Talking Points

Talking Points For Meetings With Your Elected Officals

• Many in the public only think of social workers as the “people who take children away.” In truth, you will find socialworkers throughout society – not just protecting children from abuse and neglect, but also providing mental healthand substance use disorder treatment, assisting active duty military, veterans and their families, in schools, helpingcorporations better serve their communities, and in community organizations as well as in local, state andgovernment.

• Social workers are the largest providers of mental health in the country, far outnumbering psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, and other mental health professionals.

• During these last twelve months of the pandemic, social workers have provided essential services, but have not always been recognized or appreciated for the work they do in keeping the Commonwealth as healthy and as safe as possible. o Social workers directly assisting COVID-19 patients in hospitals

o Social workers in nursing homes helping isolated elders and working hard to keep patients safe

o School social workers navigating assisting students during school closures, including increasing suicide ratesamong teenagers

o Clinical social workers moving their practices online and deciding when/how to reopen their practices, whileassisting Pennsylvanians with the mental health challenges of COVID-19

o Grief therapists working with those who lost loved ones to COVID-19

o Trauma therapists counseling the health care workers who are struggling with the losses of the last year • Share your own stories! Why are you becoming a social worker? What are your goals?

ADVOCACY TIPS FOR MEETINGS

• Be concise and to the point;

• Be polite and friendly;

• Say “I don’t know” if needed;

• Be prepared for anything;

• But, most of all, don’t underestimate yourself or your impact!