March News

The nation comes together every year during the month of March to celebrate social workers and the vital role they play in society. Social workers make every effort to benefit their clients and communities as a whole, predominantly through supporting people who find themselves in a situation that causes them to be more vulnerable, such as cancer.

The 10 social workers on the Hope Cancer Resources team strive to provide various forms of support for people in Northwest Arkansas who are living with cancer. They offer emotional support in the form of counseling and support groups. They also offer financial assistance for various burdens that stem from a patient’s diagnosis. Two of our social workers are bilingual and can help both English and Spanish speakers. Our social workers provide support for patients and their loved ones to improve their cancer journey.

The field of social work can be both mentally and emotionally taxing, especially in an agency that provides assistance to people living with cancer. “We hear a lot of difficult stories and meet with people who are in tough situations,” said Miki Biggers, LCSW, OSW-C, our Director of Social Work Services.

Oncology social workers are exposed to so many different emotions – often unpleasant – every day through their work. But regardless of what stressful or difficult situation they encounter, the social workers at Hope Cancer Resources remain strong for their clients and cherish having the opportunity to be part of their lives.

“One thing I try to do is focus on how important the connection and the interaction is in the moment,” Miki said. “Even if I'm working on a case that's really difficult or I know it's not going to have a good outcome, I try to remember what an honor it is to sit with that patient, in their vulnerability, and sometimes be the only person that they're sharing their story with. I think it’s really special that we get to do that. I might not be able to fix what's going on with them, but what I'm doing is helpful.”

Christy Scarrow, LSW, CVM, Vice President of Patient Services, sees firsthand every day how our social workers are changing lives in Northwest Arkansas. This year’s Social Work Month theme – Social Workers: Leaders. Advocates. Champions. – represents her team well. “We are all leaders, advocates and champions,” Christy said. “We are advocating for patients. We have to be champions for our patients and for their rights and for their care. We're all leaders in our own way, being in social work. We have to step up and lead the charge. I think we all do a really good job of that.”

Our social workers are here to provide support for the journey and education for life.