March is Professional Social Work Month

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- In 1936, the newly formed Department of Public Welfare sent out the first social workers to combat the poverty of the Great Depression in Oklahoma. Since then, social workers have tirelessly worked to lift up people in need, strengthen families and help Oklahomans lead safer, healthier, more independent and productive lives.
In recognition of the achievements of social workers, Gov. Brad Henry has proclaimed March 2004, as Professional Social Work Month in Oklahoma.

Through programs like adoption, adult protective services, foster care, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and disaster food stamps, social workers touch the lives of one million Oklahomans each year.

Because of the compassion and hard work of social workers during fiscal year 2003, the Oklahoma Department of Human Services was able to add to the betterment of Oklahoma with an impressive list of accomplishments, including:

• A record 14,298 elderly and disabled Oklahomans were served through the ADvantage Waiver program.
  The total number of licensed childcare slots increased to a record 140,175.
• A record $153,443,023 in child support was collected, exceeding last year’s record by 7 percent.
• Despite reducing expenditures for services by nearly $30 million, more than 7,000 Oklahomans with developmental disabilities were served through state-funded and Medicaid waiver programs.
• A record 553,704 Oklahomans were fed through the use of food stamps.

From the lonely stretches of highway in the panhandle to the rolling hills of southeastern Oklahoma, social workers set the standard in public service by reaching out and working for a brighter future for all Oklahomans.

To learn more about the services available through OKDHS, contact your local OKDHS county office, or go to /content/sok-wcm/en/okdhs.html.

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