Theme: "The Time is Indeed Right for Georgia Social Work" The conference theme is carried over from the 2022 Social Work Month theme and is relevant for the following reasons:
• Social Justice issues currently impacting the nation, e.g., voting rights, women's rights, racial inequality, etc.
• Ethics in Social Work practice as practitioners render Mental Health services.
• The country is experiencing a Mental Health crisis, especially in GA. GA's Political leadership has called for an increase in Mental Health workers and services.
• As indicated in the 2022 SW Month Theme Rationale: There are nearly 720,000 social workers in our nation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that number is expected to grow by 12 percent by the end of the decade, making social work one of the fastest-growing professions in the nation.
• The nation needs more social workers as it continues to deal with entrenched problems that have stressed our society, including systemic racism and the Coronavirus pandemic. The United States is also experiencing one of its worst economic downturns since the Great Depression. Social workers are on the front lines, helping people overcome these crises.
• As our nation continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, economic inequality, global warming, and other crises, the Time is indeed Right for Georgia Social Work!