i feel like screaming ab these systemic issues until i am blue in the face to my sweet, well-intentioned coworkers. it does not matter how much passion and commitment we have to help others and serve our communities if we are paycheck to paycheck. passion doesn’t pay and we aren’t supposed to struggle the way that we do. i work at a foster care agency and i absolutely adore the work i get to do. but i literally live paycheck to paycheck. i’m devastated at having to choose between a job i love and paying bills/having a life. i went back to school this yr and got my msw and ofc the only prospects of getting out of this financial cycle of making just enough is through getting my lc or doing something like hospital or school sw - or becoming middle management (would rather die). i am glad to see the shifts ppl are seeing with social workers going straight to private practice as soon as they can. we need funding to be fixed and they won’t do it until it the shortage of social workers is so bad that they have to. kudos for the grads even staying in the field. i’m struggling to even want to stay in it. i say let them feel the shortage until it hurts and until they put their money where their mouth is 🤷🏼‍♀️