Post Trump Stress Disorder
Whatever your political persuasion, if you’re a social worker, you and your constituents will be affected by the policies of the Donald Trump administration.
Proposed changes in the health care system, immigration, environmental regulation, women’s right to choose, and deep budget cuts to every so-called “entitlement” program will have significant effects on all vulnerable populations. Some of these proposed changes may yield great things over time, but initially, there will be stress.
Initial Fallout
Social work agencies and nonprofits are already reporting a significant increase in emotional problems – people feel depressed and betrayed. The common theme is that the people at the bottom of the pecking order are feeling left out and marginalized. They realize that the proposed erosion of the welfare state through budget cuts will mean fewer resources for social programs.
Immediate Response
What can social workers do in this new political environment? We think we see an early consensus emerging from conversations we’ve had with social workers across the country since the election. They seem to agree that the following initial responses are both appropriate and necessary to offer support to their troubled constituencies.
- Do not go silent! Social workers must listen to their clients and offer reassurance that they will not give up on them. We must remind our constituents that social change is a marathon process and that change will come after setbacks.
- Social work agencies and nonprofits may renew their commitment to social action beyond handling casework. This seems to be one of those times that we might look up from our immediate casework and become more active advocates.
- This is the time to look over at the desk beside you and offer your colleague emotional support. To quote Ginger Poag, MSW, LCSW, from an article in Social Work Today: “It’s so easy to start feeling desperate and overwhelmed and feeling that there’s no hope,” she says. “But we can do this. We can come together as social workers and make a big change. I believe we are the people who are most prepared to take on this challenge.” Social workers must help each other remain resilient in tough times. That involves engaging in self-care and tapping into the passion and commitment that brought you into the profession in the first place.
The Social Worker’s Role
The preamble to The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers reads as follows:
“The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human need of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. A historic and defining feature of social work is the profession’s focus on individual well-being in a social context and the well-being of society. Fundamental to social work is attention to the environmental forces that create, contribute to, and address problems in living.
Social workers promote social justice and social change with and on behalf of clients. “Clients” is used inclusively to refer to individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. Social workers are sensitive to cultural and ethnic diversity and strive to end discrimination, oppression, poverty, and other forms of social injustice…”
Remember that the politician’s primary role is not to “enhance human well-being”. It is to “get reelected”.
