Social workers as super-heroes | Anna Scheyett | TEDxColumbiaSC

Translator: Rita Selimi Reviewer: Helena Bedalli I have a song! I love this song. And I love this song because everyone needs a hero. And in fact, sometimes, when life throws us big challenges, we need a

super

hero! Someone who isn't afraid to jump into the chaos and fight the war with us shoulder to shoulder, right? So today I have good news for you. Because all over the world, cleverly disguised as gentle individuals, we have thousands of

super

heroes

. more than 600,000 in the United States alone. We call them

social

workers

. (Applause) Now, for some of you, when you said superhero, of course,

social

workers

weren't the first thing that came to mind.

Maybe what came to mind was something like this (Laughter) while you were questioning your parenting skills (Laughter) Or, if not, then like this: Peace and love and singing of Kum Por Yah Hey, I'm here to show you that Los Social workers are none of these. My goal is that when you walk out today, the image you've created by listening to social workers will look more like this. (Laughs) Social workers as super

heroes

. And I'd like to spend the next few minutes talking about that. Social workers are nothing but good-hearted people. Social workers are educated professionals who attend accredited study programs that are surrounded by a rigorous research base.

Even what they learn there is only part of what made them superheroes. The two most important things? They learn their mission and they learn how to make a difference. The mission of social work is to promote and support the well-being of the individual and the community, and to combat social inequality. Social workers do this because we learn to see and understand the invisible internal connections between people and their families, as well as between their neighbors in the community, society, laws and policies. And we know that when these connections become damaged or broken, problems arise. That's why we teach evidence-based interventions that help solve the problems between tangles and fractures.

And with this, we can achieve powerful changes. Another reason I think of social workers as superheroes is because, just like superheroes, everyone will need a social worker at some point because everyone will face big challenges in life. Maybe the challenges start early and you were born prematurely. Who helps your parents find a specialist? Or help them pay their hospital bills? Or looking for a car seat for a small baby? Hospital social workers. A little later in life, you're in school and maybe you're being bullied or thinking about dropping out. Who designs and implements anti-bullying and truancy programs?

Social workers at school. Later, when you get older, you face adult problems, such as divorce or losing a job, and you become depressed or even start drinking too much. Who do you turn to for advice and therapy? Licensed counseling social workers. Did you know that the majority of mental health services in this country are provided by social workers? It's close to 70%. And then we have some very difficult end-of-life issues - for example, his 86-year-old father has Parkinson's but insists that he can live independently. Who helps him know if he is really safe? Or who helps you find home service?

Or navigate these difficult conversations about will, notary issues, and DNR? Social workers for older people. Then comes the big picture. Who runs nonprofit agencies? Who organizes the community? Who fights to ensure that laws and policies are fair? These are social workers, managers, organizers and lawyers. So at some point, everyone will need a social worker. The last thing I want to think about when I think of social workers as superheroes came to mind when my friend Carla gave me a mug that at the beginning had this cute saying: "I am a social worker who is your superpower" And that is really what social workers do.

We say, "Tung, I'm a social worker. What's your superpower?" Social workers believe in strengths and we help people find them and address the challenges they struggle with. My favorite story about power is told to me by my friend Martha, she was a social worker who lived on the coast and every year she hired a social work intern, because one year she had a new daughter and assigned her a client whose name. It was... call him Bob Bob suffered from mental illness and had isolated himself in the apartment and what he did all day was listen to the radio.

Martha sent the student to take an assessment and the student returned. And Martha said, "So, what did you learn?" And the student said, "I learned that I was very good at listening to the radio." But she had a plan. She went to the local coast guard office, someone who should be listening to the airwaves and writing the announcements and news. She convinced him to take Bob on as a volunteer. She then convinced Bob to try it. "Really, Bob, they want you to listen." to the radio!" He also listened to the radio better than anyone. They loved it!

They hired him part-time. Then Bobby said, "Okay, I have some money. I'm going to leave the house and I'd like to go out to eat." I haven't done this in years, but I'm afraid to do it alone. Will you join me for dinner?" The student says she does, of course, and she goes there the next day, but she arrives early and sits down, and when Bob arrives, she asks him, "Bob, what did you hear on the radio? Bob tells her the news?" . (laughs) They do this several times a week, and everyone in the restaurant now knows that if they want to know what's going on, ask Bob.

Martha swears it was like the scene in Cheers at the end when Norm arrives and says "Bob!" So Bob has a job, money and friends, and it all happened because the social worker discovered his ability to listen to the radio. My final thought for you today is: As you said before, we all need a social worker. When this happens to you, don't be shy, go get one, I promise they will help you find your superpower and you will overcome it anyway. my life in. Thank you very much (Applause).