March is National Social Work Month, and each year, The Ohio State University College of Social Work brings a group of students to Washington, D.C. to learn about careers and professional development opportunities in our nation’s capital.

The profession of social work is most known to serve vulnerable populations on an individual or community basis. However, many social workers also engage in policy and advocacy work—known as macro social work—to identify areas of need and create sweeping changes for whole communities. For example, Jeannette Rankin was a social worker and the first woman to be elected into Congress in 1916 and a leader during the Women Suffrage Movement.

This program was developed in 2016 in response to students wanting to engage more with macro social work practice including advocacy and policy analysis, and even consider a career in politics. Over the years the program has expanded from 10 to 24 students and some of the highlights have included individual visits with legislators and staffers, researching and preparing policy fact sheets, an alumni career panel and reception, and visiting advocacy agencies.

The DC Immersion Program has connected former students to current positions in the nation’s capital, macro positions within the state of Ohio and across the country. Furthermore, this experience has provided students with a professional network of alumni and mentors working in political social work.

The 2025 Washington, D.C. Immersion Program is expanding with more career related activities and a group engagement event with professionals and members of congress on Capitol Hill. The goal of the trip each year is not only to inspire social work students, but to uphold the social work values, which are Service, Social Justice, Dignity and Worth of the Person, Importance of Human Relations, Integrity, and Competence (National Association of Social Workers, 2021). The Ohio State University College of Social Work wants all students to be able to see themselves in these leadership roles.

Editor’s Note: New Social Workers are predominantly women and are racially and ethnically diverse. Nearly 90% of MSW graduates in 2017-19 were women. More than 22% of new social workers were Black/African, and 14% were Hispanic/Latino*. With macro social workers like these, social change is on the way. *Findings from Three Years of Surveys of New Social Workers, Council of Social Work Education, 2020.