The United Way

When most people hear the term social work, they think of crisis response. Helping families find food, housing, or emergency support when life takes an unexpected turn.

That work is essential. It always will be.

But today, social work is evolving. Across the country, and right here in Harvey and Marion Counties, the field is shifting from simply responding to challenges to strengthening the systems that shape how families live, work, and build stability.

This shift matters because the challenges families face today are rarely caused by a single issue. More often, they are the result of systems that have not kept pace with the realities of modern life. And social workers are often the first to see those gaps clearly.

The Reality Facing Working Families

Across Harvey and Marion Counties, many families are doing exactly what we expect them to do. They are working, raising children, contributing to their communities, and doing their best to build stable lives.

Yet many are still struggling to keep up.

According to ALICE data, 26% of households in Harvey County and 29% in Marion County are considered ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. These are working households that earn too much to qualify for most assistance programs, but not enough to consistently cover basic expenses.

When combined with households living below the federal poverty line, nearly four in ten households across our two counties are financially strained.

These are not statistics about “other people.” They represent childcare providers, healthcare workers, retail employees, and young families working to build their future here.

Social workers see these pressures long before they appear in economic reports or policy discussions.

Looking Beyond the Safety Net

For decades, social work has focused on helping people navigate services during difficult moments. That role remains critical.

At the same time, communities are beginning to ask a deeper question: what if we focused just as much energy on strengthening the systems that shape opportunity in the first place?

What would it look like if families could reliably find child care that supports their ability to work? If housing options kept pace with demand? If accessing resources felt straightforward instead of overwhelming?

These are the kinds of questions shaping the next chapter of social work. It is not about replacing traditional support, but about expanding the work to address the root causes behind what families experience every day.

Why Collaboration Matters

Challenges like housing, child care, and access to resources do not exist in isolation, and they cannot be solved in isolation either.

That is why the future of social work depends on collaboration across sectors – nonprofits, businesses, healthcare providers, educators, and local leaders working toward shared solutions.

In Harvey and Marion Counties, that approach is already taking shape. Through initiatives like the Childcare Task Force, the Housing Alliance of Harvey & Marion Counties, and regional resource navigation efforts, partners are working together to strengthen the infrastructure that supports families.

When child care systems function well, parents are able to stay in the workforce. When housing options expand, communities become more stable and resilient. When resources are easier to navigate, families can spend less time searching for help and more time building stability.

This is what modern social work looks like in practice – not only responding to need, but helping create conditions where fewer families reach a point of crisis.

A Broader View of Community Impact

Harvey County is home to more than 33,000 residents, with nearly one in four under the age of 18 and more than one in five age 65 or older. These demographics highlight the importance of building systems that support people at every stage of life.

At United Way of Harvey and Marion Counties, we believe the most effective solutions are built through shared understanding, strong partnerships, and a focus on long-term impact.

Social work has always been rooted in compassion. Today, it also plays a key role in shaping how communities think about growth, stability, and opportunity.

The work happening across Harvey and Marion Counties reflects that shift – and points toward a future where communities are not only supported in times of need, but strengthened in ways that help more families thrive.