Social Workers and Church Workers: The Underutilized Partnership

by Lasean Davis, M.Ed.

A common definition of social work or social welfare, according to Merriam Webster, is the organized efforts by a community, organization or individual for the social betterment and general improvement in the welfare of a group in society (underprivileged or disabled). Simply put, work carried out by trained professionals with the aim of helping people who have social disadvantages or personal problems. 

Social Workers Everywhere

Using those definitions as framework, I would estimate that there are far more social workers that are members of our churches than people are aware of. Whether you are apart of community services (food and clothing, etc.), children’s ministry, or simply a part of the pastoral team, you have rightfully accepted the call to be intentionally committed to the care and well-being of others. You are able to engage and observe children and adults more intimately and over a longer period of time, than simply observing them while sitting through a church service. 

I also believe that just like myself, there is a substantial number of occupational social workers, either paid through local counties or private organizations, who are regular members of our churches as well. This poses the question, that with our level of experience and familiarity with vulnerable populations, what could the church do to be more impactful to the community? There are two key areas that I think are worthy of consideration: (1) building greater awareness of social depravity and (2) better utilization of church buildings and sacred spaces. 

Building Awareness

It is unfortunate that the church at large is not often seen as a “safe space” to be open and transparent about personal problems and life challenges. For every person that does reach out for help or acknowledges that they are having problems there are several others who suffer in silence. It is my belief that the actual needs within a given congregation are much greater than we know. Many people are often in need of some sort of help, but too ashamed or embarrassed to ask for it because they would have to disclose delicate information in order to receive assistance. The specific challenge that is present here is a lack of awareness as to what specific needs are actually present within the congregation, and how many of those needs don’t have any sort of aid. Although I certainly value my privacy and privacy in general, I am keenly aware that without a certain level of transparency with regard to what needs have to be met, and perhaps even some background regarding how the needs came to be, adequate resources may not be provided. No one wants to feel ashamed or judged because of choices that they or their family members have made. Equally, I can get that the church doesn’t want to feel taken advantage of by helping someone repeatedly simply in providing what they ask for, and not ultimately assisting with the root of the problem. Nevertheless, it’s still important to be aware of pertinent information to appropriately identify and meet the root needs. Ultimately, through building genuine relationships that are rooted in trust and integrity, members and non-members alike, that really need help, will feel more comfortable over time divulging details about their situation, so that they can receive the appropriate short or long-term assistance. 

Also, utilizing the church as a space to learn about sensitive topics would not only help church members to be more aware of issues in the community, but it may also help people who are navigating difficulty to seek assistance. We need more safe spaces to talk about problems that plague our communities, and strategies for addressing them in meaningful ways. Imagine creating a safe space in church where vulnerable people feel that you care and understand the unique and challenging circumstances they are facing. Awareness is the first step to finding a solution.

Sacred Empty Spaces

The second area where I believe we are missing the mark in our community is with unused building space. For many religious organizations with ample rooms and building space, most of the building remains unused during the week. Members assemble on the weekend for a traditional worship service, and perhaps during the week if they have an active community services ministry. Imagine what type of impact the church could have in its respective community if it were open and functional during the week. Oftentimes, people think of the church only as an outside resource for the community, but there are plenty of employable people right within the congregation that could benefit from employment opportunities. Additional resources such as fair-housing coalitions, job search/training assistance, financial literacy classes, tutoring programs, and childcare centers, are all examples of useful resources that could be housed in these spaces. Sabbath School classrooms could serve as childcare playrooms, other rooms could host workshops that assist community members to work toward healthy and effective parenting, financial literacy and home ownership, other rooms could assist people in applying for jobs and building resumés, all the while employing members of the church that are equipped with relevant training or skillsets to assist in these areas. In some cases, being able to identify willing individuals that may have flexible schedules, but simply lack the appropriate training might be extremely helpful. 

This may seem like a great feat to undertake, but for a mission-minded organization, we can prioritize acquiring the supplemental funds for program management or even for additional property acquisitions to really get some of these ideas off the ground. I have seen firsthand in my line of work how establishing strong community relationships has been so resourceful and impactful for the community. Local churches that have space available to assist with providing a neutral, safe, and clean space for families to meet in order to have monitored visitation in family reunification cases has been instrumental. Sometimes, family members aren’t available or are unwilling to assist parents in meeting their case needs such as visitation. So when community resources become available such as a safe space for visitation, it makes for meaningful relationships that are built between the church and the community, and also serves as a much needed resource for local child welfare agencies. 

There’s Still Room…

I would summarize the greatest need for the church as the fulfillment of Christ’s admonishment to His disciples, “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. –Luke 14:21-23 NLT 

As allies with church pastors, identified social workers can generate much needed fresh ideas and opportunities to interact with and integrate members of the community and local church, as the church positions itself to be a greater resource to those in need. Let’s band together to create greater opportunities to accomplish this vast and ever increasing work. Just as many hands make a load light, accessible resources make addressing social work needs so much easier. Let’s make a strong commitment to being better stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us however and whenever possible.

Lasean Davis serves as a Children’s Social Worker for the LA County Department of Children and Family Services in Los Angeles, CA.