UC Davis social workers celebrate Social Work Month by fighting for equity and improved patient care

Show your support by signing their petition at upte.org/lcsw

In a profession where resilience meets compassion, social workers provide support for countless people navigating all of life's difficulties. Among these dedicated professionals is Sonya Mogilner, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) of nearly eight years. Sonya is a UPTE unit representative at UC Davis Medical Center, California's only Level 1 Trauma Center north of San Francisco. 

Sonya, who transitioned from nursing to social work, was drawn to the field by a compelling desire to support individuals in their moments of greatest vulnerability. "I started volunteering in hospice care and loved that role," said Sonya. "I worked as a death doula. I considered reapplying to nursing school but fell in love with the social work role."

Social work service at the UC Davis Medical Center spans a variety of settings, from hospitals to jails and outpatient clinics, where social workers provide essential services to those in crisis. "Every single person that has been shot, stabbed, or in a bad car accident in the tri-county area is on my caseload because we're the only trauma center here," expressed Sonya, detailing the support she gives to trauma victims. "So every single person you see on the news, anyone that's had a violent crime happen to them in the last five years? It's my team."

Sonya went on to explain her experience as a UPTE leader. "I never really fancied myself as a union girl or a leader," she conveyed. "When I first came here, I had a horrible boss. I felt she was trying to get me to quit. I filed and ultimately won a grievance against her. After that, I felt unstoppable. I was like, 'I'm out here.' I stuck my neck out, and I won."

"Through organizing and winning fights to stop unilateral changes in our working conditions, the morale is entirely different." Sonya continued. "We now have all-new supportive supervisors."

As the United States observes Social Work Month in March, the spotlight on social workers like Sonya underscores the essential, yet often overlooked, roles they play in society. "It's about being there on what could be the worst day of a patient's life, offering not just care, but a shoulder to lean on, guidance, and hope," Sonya articulates, capturing the essence of her profession's mission.

Recognizing the value of social work extends beyond accolades, highlighting a pressing issue within the field: equitable compensation. Sonya is at the forefront of a campaign advocating for market equity adjustments for LCSWs, emphasizing that "this petition is more than just about pay; it's about respect, recognition, and the sustainability of our profession." 

Sonya explains how this issue also impacts patients: "The inequity jeopardizes the quality of care we offer our patients. We face challenges in recruiting and retaining licensed clinical social workers. We've lost roughly twenty people in the last year from outpatient clinics, the jail, and the hospital. At every meeting with our social workers,I gather data and pay scales to support our market equity fight. Many of our social workers have side hustles or work per diem at other hospitals because we can't pay our bills with our full-time job."

"We wrote the petition together," described Sonya. "We made edits in Google Docs while getting buy-in from one-on-one organizing conversations and worksite meetings."

In marking Social Work Month, Sonya Mogilner and her colleagues serve as a powerful reminder of the impact of social work on individual lives and communities at large. It also highlights the ongoing need for advocacy and support to ensure social workers have the resources and recognition necessary to continue their vital work. You can show your support by signing their petition here.