2026 Social Work Month Voices: LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro, CWEL, MSW, LCSW

As the NASW celebrates 70 years of advocacy and advancement, this upcoming Social Work Month we want to continue to collect stories from across the profession. Read LaTasha’s story and see how this year’s Social Work Month Theme, “Uplift. Defend. Transform.” resonates with them.

LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro, CWEL, MSW, LCSW

(She, Her, Ella)

Where did you get your degree(s)?

• Washington University in St Louis (MSW)

• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (BSW)

Current Occupation/Practice Area(s):

Vice President, Chief Operating Officer (Lutheran Child and Family Services of IL)

In what ways are you involved with NASW-IL?

I have had the great honor of serving as the Member at Large, Secretary, President Elect and now as President. I have also been a member of the NASW Racial Justice Task Force, Executive Committee, Chapter Awards Committee, serve on the NASW DEIB Committee and have/am a member of the Delegate Assembly.

How did you choose the social work path? What inspired you?

I am a person of faith, and early in my life it became clear that my purpose would involve walking alongside others as they navigated discovery, disruption, and growth. I did not always have language for what that calling meant, but I felt it deeply. Over time, I came to understand that it was an invitation into work that lives at the intersection of people, possibility, and systems in need of change. I have always believed that social workers are among the most resourceful, creative, and determined professionals in the world. We are trained to hold complexity, to see both the individual and the system, and to solve problems that rarely have simple answers. Our profession carries a deep belief in human capacity and in the innate strength people possess to overcome, renew, and transform, even in the most challenging circumstances. As I explored the meanings of help, partnership, love, and healing, I came to see social workers as catalysts and builders of transformation. We challenge the status quo, restore dignity where it has been eroded, and design pathways that support healing, safety, and belonging. We bring clarity, creativity, and solutions into moments of uncertainty, often when individuals and families are navigating systems that feel overwhelming or impersonal. I was drawn to social work because it offered the opportunity to solve meaningful problems, to transform systems, and to walk alongside others toward something better than what currently exists. I am incredibly proud to be part of a profession that accompanies the pathway of hope for a better tomorrow.

What are some of the essential skills needed to be an effective social worker?

Essential skills in social work begin with the ability to build and sustain authentic relationships. This work requires presence, trust, and a willingness to lean into vulnerability in order to uncover and strengthen the capacities that already exist within individuals, families, and communities. Relationships create the conditions for understanding, movement, and meaningful change. Social work also demands patience and curiosity. Curiosity is a skill because it drives better questions, deeper exploration of possibilities, and a clearer understanding of context and lived experience. It allows social workers to assess both risk and strength at the same time, to surface innate skills and supports, and to identify environments and solutions that are responsive to the moment rather than assumed in advance. Critical thinking is another core skill. Social workers engage in ongoing assessment and ask persistent, sometimes challenging questions that open pathways forward. This approach supports solutions that are individualized, grounded, and aligned with the realities people are navigating in real time. Another essential skill is linkage. Social workers connect people to resources, relationships, and systems in ways that are intentional and strategic. Effective linkage requires knowing how systems function, where barriers exist, and how to align supports so that insight and intention translate into action.

What changes or innovations do you see coming to the social work profession?

I see this as a pivotal moment for social work. The profession is being asked to respond to increasing complexity, accelerated need, and shifting systems, while holding fast to our ethics, values, and sense of purpose. The future of social work requires remembering our roots in dignity, relationship, and justice, while also evolving how we deliver, coordinate, and sustain the work. One area of change will be the responsible use of technology, including artificial intelligence, in ways that strengthen effectiveness and efficiency without compromising ethical practice. Used appropriately, AI can support pattern identification, improve documentation timeliness, reduce administrative burden, and help surface insights from large volumes of information. This allows social workers to spend more time in relationship, decision making, and problem solving, while maintaining clear boundaries that protect human judgment, consent, and accountability. I also see innovation emerging in how we partner across systems. Research continues to show that fragmented services contribute to inefficiencies and poor outcomes. The future of social work will involve stronger cross sector collaboration, shared data informed decision making, and more coordinated pathways that reduce barriers rather than shift responsibility onto individuals and families. Looking ahead, I believe we will see social work move further upstream. Earlier intervention, clearer pathways to support, and prevention focused design will become more central to how services are structured and delivered. Just as important, future innovation will be shaped through co creation, designing with people rather than for them, and intentionally integrating lived experience as a foundational pillar of practice and system design. The future of social work will require clarity of values, adaptability in practice, and a continued commitment to building systems that reflect the voices, strengths, and realities of the people they are meant to serve.

Does the 2026 Social Work Month theme, "Social Workers: Uplift. Defend. Transform." resonate to you? Is it already integrated in your work?

Yes, it resonates with me, and it reflects how I engage the work in real terms. Living this theme shows up in how priorities are set, how resources are aligned, and how ethical lines are held when systems are under strain. It means making decisions that elevate dignity and voice, defending standards and values when there is pressure to move faster or cut corners, and taking responsibility for changing processes and structures that are not producing the outcomes people deserve. For me, uplift, defense, and transformation are reflected in daily judgment calls, in redesigning how systems function, and in staying accountable for impact while navigating complexity. That is where the work lives, and that is how the theme shows up in practice.

Words of wisdom for someone considering the social work profession?

Social work is a calling rooted in lifting people up, amplifying voices, restoring dignity, and advancing justice and transformation. This work asks you to be present in moments of crisis and possibility, to engage systems that shape people’s lives, and to carry hope forward even when the work feels heavy. If you are exploring this path, seek out an internship, volunteer opportunity, or community experience that exposes you to the populations, issues, and values that matter most to you or even outrage you. Pay attention to what moves you, what challenges you, and where you feel compelled to act. That is how you begin to understand where your work will be meaningful and sustainable. Social workers are the ultimate problem solvers, advocates, and change makers. We disrupt the status quo, build bridges where there are divides, and help people find strength even in their weakest moments. We are resourceful, creative, and deeply compassionate, navigating complex systems while spreading joy, solutions, and light in the darkest of times. If you are thinking about becoming a social worker, do it. Your skills will be transferable, invaluable, and life changing, not only for the people you serve, but for you as well. You will never see the world the same way again, and you will never regret stepping into a profession where every action, every word, and every moment has the power to change lives.