Nacogdoches County Commissioner Robin Dawley and Dr. Freddie Avant, director of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Social Work, hold the proclamation while faculty members, field instructors, students and others in attendance stand behind on the School of Social Work Building’s grand staircase.

Nacogdoches County Commissioner Robin Dawley and Dr. Freddie Avant, director of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Social Work, right; hold the proclamation while faculty members, field instructors, students and others in attendance stand behind on the School of Social Work Building’s grand staircase. Dawley delivered a proclamation to the School of Social Work’s to kick off Social Work Month.


NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Social Work kicked off Social Work Month Wednesday with a proclamation event to begin a number of events the school will host to honor the social work profession. 

Nacogdoches County Commissioner Robin Dawley delivered the proclamation to the School of Social Work’s faculty members, field instructors, students and others in attendance. 

“Having County Commissioner Dawley present the proclamation is significant because it shows the support from local leadership and officials for the work that social workers do in the Nacogdoches community,” said Lenola Wyatt, assistant professor in the School of Social Work and event organizer.

Themed “Empowering Social Workers,” March was established as Social Work Month in 1963 by the National Association of Social Workers and officially recognized by the United States government in 1984 under President Ronald Reagan. The month is a chance to inform the public about the services social workers provide in an array of sectors, including hospitals, mental health centers, schools, social service agencies, community centers and politics.

“Social Work Month highlights the tremendous responsibilities that social workers bear,” Wyatt said. “Social workers help relieve people's suffering; fight for social, economic and environmental justice; and improve lives and communities. Furthermore, social workers assist people by helping them cope with issues in their everyday lives, deal with their relationships, and solve personal and family problems.

According to Wyatt, the month-long acknowledgment is an opportunity to highlight social workers who often work under difficult, dangerous and stressful circumstances. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows more than 728,000 social workers in the United States in 2022, and a 7% projected growth from 2022-32.

The school will host several events throughout the month with speakers who will discuss the importance of social work in today’s world. Events include trainings, documentary screenings, a NASW Deep East Texas branch award luncheon and panel discussions, to name a few.

The culminating event for the month will be the Student Association of Social Workers’ third annual car wash fundraiser. 

For more information about the SFA School of Social Work, visit the school's website. 


ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY 
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 37 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at the SFA website.