Happy Social Work Month to the advocates, allies, problem solvers and change makers in our Illinois Social Work community.
This month, we celebrate the social workers who uplift individuals and families, defend dignity and justice, and transform systems through compassion and collaboration.
Thank you for the ways you lead, listen and stand alongside others. We are proud to celebrate you today and all year long!
We asked students and alumni to share with us what makes their work great. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit their answers.
Amy H.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
As a school social worker I advocate for student’s needs primarily at the elementary level. From identifying barriers to meet basic needs and attend school, to learning social skills, navigate and regulate emotions, and provide support in moments of crisis to support the student, family and staff.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
Earlier identification of barriers to meet basic needs of students to alleviate educational barriers. This year’s primary focus has been to help families apply for state insurance to meet a medical need or to be evaluated on a suspected physical condition for the student’s well being and academic achievement.
Eileen M.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
Sometimes you have to create space where people are free to follow their consciences, and to ally with those who are marginalized by the very systems they participate in.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
When we were told in our Catholic parish, that our LGBT outreach needed to disband and that we couldn’t be in the pride parade, we created our own community for progressive Catholics who opposed the church’s teachings and felt compelled by their faith and by their consciences, to speak truth to power, and to advocate for change. We needed to be out from under fear of the hierarchy, and to be loud, proud Catholic allies. That space has expanded to provide food sources for the hungry in our neighborhood, and housing and assistance for immigrant and refugee families. We are the change we long to see in our church and in our world.
Catherine M.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
I’m working toward a shift—from reactive systems to proactive, human-centered ones. Big picture, I want SEL to be seen as part of “just what we do” in education, so every student and adult experiences belonging, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive in our schools. Specifically, I’m leading the development and implementation of our districtwide belonging framework in BPS101—designed to integrate healing-centered practices, social emotional learning skills, equity, and the learning conditions all students and adults need to thrive. Our framework ensures every building has shared language, practices, and structures that intentionally foster connection and inclusion. This includes aligning classroom routines, advisory structures, and family engagement to what our data tells us students need to feel seen and valued. On a daily level, I work to change mindsets and practices—helping teams pause before excluding a student, facilitating reflective conversations about bias, and coaching teachers to build community through predictable routines and authentic relationships.
I strive to lead with vulnerability, modeling continuous learning by naming what I’m still learning and inviting feedback in every space I’m in. I’m also working alongside staff to co-create professional learning priorities that extend this work into adult SEL, ensuring we’re not just teaching these skills to students, but embedding them into our system. Ultimately, I’m working toward schools that don’t just manage behavior, but cultivate belonging—where students and adults are known, supported, and empowered to thrive.
Michelle P.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
My work centers on supporting families during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. In a Level IV NICU, I walk alongside parents navigating medical trauma, uncertainty, and grief while helping them find their footing in an unfamiliar world. By offering emotional support, advocacy, and connection to resources, I help families feel seen, heard, and less alone, often at a time when everything feels overwhelming. At its core, my work is about restoring dignity, strengthening resilience, and reminding families of their capacity to endure and heal.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
I am working toward a healthcare system that recognizes mental health as essential, not optional, especially during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Whether through direct clinical work, leadership, or advocacy, I strive to reduce stigma, improve access to perinatal mental health support, and ensure families receive compassionate, trauma-informed care from the very beginning.
Katlyn S.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
It allows me to help students navigate their difficulties in order to thrive at school and in life.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
Making sure that every student has a voice when they are struggling.
Sasha S.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
Educating and empowering patients to live a healthier lifestyle, mentally and physically.
Hannah M.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
I have been fortunate enough to work in local school districts in Peoria for the last five years and use my social work knowledge and education to teach emotional wellness and social emotional learning. I have been able to see the skills I teach kids in action from communication to learning coping skills. Being able to be the adult for students that I didn’t have has been rewarding beyond words. I have been able to advocate for students who may been over looked or ignored in school, I have been able to bridge this gaps between families and use it cultural competence to really see the family systems ad a whole!
What change are you working toward—big or small?
I am working toward bringing back empathy and genuine kindness back to youth, at least introduce it back. It is lacking with children now and my goal is to reincorporate back in.
Amy L.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
Working with vulnerable populations and advocating for for all people to find purpose within the community.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
Programming for kids with internalizing behaviors as external in behaviors seem to get the most resources.
Niki G.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
Being a social worker is true to who I am as a human being. In all aspect of any work that I have done I try to pull forward the values of all people deserving, respect, acknowledgement, and acceptance of who they are individually. As a PATH System of Care Specialist, I am allowed to live out and share my firm belief that we need each other as neighbors, partners, friends, and family to thrive in this world. Training and coaching providers in the State helps to transform the work that is done to support our most vulnerable people by improving services and systems using philosophy that is proven to work.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
My hope is that over the next few years, I can continue to cultivate both at work and in my personal life the idea and reminder that we are better together. When rough waters begin, we can better weather the storm TOGETHER.
Tracey P.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
By my support and advocacy.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
Better work environment.
