West Virginia University’s Graduate Social Work Organization and the Division of Social Work are offering social workers, social service professionals and community members a free workshop in honor of National Professional Social Work Month.

“Supporting Our Military Families During Challenging Times,” will be offered for 1.5 social work continuing education credits (CEUs) on March 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Mountainlair Gold ballroom. Sign-in and refreshments will begin at 6:00 p.m. Pre-registration is not required.

“This is a critically important service in West Virginia,” said Erin Groves, president of the Graduate Social Work Organization. “We have many military families whose loved ones are serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan right now. Providing the highest level of service and care to our troops and their families is paramount during these stressful times.”

Susan Izzo BSW, West Virginia National Guard Child & Youth Program coordinator and Lieutenant Colonel Bruce Reed, full-time support chaplain, will lead the workshop which will provide insight into the military world as well as information and the latest resources available to service members, families and social service professionals.

The White House officially recognized National Professional Social Work Month in 1984. The theme of March 2009 is “Social Work: Purpose and Possibility”.

The WVU Division of Social Work is part of the School of Applied Social Sciences in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at WVU.

For more information contact Erin Groves, President of the Graduate Social Work Organization, at 304-293-3501 ext. 3127 or egroves@mix.wvu.edu. Additional information on all of the Division’s continuing education workshops is available at http://socialwork.wvu.edu/continuing_education.