At Global Vision Technologies we are inspired every day by the dedication and commitment of the social workers we are privileged to work with. It is no secret that, for the most part, social workers are overworked, underpaid, and constantly immersed in human suffering. Why do they do it? What motivates them to work such long hours under constant scrutiny facing opposition from supervisors, regulators, and the clients themselves? In their own words, here’s what social workers told us about why they do what they do.
- David Crampton, who teaches social work at Case Western Reserve University said this:
“Personal motivation matters in social work, more so than other professions. That’s because social workers use their personal history to relate to clients and to fuel them through long, demoralizing days. Not only do you have to be motivated to do this really tough work, but also you have to be willing to work in a system that doesn’t give you a lot of tools. We ask social workers to keep our children safe but their only tool is themselves and their ability to refer to other services.”
- Tammy Chapman-Wagner offered this insight:
“Women are the natural helpers in life…in families. We see a lot of our staff working through a lot of issues of their own, and they’re trying to help others (with similar issues).”
- The desire to go beyond helping and make a lasting difference is a powerful motivator, according to Tracy Whitaker, director of the National Association of Social Workers’ Center for Workforce Studies and Social Work Studies.
“It’s kind of cliché to say people just want to help,” Whitaker says. “People want to help set things right. The rewards are hard to see…intangible. But they’re also very powerful. There is enough of a reward in helping…in seeing people’s lives improve, that it keeps social workers going.”
- Let’s listen to the sincere testimony of an every-day social worker:
“Social Work is not for the faint of heart. I am a licensed Social Worker and work for a non-profit religious organization in Treatment Foster Care...Many of my cohorts work as social workers in many different areas including: Children Services, Gerontology, Residential Services, and others. Our goal is to improve the quality of life and provide services for individuals, groups, and our communities. We want to restore social functioning and promote positive changes. Regardless of our salaries or official job title our goal is the same. Thank you to all Social Workers and keep striving to make a difference, because you are. (Diane Stupp)
The management and engineers at Global Vision Technologies are moved by the selfless dedication of the social workers we work with. Their work is not glamorous and sometimes appears hopeless, but they press on day after day. It is our honor and privilege to participate in their noble mission.
