Social Work Month

Prize winner per week during March

2011-11-09T13:05:00.000-08:00

Use raffle tickets to pick a prize winner per week during March. The first day of the month, distribute tickets to your social workers. Place the items from the Raffle Pack in a pillowcase. On Friday of each week, draw a raffle ticket. Have the lucky ticket holder reach into the pillowcase without looking and pull out a prize. After the last drawing of the month, hand out Deluxe Bookmark With Pen Gift Sets to all of your Social Workers.

National Professional Social Work Month

2011-11-09T12:58:00.000-08:00

Arrange for “personalized” potatoes this National Professional Social Work Month. Set up a baked potato bar with a variety of toppings, such as low-fat sour cream and cheddar cheese, chives, broccoli and chili. You might even try shredded BBQ chicken and beef. Give everyone “Social Workers: Every Person Matters” 3-Section Plates to put the potatoes on. Serve beverages in Sip ‘N’ Go Tumblers.

During your appreciation month

2011-11-09T12:54:00.000-08:00

Give your social workers “Social Workers: Every Person Matters” 2-Sided T-Shirts to wear proudly. During your appreciation month, hold a thank-you lunch. In the invitation, state that the entry ticket to lunch is the shirt. At the end of the event, present each attendee with a “Social Workers: Every Person Matters” Deluxe Portfolio to further show your gratitude.

Social Services Staff

2011-11-09T12:51:00.000-08:00

Good nutrition will help your social services staff give it their all. For each person, pack a lunch consisting of turkey on whole wheat, baked potato chips and a bag of apple slices. Place the items in a “Social Services: Caring That Makes A Difference” Verve Lunch Bag. Provide water to drink in a Contour-Grip Water Bottle. When you hand out the lunches, explain that healthier eating also can be convenient.

Save The Planet

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Do your part to protect the environment, and encourage your social workers to as well. At the beginning of each week, give them an eco-friendly item, such as Eco-To-Go Cups or Social Workers Eco-Jotters And Pens. Compile a list of helpful suggestions for going “green,” including “Ride your bike, take the bus, or walk to work.” Email a few of the tips each Monday during March.

Here, There, And Everywhere

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Show social workers that your gratitude, rather than being confined to your organization, follows them wherever they go. Achieve this by offering tokens of appreciation they can use outside of work. On Friday afternoons, hand out “Social Workers: Helping Create Better Tomorrows” Cell Phone Pouches/Wallets and “One Person Can Make A Difference” Stainless Steel Water Bottles.

South Of The Border

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Add spice to National Professional Social Work Month with a Mexican fiesta luncheon. Fill the dining area with sombreros, Mexican flags, and other festive decorations. Have dietary services put tacos and burritos on the menu. Pack a piñata full of candy and hang it in a safe area. Put a “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Lapel Pin at each social worker’s place setting. Let social work staff break open the piñata after they eat and distribute the treats, along with Social Workers Full-Color Widebody Pens, to other attendees as well as keep some for themselves.

Likeable List

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Ask clients and non-social work staff to acknowledge the special traits and skills social workers bring to your agency. In the middle of February, have them write down reasons they enjoy spending time with social workers. Tell them to turn in their responses within a week. Compile the comments, select the 10 best, type up a “10 Reasons We Like You” list, and make copies for every social worker. Present them at the beginning of March along with “10 Reasons I Love Being A Social Worker” T-Shirts. Also pass out “Social Workers: Making A Difference One Person At A Time” Badge Holders to go with the new shirts.

Caring Carry-Along

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Load social workers up with gifts to let them know they’re “tote”-ally awesome. Buy lotion, snacks, magazines, Social Worker’s Stress Survival Kits, and other items you think they’ll use. Stuff everything into Multi-Pocket Zippered Tote Bags. Present the totes to social workers at the start of the month.

Tempt Their Taste Buds

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Hold a Social Work Ice Cream Social one night during March. Send social workers “Social Workers: Helping Create Better Tomorrows” Greeting Cards with invitations inside. Also invite your non-social work staff. Put up “Social Workers: Helping Create Better Tomorrows” Posters at your event location. The night of the ice cream social, bring your honored guests to the front of the room, and briefly speak about their positive impact.

