Valerie Persaud (right) interviews HIV counselor, author Petra Mangum.

When National Association of Social Workers member Valerie Persaud, MSW, tells people about her profession she often gets the same response.

“Every time I tell somebody I’m a social worker they assume I work in the Division of Youth and Family Services or that I’m a case worker,” said Persaud, who lives in Essex County, NJ.

Instead of getting upset, Persaud decided to do something to give the public a look at the wide range of things social workers actually do. She launched “Inside Social Work,” a public access television program that airs on Cablevision and Comcast in New Jersey and YouTube on the Internet.

Persaud also does a live, call-in radio program on Blogtalkradio.com/Deltatron every Sunday at 8 p.m.

Persaud, a senior pastor, conducts the programs in conjunction with J.R. Media Ministries, the media outreach arm of the Jehovah Rapha International Church and Ministries. She has already taped more than 15 half hour television episodes, enough to air weekly into the summer.

“Inside Social Work” now airs in three New Jersey towns. Persaud hopes it will be shown in 15 to 20 New Jersey counties by the end of February.

The program covers many of the issues social workers help clients grapple with, including living with disabilities, moving from welfare to work, getting a job after leaving prison, sexual assault, HIV/AIDS, breast cancer awareness and spirituality and recovery.

Coming up with episode ideas, booking guests and taping programs is a lot of hard work, she admits. But Persaud says it is worth it.

 ”Well, I love what I do,” Persaud said. “I want people to know about it. It seems like (social workers) are in the closet.”

To learn more about the many kinds of services social workers provide, visit the NASW’s “Help Starts Here” Web pages by clicking here. You can also follow Persaud on her “Inside Social Work/The TV Show” Facebook page and Blog Talk Radio Web site. To go to her Facebook page, click here and to hear her radio program click here. Persaud also has a Web page, www.valeriepersaud.com.