Farrah P. and Arlo
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
Facility dogs support social and emotional growth while increasing social skills and self-esteem in children and adolescence. A facility dog provides a positive mutual topic for discussion, encourages responsibility, wellbeing, and focused interaction with others. Arlo brings so much joy, a positive presence at school , and lifts moods!
What change are you working toward—big or small?
As a working team, our goal is to teach compassion, acceptance of others, mutual respect as well as relieving anxiety.
Beth W.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
My work as a therapist in private practice helps by teaching ways to heal from trauma, normalizing emotions, challenging stigma, and advocating for the idea that needing support is a strength, not a weakness. When people learn how to regulate emotions, set boundaries, and communicate effectively, the impact extends beyond the therapy room—into families, schools, workplaces, and communities.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
As a therapist in private practice, I’m working toward a community where mental health support is accessible, normalized, and woven into everyday life—not something people seek only in crisis. Even in small ways, my goal is to help shift how people understand their emotions, relationships, and nervous systems so they feel more empowered and less alone.
Jenny K.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
Connecting people to resources. Reducing barriers and strengthening resilience.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
Showing kindness and patience, everyday!
Tia S.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
Working in the field of addiction and recovery, my work helps give people hope that recovery is possible and that they are not defined by a diagnosis.
Grace K.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
As a Early Childhood school social worker, I have the opportunity to provide screening and services to students struggling with emotional regulation. This way they are set up for the rest of their school career with individualized accommodations, behavior plans, and self-management skills. Early Childhood education is an important support for all communities. Early Childhood intervention makes a world of difference for many of our students.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
I am working towards a more equitable learning environment for students of all abilities in my community. This includes collaborating with families maintaining successful school outcomes and broadening opportunities for our youth as they graduate high school.
Lacey P.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
As a school social worker, I advocate for students daily. If they are struggling in class, we problem solve together to try to fix the problem. If the student is having a peer conflict, we work together to communicate our feelings. Having a learning disability myself, I try my best to advocate for my students needs and help them in their learning environment to come up with proper accommodations to help them love learning! My sessions with students are very positive. Even on a students worst day I try to help them think of positive things going on in their life and let them know I believe in them! I always try to be the kind of person I needed when I was younger. That’s my why and reason for going into this field.
Liara T.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
Decreasing stigma in the mental and and substance use populations along with inspiring hope and resilience.
Meghan M.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
The work I do is about helping people free themselves. It’s been my joy to see people come through dark times and not only experience reduced symptoms, but deep healing. My goal of meeting people where they are at has led to me providing therapy in jail interview rooms, shelters, parks, porches, living rooms and of course offices. I am always working on micro and macro levels, hoping to help build better healthcare systems, but always staying grounded in client work.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
The most impactful changes in my career come down to small steps. I hope to continue working toward larger goals in bite size pieces!
Candice H.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
My work uplifts people by meeting them where they are and validating their lived experiences without rushing them or minimizing their pain. People often come to me with complex and deeply personal concerns, and I help them make sense of those experiences while reminding them of their strengths, skills, and worth. I focus on helping individuals see themselves clearly, not through deficit based lenses, but through what they have survived, learned, and already carry. I defend dignity by honoring culture, history, and context, especially for Black individuals whose experiences are often erased or diluted in academic and clinical spaces. I believe protecting people means speaking truth, keeping legacies alive, and naming harm when systems invalidate lived experience. I strive to be someone who listens deeply, speaks honestly, and advocates for those whose voices are too often dismissed. My work transforms by encouraging people to bet on themselves, to trust their capacity for growth, and to move forward with clarity rather than shame. I do not separate a person from their environment or their past. I believe healing happens when the whole story is seen.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
I am working toward change that allows people to heal without being gaslit, rushed, or disconnected from their lived experiences. I want to contribute to a mental health landscape that recognizes how childhood, culture, systems, and environment shape adulthood and identity. My goal is to offer care that is validating, honest, and culturally responsive, especially for those who have been harmed or overlooked by traditional systems. Even small moments of being seen, believed, and respected can create meaningful change, and I am committed to being part of that process.
Rex W.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
I work to disrupt problematic systems and behaviors within healthcare. I hold space for marginalized folx to process and heal. It is important to me show representation as a queer and trans social worker.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
I am working towards earning my DSW. I hope that this will allow me to leverage power and knowledge to create further change. I also plan to teach social work courses with an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens.
Chitaia S.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
I provide a safe space for neurodivergent children adults to show up exactly as they are and feel accepted. I model authenticity, unmasking, and being human.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
I am working toward building a practice that provides access to vulnerable individuals. ADHD and Autism may affect processing but I want to be a consistent advocate for adapting modalities and environments to the person and how they process rather than the other way around.
Alayia F.
How does your work uplift/defend/transform people or communities?
I became a social worker to advocate, support and empower individuals. By creating a safe space in times of crisis, a listening ear when someone just wants to talk, helping make connections with resources and assist in improving systems, is how I feel I uplift those in our community. When families and individuals are supported, our community grows stronger.
What change are you working toward—big or small?
Continuing to be educated on community resources and system changes across all levels from micro to macro in order to keep supporting those I help serve.
