Whereas social workers enter the profession because they have a strong desire to help empower individuals, families, communities, and our Nation to overcome issues that prevent them from reaching their full potential; Whereas social workers have worked for more than a century to improve human health and well-being and enhance the basic needs of all people; Whereas social workers follow a code of ethics that calls on them to fight social injustice and respect the dignity and worth of all people; Whereas social workers positively touch the lives of millions of Americans each day and in an array of settings, including schools, hospitals, the military, child welfare agencies, and community centers, and in Federal, State, and local government; Whereas the 2023 Social Work Month theme, Social Work Breaks Barriers , embodies how social workers help empower individuals, families, communities, and our society to overcome hurdles that prevent them from achieving better health and well-being; Whereas social workers are one of the largest providers of mental health, behavioral health, and social care services in the United States, working daily to help thousands of Americans overcome mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and meet basic needs; Whereas social workers are on the frontlines of the Nation’s addiction crisis, helping people get the treatment they need and prevail over substance use disorders; Whereas social workers help people cope with death and grief; Whereas social workers help people and communities recover from natural disasters that are increasingly fueled by our warming climate, including hurricanes, droughts, and floods; Whereas social workers continue to help this Nation live up to its values by advocating for equal rights for all, including people of color, people who are Indigenous, people who identify as LGBTQIA2S+, and people who follow various faiths