LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky College of Social Work (CoSW) partnered with the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) to host the Southern Bluegrass Self-Care Summit, providing DCBS workers a day to take time for self-care in their busy schedules.
The second annual Self-Care Summit took place on September 11 and 12 at UK’s Spindletop Hall. Dr. Jay Miller, College of Social Work Dean and Director of the Self-Care Lab, spoke on the importance of self-care, in addition to the CoSW providing chair massages to workers and leading attendees through a virtual reality self-care experience.
“These events are so important to recognize, celebrate and acknowledge the hard work that this group puts in to serving the people of the Commonwealth every day. The Self-Care Summit is about giving people a day to relax, have fun, fellowship with their colleagues, and learn self-care practices,” April Davis, DCBS Southern Bluegrass Service Region Administrator, said.
DCBS also provided breakout sessions on self-care for supervisors and working caregivers, as well as using time off and maintaining a healthy weekend to feel refreshed on Monday. Resource tables were also available for participants to learn more about different self-care service providers.
Making self-care a priority can be instrumental in improving mental, physical, and emotional health at work. There are many ways to define self-care, but ultimately it is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.
“The Self-Care Summit and self-care in general is extremely important in maintaining your mental health as a social worker and not overworking yourself,” participant Annabelle Holland, an investigator for Fayette County, said. “Taking these days can ensure you are giving your best work to your clients and to your team members.”
Being mindful of one’s wellness, especially as a social worker, is a crucial aspect of daily life. Practicing self-care enhances life in and out of the office and improves client outcomes.
“The Self-Care Summit has allowed me to reflect on things that I have felt overwhelmed with and how I can manage those things to perform better for my clients and manage my stress at work,” Destiny Arellano-Marquez, Fayette County investigator, said.
Davis hopes that participants will apply the things that they learned at the Self-Care Summit in their daily lives, whether that’s in the office or in their personal lives.
“We had very meaningful workshops over the last two days including financial self-care, self-care for supervisors, and how to relax and enjoy your weekends,” Davis said. “We’ve had lots of good information for people to take with them and I hope they utilize these practices in their day-to-day life.”
