Established last year by Richmond City Council and Mayor Levar M. Stoney, Richmond Social Work Month recognizes those who have dedicated their professional lives to helping improve the quality of life for others, especially those experiencing distress, through the delivery of positively impactful programs and services.

Social work is critically important to the lives, well-being, and sustainability of Richmond residents and the ongoing success of our thriving community.

Social work and the delivery of social service programs is a very involved, challenging, and demanding undertaking that can be overwhelming and emotionally draining and social work/ service professionals tirelessly work to help make the lives and outcomes of our communities the best they can be.

Social work is important in helping to fortify, build, and strengthen the capacities, resiliency, and stability of individuals, families, groups, communities, and society by establishing, developing, and delivering individual and collective development and empowerment programs and services that bring together and maximize available resources to assist social, educational, behavioral, health care, economic, cultural, and human development in supporting and improving the individual and shared well-being, success, sustainability, and outcomes of others.

Public and nonprofit social work programs, policies, funding, and practitioners work on behalf of the public good in serving individuals, families, and communities and helping all persons, irrespective of race, gender, identity, or income, to have happier and healthier lives.

Locally, the Richmond Department of Social Services provides for the delivery of numerous social work programs and services on behalf of Richmond residents and its operations include the Division of Children, Families and Adults, which works on ensuring families and children are safe and secure in their own homes, in foster homes and throughout the community; the Office of Children’s Services Act, which helps provide child-focused services on behalf of troubled and at-risk youths; and, the Division of Economic Support and Independence, which provides residents in need with tools and opportunities that promote economic stability.

Richmond City Council thanks all those work- ing on behalf of Richmond residents for their help in making our city an even better, happier, and more sustainable place to live, love, work, learn, play, visit and enjoy family.

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL