Please Say Thank You to a Social Worker this March

According to the website SocialWorkLicenseMap.com, social workers are professionals who aim to enhance overall well-being and help meet basic and complex needs of communities and people.

 That description also defines many of the goals and much of our work at NHCO. Several staff members earned a degree in social work, which prepared them for their duties.

 "At the pantry distributions, I see families and individuals in all kinds of different life situations, and being a Social Worker helps me to best serve them where they are at while maintaining their dignity and worth," said Food Pantry Coordinator Kelly King.

 Kelly has a bachelor's degree in social work and learned techniques to intervene and respond to clients' needs while being compassionate. Through conversation and questions, clients visiting the food pantry will often mention other issues they’re facing, and learn about other resources available to them. 

McKees Rocks Service Coordinator Mikhaila Fogel is mindful of three core values when working with a client: dignity, the importance of human relationships, and social justice. These principles set a foundation for helping someone working to improve their situation.

"Because the Pathways program is a case management program, a lot of what I do revolves around developing relationships with clients and earning their trust as their case manager, which is where I think my social work education really kicks in," Mikhaila said.

 Millvale Service Coordinator Carmen Sepúlveda did an internship in college where she learned about the many resources available to those in need in Allegheny County. She often shares that knowledge with her clients. Her social work degree also taught her to identify a client's strengths and build a foundation on those skills.

 "A lot of the time when people are coming to us in crisis mode, they are really down on themselves, and being a social worker is all about helping them recognize their unique worth,“ said NHCO Millvale Service Coordinator Carmen Sepúlveda.