[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5447 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5447
To establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide
independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the
recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession of
social work.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2008
Mr. Towns (for himself, Mr. Shays, Mrs. Davis of California, Mr.
Rodriguez, Ms. Lee, Mr. Gutierrez, and Mrs. Jones of Ohio) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education
and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide
independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the
recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession of
social work.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M.
Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that employment
of social workers is expected to increase faster than the
average (18 to 26 percent) for all occupations through 2014.
The need is even greater for social workers in the area of
aging. The National Association of Social Workers Center for
Workforce Studies estimates that 9 percent or 30,000 licensed
social workers specialize in gerontology. By 2010, as more Baby
Boomers reach the age of 65, the National Institute on Aging
projects that 60,000 to 70,000 social workers will be needed.
(2) Social work salaries are among the lowest for
professionals in general and for those with Master's level
educations in particular. A survey conducted by the John A.
Hartford Foundation Inc. found that between 1992 and 1999 the
annual rate of wage growth for degree-holding social workers
was 0.8 percent. According to the National Association of
Social Workers, Center for Workforce Studies, 60 percent of
full-time social workers earn between $35,000 and $59,999 per
year with 25 percent earning between $40,000 and $49,999 per
year. Social workers who earn lower salaries are more likely to
work in challenging agency environments and to serve more
vulnerable clients. They are also more likely to leave the
profession.
(3) According to one study by the Council on Social Work
Education, 68 percent of individuals surveyed who held a
Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW) graduated with an average
debt of $26,777. Additionally, the U.S. Public Interest
Research Group states that 37 percent of public 4-year
graduates have too much debt to manage as a starting social
worker. While social workers may be in positions that are
personally fulfilling, due to their high loan debt and low
income, many struggle financially.
(4) Social work is unquestionably a dangerous profession
for many. According to the American Federation of State, County
and Municipal Employees, 70 percent of case workers report that
front line staff in their agency had been victims of violence
or had received threats of violence. Social workers are
considerably safer when measures such as global positioning
systems, self-defense training, and conflict prevention are
implemented.
(5) According to a study by the University of Michigan,
approximately 1 in 7 adults over the age of 70 have some form
of dementia and 9.7 percent (or 2,400,000 Americans) of those
found with dementia, were also found to have Alzheimer's
disease. Social workers in gerontology settings work with older
adults, including those with dementia to support their
physiological, psychological and social needs through mental
health therapy, caregiver and family counseling, health
education, program coordination, and case management. These
professionals also assist the hundreds of thousands of older
persons who are abused, neglected, frail, and vulnerable.
Between 2000 and 2004 there was a 19.7 percent increase in the
total number of reports of elder and vulnerable adult abuse and
neglect.
(6) The Children's Defense Fund states that every 35
seconds a child is confirmed as abused or neglected. The U.S.
Administration for Children and Families states that 513,000
children were in the U.S. foster care system in 2005. Most
children in foster care are placed due to parental abuse or
neglect. Research shows that professional social workers in
child welfare agencies are more likely to find permanent homes
for children who were in foster care for 2 or more years.
Unfortunately, fewer than 40 percent of child welfare workers
are professional social workers.
(7) The United States Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) estimates that 26.2 percent of Americans aged 18
and older (1 in 4 adults) experiences a diagnosable mental
disorder. Additionally, 1 in 5 children and adolescents
experience a mental health disorder. At least 1 in 10, or about
6,000,0000 young people, have a serious emotional disturbance.
Social workers provide the majority of mental health counseling
services in the United States, and are often the only providers
in rural areas.
(8) The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates
that there are 23,977,000 veterans in the United States.
Approximately 1,100,000 active duty soldiers have been deployed
to Iraq since 2001. A once declining veteran population is now
surging and is in dire need of mental health treatment to
address issues such as post traumatic stress disorder,
depression, drug and alcohol addiction, and suicide. Veterans
make up 25 percent of homeless people in the United States,
even though they comprise only 11 percent of the general
population. Social workers working with veterans and their
families provide case management, crisis intervention, mental
health interventions, housing and financial counseling, high
risk screening, and advocacy among other services. The VA
employs over 5,000 professional social workers and is the
single largest employer of social workers in the country. VA
social workers also coordinate the Community Residential Care
Program, the oldest and most cost-effective of VA's extended
care programs.
