Social workers have been dedicated to improving human well-being and enhancing the basic needs of all people-especially the most vulnerable among us. This morning, a proclamation was signed during a virtual ceremony declaring March as Social Work Month.

This year's theme,"Maintaining Connections Through Changing Environments: Social Workers Are Essential" embodies the heroic contributions of the Social Work profession to our island and our nation, including their work to heal our island and our nation during times of pandemic, racial unrest, economic uncertainty, and political divisiveness.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero announced, "I can reflect back when I was a nurse, that one of the most important persons in the health care team of the comprehensive care for patients is the social worker. You can be there as a nurse, to meet the acute needs of the patient, but the social workers are the lifeline."

Social Workers play a crucial role in our island's health care system and have played a key role in this island's response to COVID-19 and helping individuals, families and communities cope with the epidemic.

And this week many of the island's social workers will be attending the Annual National Association of Social Workers two-day conference, which will be taking place this week on March 25 and 26th.