Cooper’s Social Work Team for The Buddy Walk, 2020
March is Social Work Month, and a great opportunity to learn about the important teams who work with patients and families to provide support during life’s most challenging moments. In New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s proclamation of March 2022 as Social Work Month in New Jersey, he acknowledged the impact of social workers on individuals and our communities at large: “Whereas the 2022 Social Work Month theme, ‘The Time is Right for Social Work’ embodies how social workers rose to meet the most pressing challenge of our lifetimes, the COVID-19 pandemic, even as our nation continues to grapple with systemic racism, economic inequality, global warming, and other crises … Social workers have helped this nation live up to its values by successfully advocating for equal rights for all, including individuals who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, people of every race and creed, people with disabilities, and more.”
Our thanks to Catherine Morrison, LCSW, ACM-SW, Director of Transitional Care, who shared more about what people should know about the reach and impact of social workers at Cooper.
What is the role of a social worker at Cooper?
Social workers in the hospital setting are at the front lines of helping patients and their families navigate and cope with life’s most challenging moments while they are in the midst of a crisis. Hospital social workers provide patients and families with information about the resources available to them to cope with the emotional, financial, and social needs that arise with a diagnosis and hospitalization.
What are some ways that social workers help their patients?
As an advocate for the patient, a social worker is involved with their discharge planning process. Social workers work one-on-one with patients and their families to plan for life after their hospital stay. This includes linking patients with social service providers and ensuring that all patients’ needs are met. Social workers do all of this with compassion and empathy, in a way that is inclusive of all people.
How can a patient connect with a social worker?
Any patient or their family can request to speak with one of our team by calling the Transitional Care Department at 846.342.3270, and they will be put in contact with the individual who covers their unit.
Thank you again, Cathy, for sharing this with us. And thank you to all of our Social Workers at Cooper for the important role you have in the healing and recovery of our patients and their families.