(9) The American Cancer Society estimates that there were
1,399,790 new cases of cancer and 564,830 cancer deaths in 2006
alone. The incidence of cancer will increase dramatically as
the population grows older. The Center for Disease Control and
Prevention reports that at the end of 2003 there were 1,039,000
to 1,285,000 people living with HIV or AIDS in the United
States. In 2006, 1.3 million people received care from one of
the Nation's hospice providers. Health care and medical social
workers practice in all of these areas and provide outreach for
prevention, help individuals and their families adapt to their
circumstances, provide grief counseling and act as a liaison
between individuals and their medical team, helping patients
make informed decisions about their care.
(10) The National Center for Education Statistics states
that in 2005 the national dropout rate for high school students
totaled 9.4 percent. White students dropped out at a rate of 6
percent. African American students dropped out at a rate of
10.4 percent. Hispanic students dropped out at a rate of 22.4
percent. Some vulnerable communities have drop out rates of 50
percent or higher. Social workers in school settings help these
students through early identification, prevention,
intervention, counseling and support.
(11) According to the United States Department of Justice,
every year more than 650,000 ex-offenders are released from
Federal and State prisons. Social workers employed in the
corrections system address disproportionate minority
incarceration rates, provide treatment for mental health
problems and drug and alcohol addiction, and work within as
well as outside of the prison to reduce recidivism and increase
positive community reentry.
SEC. 3. SOCIAL WORK REINVESTMENT COMMISSION.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 3 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish the Social Work
Reinvestment Commission (in this Act referred to as the ``Commission'')
to provide independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated
with the recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the
profession of social work.
(b) Appointment.--The Commission, including a chair and vice-chair
shall be appointed by the Secretary, and shall reflect representation
by educated social workers, as follows:
(1) 2 deans of schools of social work.
(2) 1 social work researcher.
(3) 1 related professional researcher.
(4) 1 governor.
(5) 2 leaders of national social work organizations.
(6) 1 senior social work State official.
(7) 1 senior related State official.
(8) 2 directors of community-based organizations or non-
profits.
(c) Consultation.--The Commission shall consult with the following
agencies and organizations to the extent that it determines necessary
or useful:
(1) agencies within the Department of Health and Human
Services, including the Administration for Children and
Families, the Administration on Aging, the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare
Services, the Health Resources and Service Administration, the
Indian Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;
(2) the Social Security Administration;
(3) the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education,
Homeland Security, Labor, Justice, State, and Veterans Affairs;
and
(4) any other agency as determined by the Commission.
Such agencies shall cooperate with and provide counsel to the
Commission to the greatest extent practicable.
(d) Study.--The Commission shall study--
(1) social work practice in the areas of aging, child
welfare, military and veterans affairs, mental and behavioral
health and disability, criminal justice, and health;
(2) issues facing the social work profession, including
fair market compensation, high social work educational debt,
social work workforce trends, knowledge development, and social
work safety, as well as any other area determined by the
Secretary; and
(3) State-level social work licensure and reciprocity
agreements for providing services across State lines.
(e) Meetings of the Commission.--The Commission shall hold its
first meeting not later than 6 weeks after the date on which the final
member of the Commission is appointed, and subsequent meetings at the
call of the chair.
(f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
the first meeting, the Commission shall report to Congress on the
results of the study to determine and address the immediate and future
needs of the social work profession.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $500,000 for use by the Commission.
SEC. 4. REINVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT STATE OF THE
PROFESSION OF SOCIAL WORK.
(a) Authority to Conduct Demonstration Programs.--The Secretary is
authorized to award grants to eligible entities for each fiscal year to
support demonstration programs and other activities related to
research, workplace improvements, education, training, and programs of
excellence.
(b) Workplace Improvement Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to 2 public agencies and 2 private agencies to address
workplace concerns for the social work profession including
caseloads, compensation, social work safety, supervision, and
working conditions.
(2) Equal amounts.--The Secretary shall award grants under
this subsection in equal amounts of not less than $250,000 and
not to exceed $1,000,000 to each of the 4 participating
agencies annually over a 4-year period.
