Earlier in the month of March, West Liberty University celebrated Social Work Month with the added joy of recognizing its ever-growing Social Work Program; now, during a recent City Council meeting of Wheeling, West Virginia, the month of March was officially recognized as Social Work Month. In a post to the Council’s official facebook page, Council members encouraged “all citizens to join in the efforts to celebrate and support the Social Work profession,” with representatives of the Hilltop’s Social Work department, along with President Evans, present at the meeting to accept the proclamation.

In an article published to West Liberty’s News and Media Relations page, Sylvia Hawranick Senften, Ed.D., MSW, WLU’s Social Work Program director commented on what the month means to our campus community; “March is the national observation of Social Work Month and we have so much to be proud of here at West Liberty University. We are one of only six state institutions in West Virginia that has an accredited BSW degree,”

While the city of Wheeling has only recently officially recognized the celebration of those within the field of Social Work, Crittenton Services, Inc., a behavioral health provider based in Wheeling, W.Va., seems to have been recognizing the month for the 125+ years they’ve been offering their services to residents across the state of West Virginia. In an announcement published to their website in March of 2019, the facility stated that “Social Work is the art of listening, and the science of hope;” going on to quote the National Association for Social Workers in saying that “We are thankful every day for the many social workers that work at and with Crittenton Services. ‘Every day, the nation’s 680,000 social workers work to empower and elevate millions of people, including some of the most vulnerable in our society.’”

While March may be over, and our city only recently recognized this momentous occasion, we can never stop thanking social workers for all they do and continue to do. From those out working in the field, to the faculty we have here at West Liberty University, even the students so eager to make a difference in the world when they emerge from the Hilltop as professionals – let’s make every month a time to thank these amazing individuals.