Gratitude Is Always In Season

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Brighten up the month of March, and remind social workers that spring is on its way. The first week, have colorful flower bouquets delivered to social work staff members. The following week, present each with a Flower Planter Gift Set. At the end of the month, pass out Telescopic Automatic Umbrellas With Sleeves to keep them dry during April showers.

Spell It Out

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Express gratitude for social workers through “Social Work Word Of The Day.” Come up with a positive word to go along with each letter of “SOCIAL WORKER.” On the first work day of the month, “S” could stand for “Super!” and the second day “O” could represent “Optimistic.” To align with that theme, distribute prizes that start with the letters, such as Sticky Pad Portfolios and “One Person Can Make A Difference” Manicure Kits. Each morning, announce the special word and randomly select a social worker to receive the gift.

Community Support

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Tap into the generosity of nearby businesses to help you reward your social work staff for their hard work. In February, speak with the owners or managers of local eateries, salons, and shops about donating gift certificates. Try to get at least five—one for each week of March. Choose products that match up with them, such as a 3-Section Plate to go with a certificate from a restaurant and a Full Color Insulated Tumbler for a coffee shop. Draw the names of social work staff to determine who wins the week’s prize. Remember to thank the businesses in your organization’s newsletter or in the local newspaper

Get It Together

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Boost productivity, cut clutter in work areas, and reduce stress by helping social work employees stay organized. In March, schedule a meeting with a catered meal and discuss ways to make improvements in these areas. During this lunchtime meeting, pass out items that will assist, such as a “Social Workers: Helping Create Better Tomorrows” Essential Portfolio Briefcase Bag to keep papers in and a “Social Workers: Helping Create Better Tomorrows” Full-Color Desk Caddy to hold desk supplies.

On The Ball

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Foster a sense of teamwork by holding a sports-themed “tailgate party” at your facility. Make social workers the Most Valuable Players (MVPs), and provide them with Embroidered Hooded Zipper Sweatshirts to wear. Serve hot dogs and hamburgers as well as nachos and other foods you might eat at a stadium. At the event, express gratitude for your social workers’ efforts and hand them “Teamwork: Together We Shine” Insulated Cooler Bags.

Food Group Fun

2010-11-19T12:27:00.001-08:00

Promote healthy eating habits by focusing on fruits and vegetables during National Professional Social Work Month. Highlight a color of fruits and vegetables each week. For example, choose red apples and tomatoes first; have slices available for social workers to snack on throughout the week. At the end of the month, present them with “Social Workers: Helping Create Better Tomorrows” Verve Vertical Lunch Bags, and encourage them to use the bags to bring nutritious foods from home. Include nutrition tips and small gifts, such as Spinning Heart Key Tags, in the bags.

Take a Break

2009-12-01T06:54:00.000-08:00

Strengthen bonds within your organization by taking everybody for a weekend team-building retreat. Choose a fun, relaxing location that’s out of town and away from workday stresses. Plan team-building games and activities, and remember to plan some time to kick back and relax as well. Surprise everyone with a Hooded Zippered Sweatshirt to wear during the weekend, and at the end of the retreat, further thank each person for working so hard, by giving each a Social Worker Gift Box of Appreciation.

Get Movin’ For Charity

2009-12-01T06:53:00.000-08:00

Encourage your social workers to sign up for a fun run or a fun walk for charity during March. Decide which charity you would like to support, and gather donations from friends and family. This is a great way to have fun and celebrate Social Work Month, while also giving back to your community! Give everyone who participates a “Social Workers: Making A Difference One Person At A Time” Stainless Steel Water Bottle, as well as a Pedometer so they can track how far they’ve gone.

Hunt For Fun

2009-12-01T06:52:00.000-08:00

Organize an office-wide scavenger hunt as a fun and relaxing diversion! If your staff is large, have them divide into teams, and hand out a list of items to hunt for in and around the office. For instance you might have them track down a yellow mug, a red pen, a flower, and a fork. Encourage employees to be creative with their solutions, and reward all members of the team that finishes first with a Embroidered Microfleece Blanket or Deluxe Lunch Bag. Give all participants a Ceramic Mug with Stationery Set.

Show You Care

2009-12-01T06:51:00.000-08:00

If your organization only employs a small number of social workers, make it a point to meet with each one individually to personally express your gratitude for the hard work they do. Give praise and allow each worker to speak openly about any concerns. Then thank them with a Wooden Trio Photo Frame, and a “Social Workers: Making A Difference One Person At A Time” Greeting Card.

