Social Work Week kicked off in Prince George today. (Monday)
“There’s a lot of misperceptions as far as what social workers do,” said Brent Goerz, a registered Social Worker in Prince George.
“I think many people understand that social workers engage in child protection, and resource work with regards to small children, but what they don’t necessarily recognize is that social workers are in every segment of society.”
Goerz said social workers have been connected to substantial changes in the past.
“We’re really change makers when it comes to being able to step back and look at the big picture in issues that effect everyone.”
Mayor Simon Yu announced Social Work Week in front of the Brigitte Moran statue on Third Avenue.
“Here was somebody who advocated for the needs of her clients to the point in which she stood up to W.C. Bennett and some of the policies that were going on at the day, and was fired as a result,” Goerz said of Moran.
“So many of us kind of get trapped in this idea of having to pay our bills and putting our values secondary, whereas Brigitte Moran was a fierce advocate and really put her clients first, and modelled what’s important when we think about change making.”
The theme of social work week this year is “one profession, many roles.”