A Day in the Life of a Social Worker

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – As the world gets more complicated, falling victim to complex schemes often requires specialized help.

Ohio University Zanesville held its 4th annual Day in the Life of a Social Worker networking event that offers 20 agencies and organizations an opportunity to discuss the situations they are facing and give the students a more detailed account of the career path they are pursuing.

“So we have our continuing education going on right now. And then we also have our Agency Fair to where students especially, let alone everyone else but our students are able to walk through, find employment, network and they’re looking for internships. And then after that we have a panel. So we have six panelists to where our students are going to ask all different kinds of questions.” OUZ Career Development Coordinator Summer Jacobs said.

The event also allows students and social workers alike to gain Continuing Education Units, which help them earn and maintain accreditation.

One of this year’s hot topics is human trafficking and childhood slavery. It’s an issue that is on the rise here in Muskingum County with the aftermath having to be dealt with by local social workers. 

“It’s just crazy how much people go through and people have to live with,” Jacobs said. “And so social workers are just there, just to help, just to help others, no matter what they’re in. So right now, our Continuing Education Unit is about human trafficking and Appalachia. And so that is extremely important. And so that is what social work is all about.”

Jacobs stressed that the issues are real and oftentimes go unnoticed. She urged people to give others more consideration because you never fully know what they are facing behind the scenes.