Potluck Lunch

2009-12-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

Plan a potluck luncheon in a local park, or if the weather is still too chilly, hold it in a conference room or banquet hall. Have the main course catered (or barbeque at the park) and ask each employee to bring a side dish or dessert is traditional for his or her family or culture. At the lunch, say a few words about the great work your social workers do, and have each one step forward to receive a Lapel Pin on a Card. Choose from a wide selection, including “Social Workers: Making A Difference One Person At A Time”; “Social Workers: Helping People, Touching Lives”; “Social Workers: Caring That Makes A Difference”, and more.

Try Your Luck

2009-12-01T06:49:00.000-08:00

Combine social worker appreciation with a fundraising event for your organization by holding a casino night. Rent a hall and have your non-social worker employees take the roles of card dealers. Make it a dress-up affair if you want, and include a raffle for all attendees. Some prizes could be a Ceramic Mug with Stationary Set, a Recycled Tote Bag , and a Tri-Fold Frame Clock & Caddy.

Raise Awareness

2009-12-01T06:48:00.000-08:00

Social workers do lots of valuable work in the community, but for people who don’t interact with them directly, their work may be a mystery. Hold an education event to bring to light how vital your social workers are. Make displays that explain what social workers do, and hang “Social Workers: Making A Difference One Person At A Time” Posters. Serve coffee and snacks, and hand out “We Love Our Social Workers” Buttons to your visitors.

Welcome the Next Generation of Social Workers

2009-12-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

Take time this month to honor recent graduates in social work and help them prepare for the exciting challenges ahead. Hold a ceremony and give graduates gifts useful in their new career, such as an Executive Portfolio to keep their files in order, and an On-The-Go Messenger Bag to carry it all.

Get Personal

2009-12-01T06:46:00.000-08:00

Present each of your social workers with a T-Shirt featuring one of our popular logos, including “Social Workers: Making A Difference One Person At A Time” and “Strengthening Lives Through Solutions”. Or perhaps your staff will prefer our stylish Rhinestone T-Shirt with Social Workers Rock!. Our wide range of sizes makes it easy to outfit all. Then gather everyone together for a group photo in their new social worker garb.

Stress Relaxation

2009-12-01T06:45:00.000-08:00

Helping their clients cope with the issues in their everyday lives can make social workers roles both rewarding and difficult. Help alleviate some of the stress by having a professional masseuse come in one day during Social Work Month to provide free neck and shoulder massages to your hard-working social workers. A massage will help release tension and aid in relaxation. After their massage, give each social worker a Social Worker’s Stress Survival Kit. The kit’s helpful stress relief tips and goodies are sure to be appreciated.

Fuel the Motivation

2009-12-01T06:44:00.000-08:00

Invite a motivational speaker to talk about the importance of laughter in the workplace. Fill up our Full-Color Insulated Tumblers with assorted candy and other treats, and pass them out at the end of the presentation to everyone who attends.

Start the Month Off Right

2009-12-01T06:42:00.000-08:00

On March 1, the very first day of National Professional Social Work Month, surprise your social workers with a breakfast banquet. Gather your non-social worker staff and have them help you decorate the conference room or lunchroom using the “Social Workers: Making A Difference One Person At A Time” Decoration Pack. The pack comes with Balloons, Posters to decorate the walls, and Buttons and Mints to give out to each social worker while they enjoy their coffee and pastries.

A Quick Reminder

2008-12-22T07:17:00.001-08:00

If you don’t have much time to organize a big event for your social workers, surprise them with small gifts as reminders of how valuable they are. Start by writing a short message of thanks to each social worker on the Gift Card that comes with our Social Workers Sticky Note Cube & Pen Gift Sets. Then place a Gift Set on each social worker’s desk one morning early in March. Keep your appreciation going throughout the month by placing other gifts on their desks, such as “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Tri-Fold Frame Clock & Caddy.

Happy Hunting

2008-12-22T07:16:00.002-08:00

Try to set some time aside during March to plan a fun activity for your busy social workers. Hold a scavenger hunt and print up a list of items to find, such as a paper clip, a mug, a No. 2 pencil and a picture of someone’s pet. Break the social workers into teams of two or three and give them 15 minutes to find everything. Reward each member of the winning team with a Ceramic Mug with Stationery Set . Present the rest of the participants with Social Worker’s Stress Survival Kits.

