JAMAICAN social workers will tomorrow join the world in celebrating the inaugural international day of social work.

The celebration is the result of a 2004 resolution of the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), which was formed in Munich, Germany in 1956 to, among other things, promote social work as a profession through international co-operation.

The celebration – being held under the theme ‘Social work: making a world of difference’ – is intended to raise people’s awareness about social work.

It will kick off with an exhibition showcasing the work of local social workers across the island. The exhibition – organised by the Jamaican Association of Social Workers, the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, and Northern Caribbean University (NCU) – will be staged on the UWI campus tomorrow, beginning at 10:00 am.

“The highlight of the day will be an exhibition here at UWI. We will be looking at the various social services agencies, and the services they offer, as well as the role that social workers play in these agencies,” said Maxine Francis, who is co-ordinating the day’s activities.

Participants in the exhibition, which is to be opened by children’s advocate Mary Clarke, will include the Centre for HIV/AIDS Research and Education (CHAIR); the Detox Unit at the University Hospital of the West Indies; and the Correctional Services Department.

A discussion segment to allow networking among social workers will follow the exhibition, which is to end at about 11:30 am. That session will give social workers the opportunity to field questions about their work from students and other interested people participating.

“The thing is that a lot of persons don’t know about the different roles that the social worker plays. And it is important for us to put the information out there for persons to know the importance of the profession of social work,” said Francis. “It is a holistic intervention strategy that we use in social work. We look at the micro, which is the person; the mezzo, which is the community; and the macro, which is the different policies that are impacting on individuals.”

The IFSW echoed her sentiments in a release to the media.

“Social workers recognise that the voice of vulnerable and marginalised individuals and groups (such as those living in poverty, people who are homeless, children and older people and people with physical or learning disabilities) is often not heard,” the organisation said. “Social workers aim to enable people to voice their concerns and to work jointly with service users to improve national and international social policies.”

Added IFSW: “Social workers respond not only to individual needs, but also larger social issues such as poverty, domestic violence, homelessness and health care. Social work aims to promote human rights and social justice.”

The next step is to have the day recognised by the United Nations, and “to work in partnership with other global organisations to ensure proper recognition of social work”, the IFSW said.

The IFSW is a global organisation with half-a-million members in 84 countries. In addition to the promotion of social work, the IFSW encourages the establishment of national organisations of social workers or professional unions of social workers where none exist.

The IFSW also works to support social work organisations in promoting social workers’ participation in social planning and the policy formulation nationally and internationally.

At the same time, it is intended to help advance social work training, while improving the standards and values of the profession.