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March is Social Work Month Social work is a profession that requires devotion to making a difference for those who are truly in need. It is a practice that is dedicated to ensuring that people of all ages, creeds, sexual orientation, and nationalities have access to adequate resources or receive the proper treatment and services.  Here are some facts about social work and the profession: Social workers are highly trained professionals. It takes a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree in social work —with a minimum number of hours in supervised fieldwork—to become a professional social worker. Social workers work in every facet of community life—in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, senior centers, family crisis center, military facilities, and many public and private agencies—dedicated to helping families and individuals in need. Professional social workers are the nation's largest providers of mental health services. According to govern-ment sources, 60 percent of mental health treatment is delivered by social workers. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics shows social work is one of the nation's fastest growing careers. The need for social work services is expected to increase by 30 percent by 2010.  More than 170 social workers have been elected to national, state and local political offices. More than 40 percent of mental health volunteers trained by the Red Cross for mental health support are social workers. NASW is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world with more than 150,000 members. Friday, March 26, 2004 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.