Dear OCEA member,
I want to take a moment to recognize what you do, not just in March, but every day of the year as Social Work Month 2026 ends. The need for your work has never been greater. Communities across the country are dealing with real hardship. Yet social workers—over 800,000 across our country—keep showing up.
This year’s theme from the National Association of Social Workers is “Uplift. Defend. Transform.” It describes the support you provide families in crisis, how you advocate for those with no one in their corner, and help children find stability in an unstable world.
At OCEA, we are committed to showing up for you in return.
This means advocating at the negotiations table for fair wages and better working conditions. It also means being present in your workplace and in Sacramento—pushing for policies that you need to do your job well.
This month, OCEA Staff Specialist Jared Anderson visited worksites across the County to deliver phone screen wipes and cleaner. If you did not get one, you can pick it up at OCEA while supplies last. It’s a small gesture, but it comes with genuine respect for the sacrifices you make on behalf of our community each day.
In Solidarity,
Charles Barfield
OCEA General Manager
