Meet Miami U

Growing up, I had always heard about the importance of providing service, giving back to the community, and helping the less fortunate. Social workers do all that and more, which is why during March, we celebrate their positive impact on the world with National Social Work Month.

National Social Work Month, which is organized by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), has an annual theme to celebrate and support the profession. For 2025, the theme is “Social Work: Compassion + Action.” The NASW has many offerings, such as a digital toolkit and social media planning to help organizations spread awareness about this important field of work. Social workers are society’s helpers, providing mental health care, addressing substance abuse, and assisting families in overcoming challenges. 

Miami offers a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Social Work. The program emphasizes ethics, economic justice, welfare policies, and research — preparing students to enhance the welfare of individuals and human relationships. Through the undergraduate program, students can complete an internship during their senior year, with an agency placement based on their goals.  

Scott Osterfeld, an instructor of Family Science and Social Work, is often spotlighted for his dedication to students who are in the social work field. 

Through unique relationship-building activities, Osterfeld uses his years of clinical experience to help students connect with organizations and agencies seeking the next generation of social workers. He holds office hours, shares stories, and offers support and guidance for students.

“What I found is that I wish I had someone who helped me figure out what I wanted to do before I graduated,” Osterfeld said. “I’ve hired lots of people in my career who didn’t quite know what they wanted to do and kind of fell into certain roles by accident. So, I wanted to give students a way to really get to know the folks they will be working with and the types of organizations they’ll be in. We call it ‘niche picking.’ Instead of nitpicking. I want them to find their niche.” 

Students are very fortunate to have professors like Osterfeld to teach them, and it’s part of what makes Miami’s program so unique. 

“Social work is so broad that students really don’t have any idea what it includes,” Osterfeld said. “So, when I open them up to different careers, they’re shocked. That was also a reason I wanted to do these activities. I knew the need.” 

Social workers have a common goal to help people navigate challenges, provide support, assess needs, and more. They can work in many different settings, including schools, hospitals, governments, and mental health clinics. And, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 60% of mental health services are provided by social workers. Hundreds of thousands of social workers contribute to the United States every day through their compassion, understanding, and kindness towards those in need. 

While you spend March walking through campus, take some time to recognize your friends who are Social Work majors and appreciate the initiative they are taking to make a positive difference in society!