Everyone Welcome

2008-12-22T07:16:00.001-08:00

Get the community involved in National Professional Social Work Month with an invitation to an Open House at your college or university’s department of social work. Print up flyers for the event and post them throughout campus and in local businesses. Have social work students on hand at the event to talk to visitors and hand out information about the school’s program. Our Decoration Pack can help you give your Open House a festive look. Thank all the social work students who participate by rewarding each with a “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” T-Shirt.

Letters Of The Day

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Put an interesting twist on a breakfast get-together for your social workers. Pick foods and drinks that begin with “s” or “w.” Some choices could include waffles, strawberries, whole wheat toast, scrambled eggs, Welch’s® grape juice and strawberry-banana smoothies. Have Social Worker Message Tumblers available for people to pour their drinks into. Also, place a “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Mouse Pad at each table setting as an added gift.

One On One

2008-12-22T07:14:00.000-08:00

Do something small–but very meaningful–for your employees during National Professional Social Work Month. Schedule a private meeting with each of them to show your appreciation for their efforts. Take advantage of your chat to address any concerns the individual may have. Make this time even more special by personally presenting each social worker with a “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Lapel Pin and a Wooden Photo Frame of Appreciation.

Opportunity To Grow

2008-12-04T07:01:00.002-08:00

March marks the official end of winter and the start of a season that brings renewed hope and growth. In honor of the spring equinox and the special meanings attributed to this time of year, have social workers plant a tree or flowers outside your facility. Because it may still be cold and wet when spring arrives, give each social worker a “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Hooded Zipper Sweatshirt and Compact Umbrella With Case. These are gifts they can use in the spring and year ‘round with pride and appreciation.

Read All About It

2008-12-04T07:01:00.001-08:00

Those who have not received help from social workers may not understand what they actually do. Use March as a chance to spread the word about the important niche social workers fill in your community. You can do this by inviting a reporter to write a story, or you could submit a press release and photos to a local newspaper. Give employees “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Polo-Style Embroidered Shirts to wear for the photos and have “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Posters hanging on the walls in the background.

A Special Person

2008-12-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Make National Professional Social Work Month 2009 the kick off for a Social Worker of the Year recognition program. In February, poll all the social workers at your facility (or in your community if you work for a small organization) to name the person they believe most went above and beyond in doing their work during 2008. Tally the results and chose a winner to honor at a special ceremony. Present the Social Worker of the Year with an Everyday Essentials Gift Basket . Give all other social workers “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Stationery Sets to show that their efforts are greatly appreciated, too.

Treats And Sweets

2008-12-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

Every person is sure to have a favorite snack or candy. Use this fact to surprise your social workers during March. Create a survey that lists different candy bars, hard candies and other snacks or desserts. Then hand out the surveys to your social workers and ask them to return it to you with checkmarks next to their favorite treats. With the information you receive, purchase the goodies. Then fill up one of our “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Deluxe Backpack or Classic Briefcase Bags for each person with his or her favorite treats. Pass them out at the beginning of the month.

Come Together

2008-12-04T06:58:00.000-08:00

If you work in a small town with few social workers, organize an appreciation event with fellow workers in neighboring areas. Plan for dinner in the evening so as not to conflict with daytime schedules. Pick a central location for the celebration, whether you hold it at a restaurant or have it catered. Turn “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Greeting Cards into invitations, and mail them out to different agencies near you. The night of your event, put a “Social Workers: Strengthening Lives Through Solutions” Pen at each table setting.

Remembering The Past

2008-12-04T06:57:00.000-08:00

March is Women’s History Month as well as National Professional Social Work Month. Combine the two by focusing your event on Jane Addams, a pioneer of social work and the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. Addams advocated for social reform in many areas, including healthcare, workplace safety and education. Create a special program based on her work and present it to your social workers at the beginning of March. Encourage them to embody the characteristics of Addams each day. At the end of the presentation, pass out Executive Portfolios and “Social Work: The Heartfelt Profession” Metal Heart Key Tags to all attendees. Your social workers can use these gifts each day to remind them of the valuable impact their dedication makes.