Social workers, the majority of them women, rarely see the public moments of the families they help. More often, their work happens quietly with parents trying to hold their families together.
“Our social workers and case managers do not step in once and then disappear,” said Latizia Williams, assistant director of the parenting program at Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri. “They sit at kitchen tables, develop supportive relationships through challenges like court appearances, financial hardships and educating parents about parenting techniques to enhance parent-child interactions. They keep showing up until families find stability.”
Across Missouri, that kind of work adds up quickly. Social workers with the St. Louis-based nonprofit interacted with children and families more than 65,000 times last year, providing counseling, home visits, managing foster care cases, pregnancy support, adoption services and court advocacy.
The services reached more than 4,600 households statewide in 2025, according to agency data released during National Social Work Month and Women’s History Month.
For Williams, the impact of that work is often seen in small but meaningful transformations.
“As a social worker, I help families regain control through parenting education, financial support, guidance on court processes and active listening,” she said. “Seeing them move from hopelessness to empowerment reminds me why this work matters.”
According to the organization, the more than 65,000 interactions with families included services delivered in homes, offices and courtrooms across Missouri. Social workers may conduct counseling sessions, check in with foster families, support expectant mothers considering adoption or help parents navigate the court system as they work toward reunification with their children.
Cyrini Daniels, a supervisor in the agency’s parenting and adoption program, said the public often misunderstands what social workers actually do.
“A common misconception is that social workers only respond to crises or remove children from homes,” Daniels said. “In truth, we spend significant time supporting, advocating for and empowering families, helping them access resources and make informed decisions. Our focus is on strengthening families and communities, not just reacting to emergencies.”
The work comes with significant pressures.
In the most recent Children’s Division Case Management Staff Annual Survey released last year, common themes among departing staff included high caseloads and “secondary traumatic stress,” the emotional strain that can come from repeated exposure to others’ trauma.
Statewide vacancy rates for caseworkers have historically hovered between 15% and 25%, according to the Missouri Department of Social Services, with some regions experiencing far higher turnover. In the Kansas City area, turnover among caseworkers has reached as high as 90% in previous years.
In the St. Louis metro area, annual turnover among entry-level caseworkers has often exceeded 50% to 60%, meaning more than half of new hires may leave within a year.
The profession also remains overwhelmingly female. Based on 2024-2026 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Association of Social Workers, women make up more than 80% of the social work workforce.
Daniels said the job is both demanding and unpredictable.
“No two days are the same,” she said. “Some days involve providing emotional support during difficult moments, while others focus on connecting families with resources or advocating on their behalf.”
Her decision to pursue social work grew from personal experiences early in life, when her own family needed help and support.
“Seeing how much guidance and compassion can change someone’s path made it clear that this was the work I was called to do,” she said.
Williams said her commitment to helping others began long before her professional career, growing out of family experiences helping people in need. Those early lessons eventually led her to become a foster parent and later pursue social work.
Still, the work can be emotionally demanding. Daniels said one of the most difficult lessons she has learned is accepting that not every situation can be fixed.
“Social workers care deeply, and it’s natural to want every situation to end well,” Daniels said. “Over time, I’ve learned our role is to provide support, guidance and advocacy while respecting people’s choices.”
Agency data shows that about 94% of clients served last year made measurable progress toward improving family safety, stability or emotional well-being. Both women said those outcomes often grow from long-term relationships built with families facing difficult circumstances.
As communities such as St. Louis continue to grapple with housing insecurity, economic instability and limited mental health resources, Daniels said the need for social workers remains significant.
“Knowing my support helped someone feel heard or empowered makes this work meaningful,” she said.