 Monday, Prestonsburg Mayor Les Stapleton joined with Prestonsburg's Morehead Campus to sign a proclamation geared towards highlighting social workers and their abilities as part of Social Work Month. Earlier, Mountaintop spoke with Student Association President of Social Workers Allison Hayden about the proclamation's importance. I think it's important to bring attention to social workers because I feel like they're so undervalued but such a big part of the community. Many students wouldn't be able to get through school without a social worker. Some people would go without clothes or they're electric paid without social workers. Some people couldn't even leave a hospital if they didn't have a social worker there. And I think some people don't know how much they contribute to the community in so many different ways so I think it's important to recognize that and appreciate the future social workers that are going to be graduating this program. At Pikeville Medical Center, we believe that together we can make a difference in the fight against cancer. We are proud to have patients who have experienced successful outcomes over many years. As always, we believe in the power of faith. Pikeville Medical Center, where cancer can be defeated. And while Hayden says she hopes the signing brings more attention to social workers and the program, Mayor Stapleton says social workers are invaluable due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There's been so much stress, so much just anguish and stuff about this and they really had to pick up a lot of slack. And social workers are now starting to move into other fields and people are realizing they need to be in different fields. And for instance, I say law enforcement. In working with the law enforcement, we still have to enforce the law. But there's a big difference in someone who has become an addict and they get caught with a small amount and someone who's got a half a pound of drugs. And we need to try to help that person that's had that small amount, that's got that addiction. We need to try to find ways to get them out of addiction, in the recovery, in the rehabilitation and back into the workforce. And they're so invaluable for that that we really, I don't know that we could really function and have made it through the pandemic like we have without them. If you're interested in becoming a social worker, you can call Prestonsburg's Moorhead campus at 606-886-2405 or 606-783-5451. You can also email them at Prestonsburg at moorheadstate.edu. For Mountain Top News, I'm Joel Korjul.