Celebrating Social Work Month 2023 

Stevie Lien: When I think of “breaking barriers” I think of equity and how everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. In my specific role, it is helping families navigate a system (the hospital) that they had never imagined being so entwined in. I also help with connecting families to county, state, and federal systems such as insurance, SSI, waivers, housing, etc. A lot of families are immigrants with English as a second language, which adds another layer of complexity in trying to navigate our country’s systems that are in place and not always “user friendly.” I really see social workers as “bulldozers” breaking down walls to ensure those who need additional resources are able to access them. 

Mia Guidarelli: I’ve worked in a variety of systems ranging from county systems such as juvenile probation and child protection to public schools, non-profits and hospitals. In every system I’ve worked in, the primary barrier that my clients/patients faced were the biases held by the workers in the systems. To me the theme, “social work breaks barriers,” means that my job is to act as a catalyst for change in the systems I work in. My goal as a social worker is to create environments where all people are treated with dignity and respect. 

Molly Clarke: Social workers can break barriers through challenging and addressing social injustices and inequities that exist and persist within systems. Such barriers reduce access and allocation of needed resources, connections and services that all individuals and communities should have to thrive.

Stevie Lien: My favorite part of my job is seeing our newborn babies discharge home with their families for the first time. The cardiovascular care center (CVCC) has a lot of patients who are born and require surgery within a few days of life, which means they spend their first weeks to months in the hospital and not surrounded by their biological families at home. It is so heartwarming to witness the moments when families can finally be together after being a part for so long and for staff on the unit to be so excited about this unification. Let me tell you, there are definitely celebrations, huge smiles, and lots of happy tears shed in these moments. 

Mia Guidarelli: My favorite part of my job is working with my team of passionate social workers. Each day I continue to learn and grown from my colleagues and feel lucky to work beside them. 

Molly Clarke: I like that every day is different, and I have the opportunity to bring forward social work ethics and values to a multidisciplinary team. 

Stevie Lien: Social workers are multifaceted and fit into whatever role we need to be in that moment. We are not just the stereotype of “taking children away” or giving out parking passes. We are here every day as an advocate, a resource broker, a shoulder to try on, someone to laugh with, and a person who is able to engage with a child when parents are not able to be at bedside as often as they would like to be. In summary, I like to tell people that I am a support to patients and families during some of their most difficult moments. 

Mia Guidarelli: Social work is a profession that works on a variety of service levels: individually with families, community based, and at a policy level. My role as a social worker does not start and end at Children’s Minnesota. Outside of Children’s Minnesota, I continue to work in my community where I run a weekly group for teenagers and also work to advocate for increased mental health supports. 

Molly Clarke: Behavioral health and the emergency department are fast paced. We do and advocate for what we can while working in a mental health system with barriers and restrictions including lack of facilities, services, and resources for children and adolescents with mental health support needs.