Edolphus Towns: “I rise tonight to honor America's social workers. This month provides us an opportunity to highlight the essential role…”

“I rise tonight to honor America's social workers. This month provides us an opportunity to highlight the essential role that social workers play in alleviating some of America's most difficult problems. Professional social workers are found in every facet of community life, including our schools, our hospitals, mental health clinics, senior citizen facilities, elected office, private practices, prisons, among our military personnel, and the list goes on and on. This year's theme for National Professional Social Workers Month is 'Hope and Health; Help Starts Here.' This theme reflects the important work being done by social workers in the health care field. Social workers involved in health care often work within a multidisciplinary team which includes doctors, nurses and other medical professionals. This is an approach to ensure quality care for patients and their families. I am grateful for the leadership and expertise that the members of the National Association of Social Workers provide to the people of America and, of course, around the world.”