to go for assistance for these and other issues, please contact Social Work Service at x8338.