Each March, Social Work Month provides an opportunity for us to recognize the professionals who serve as advocates, guides, and compassionate supporters for patients and families navigating healthcare. During Social Work Month, we also highlight how a career in social work can shape lives and strengthen communities. Social work is at the heart of the care experience at Kettering Heights Post Acute as we help residents transition, adjust, and thrive during their stay, especially through the efforts of our healthcare social workers who support both physical recovery and social work and mental health needs.
This year, we’re proud to highlight two of our dedicated social work professionals: Andrew Newsome, our Social Services Assistant and Discharge Planner, and Kimberly Brown, our Director of Social Services. They are integral to the operation of our facility, and their invaluable hard work does not go unnoticed. Their paths demonstrate how a career in social work can evolve over time, from direct support to leadership roles, while always centering social work and mental health in patient care.
What Social Work Looks Like in Post Acute Care
Social workers wear many hats, especially in a post acute environment. From coordinating safe discharges to supporting emotional well-being, their work touches nearly every aspect of a resident’s journey. As healthcare social workers, Andrew and Kimberly help bridge clinical treatment with social work and mental health support, ensuring that residents’ emotional, social, and practical needs are met alongside their medical care.
Andrew describes his typical day as a fast-moving blend of coordination and communication:
“An average day includes prepping any discharges happening that day, reviewing charts of new admissions, identifying insurance processes, attending care conferences, and assisting with appeals and denials.”
His role ensures that each patient’s transition, whether into the facility or back home, is smooth, safe, and well-supported.
Kimberly’s perspective highlights emotional and behavioral support, which is a critical element of social work and mental health care in a post-acute setting. She explains that every day she “spends time on the floor with residents and families. The most important task is to be available and provide support and reassurance.”
Together, Andrew and Kimberly’s work reflects the balance of logistics and compassion that defines social services in post-acute care. As experienced healthcare social workers, they demonstrate how a career in social work can combine advocacy, care coordination, and social work and mental health support into one vital role.
A Calling Rooted in Experience
Both Andrew and Kimberly bring years of dedication and personal passion to their roles at Kettering Heights.
Andrew has been with the facility for six years and shares that his passion began early:
“I grew up around the long-term care environment due to my mom working in the industry and have had a passion for senior care services for most of my life.”
Kimberly, who has spent over thirty years in the field and five years at Kettering Heights, describes social work as more than a profession:
“I believe social work is a calling… I have been given the privilege of sharing stories, holding space and being a part of some of the most wonderful experiences ever.”
The Human Connection Behind the Work
When asked about his favorite thing about his role, Andrew said that he appreciates “the fast pace” and the opportunity to “assist a person with their care transition.”
Kimberly finds fulfillment in the relationships she builds, saying her favorite thing about her job is “being able to provide support, comfort and kindness to everyone that crosses my path here. Making connections and empowering people is an awesome thing to do.”
Their answers highlight the fact that, while healthcare often focuses on clinical outcomes, social work ensures that the human experience is never overlooked.
Breaking Misconceptions About Social Work
Social work is sometimes misunderstood as a narrow or purely administrative role. In reality, it is deeply personal and highly impactful, particularly when healthcare social workers are involved in complex cases that require both advocacy and social work and mental health support.
Kimberly puts it simply:
“No two days are ever alike… someone to stand by you and be your voice when you can’t is a powerful service to offer.”
Andrew echoes the sentiment, saying:
“Every service is a social service and human connection goes a long way.”
Administration and logistics are incredibly important, but Andrew and Kimberly both remind us that without the personal and emotional aspects of the job, the recovery process would be much more arduous and much less feasible for their patients.
Honoring Social Work Month
Social workers are often the steady thread connecting patients, families, and care teams. At Kettering Heights Post Acute, Andrew and Kimberly exemplify what it means to serve with empathy, expertise, and dedication. This Social Work Month, we recognize and thank them for what they do each day and for the lasting impact they make on every life they touch. Social Work Month is also a reminder of the vital importance of a career in social work, the unique contributions of healthcare social workers, and the essential role of social work and mental health support in every care setting.