Student Brittany Macaluso Featured in NASW Video Celebrating Generations of Social Workers
In honor of National Social Work Month celebrated every March, Monmouth University’s School of Social Work is recognizing the people who make the department thrive. The school’s Instagram account (@MonmouthSocialWork), as well as the University’s account (@MonmouthUniversity), will be celebrating the social work profession this month by highlighting students, alumni, and faculty.
The New Jersey chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) also recently featured junior social work major Brittany Macaluso in its video celebrating generations of social workers and their contributions to society. As its youngest member, Macaluso noted, “I feel excited to have a group of people who are in the same field who I know have the same values and desires as I do. Being part of this national organization allows me to see not only what is going on locally and on a state level, but throughout all of the neighboring states and around the world.”
Macaluso’s membership allows her to stay informed about current social work events in the news and continuing education that is needed for her to obtain her license as a social worker.
Crediting Jennifer Baker’s introduction to social work class, Macaluso switched her major from psychology to social work. “I realized that I wanted to effect more change on a policy level and impact people that way,” Macaluso said. “From classroom discussions, to professors always being available, to receiving built-in internships in our curriculum, I believe that Monmouth [University’s] School of Social Work prepared me on an individual, community and global level.”
While there are many social issues she’d like to work on, Macaluso is interested in making it easier for formerly incarcerated people to reenter society.
“This work would start while they are still on the inside from introducing education and teaching skills that can translate into jobs once they are released. I fully support movements such a ‘Ban the Box,’ which makes it illegal for employers to ask about prior convictions. An issue with this population that truly gets me is that they are not allowed to vote after being released. This is political disenfranchisement, which has been a tactic [used] throughout history that makes vulnerable populations unable to voice their views. This is unethical and needs to be changed,” Macaluso explained.
The theme for Social Work Month 2020 is “Social Workers: Generations Strong.”
According to an NASW press release citing the Bureau of Labor Statistics, social work is one of the fastest growing professions in the U.S., with the number of people employed in social work to grow by 11% over the next decade.
NASW introduced National Social Work Month for the first time in March 1963 to encourage public support and interest in the social work profession. In 1984, the White House officially recognized March as National Social Work Month.
Additional Link
NASW Video: Social Work Generations: Compassion, Commitment, Connection