(3) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection,
the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
(A) are equipped with the capacity to oversee and
monitor the demonstration program including proven
financial responsibility and administrative capability;
(B) exhibit a need in one of the defined workforce
improvement areas described in paragraph (1); and
(C) are knowledgeable of relevant workforce trends
and have demonstrated this with at least 2 years of
experience.
(c) Research Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to 25 social workers holding a doctorate degree in
social work for post-doctoral research activity to further the
knowledge base of effective social work interventions and to
promote usable strategies to translate research into practice
across diverse community settings and service systems.
(2) Amounts.--The Secretary shall award grants under this
section in the total amount of $5,000,000 over the course of 4
years to be allocated among at least 25 social workers holding
a doctorate degree in social work.
(d) Education and Training Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award 20
grants to institutions of higher education to support
recruitment and education of social work students at the
bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels as well as the
development of faculty.
(2) Equal amounts.--The Secretary shall award grants under
this section in equal amounts of not less than $75,000 and not
to exceed $100,000 to each of the 20 participating institutions
annually over a 4-year period.
(3) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
(A) are accredited by the Council on Social Work
Education;
(B) have a graduation rate of not less than 80
percent; and
(C) exhibit an ability to recruit social workers
from and place them in high need, high demand areas.
(e) Community-Based Programs of Excellence Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to 6 not-for-profit or public community-based programs
of excellence to further test and replicate effective social
work interventions. The Secretary shall choose programs from
the areas of aging, child welfare, military and veteran's
issues, mental and behavioral health and disability, criminal
justice, and health.
(2) Equal amounts.--The Secretary shall award grants under
this section in equal amounts of not less than $250,000 not to
exceed $500,000 to each of the 6 participating not-for-profit
entities annually over a 3-year period.
(3) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--
(A) have demonstrated successful and measurable
outcomes that are worthy of replication;
(B) have been in operation for at least 2 years;
and
(C) work with high need and high demand
populations.
(f) Grant Award Requirements.--In awarding grants under subsections
(b) through (e), the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, award
grants to eligible entities that--
(1) demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and participation
of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic,
cultural, gender, geographic, religious, sexual orientation,
linguistic, and class backgrounds;
(2) demonstrate a record of active participation of
professionally trained social workers; and
(3) provide services and represent themselves as competent
only within the boundaries of their education, training,
license, certification consultation received, supervised
experience, or other relevant professional experience.
(g) National Coordinating Center.--
(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall enter into a
contract with a national social work research entity that has
experience in coordinating linkages between research, practice,
education, and policy and maintains relationships with Federal
entities, social work degree-granting educational institutions
and programs, and organizations and agencies that employ social
workers. The entity shall serve as a coordinating center and
shall have the capacity to organize, collect and report data,
serve as a clearinghouse, and coordinate with such entities,
institutions and organizations. The coordinating center shall
work with universities, research entities, and social work
practice settings to identify key research areas to be pursued,
select research fellows and organize appropriate mentorship and
professional development efforts.
(2) Activities described.--The coordinating center shall--
(A) collect, coordinate, monitor, and distribute
data, best practices, and findings regarding the
activities funded under grants made to eligible
entities under the demonstration program; and
(B) prepare and submit to the Secretary a final
report that includes recommendations regarding the need
to recruit new social workers, retain current social
workers, conduct social work research and reinvest into
the profession of social work.
(3) Selection.--Selection of research areas, candidates,
finalists, and other activities shall be undertaken by the
Secretary or a designee in collaboration with the coordinating
center.
(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated $1,000,000 for the coordinating center for a
each of fiscal years 2009 through 2013.
(h) Multi-Media Outreach Campaign.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop and issue
public service announcements that advertise and promote the
social work profession, highlight the advantages and rewards of
social work, and encourage individuals to enter the social work
profession.
(2) Method.--The public service announcements described in
paragraph (1) shall be broadcast through appropriate media
outlets, including television or radio, in a manner intended to
reach as wide and diverse an audience as possible.
(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection such sums as
may be necessary for each of fiscal year 2009 through 2012.
SEC. 5. SOCIAL WORK AWARENESS MONTH.
It is the sense of Congress that the President should designate a
National Social Work Awareness month to--
(1) raise awareness about the importance of the profession
of social work;
(2) encourage interest groups, stakeholders, and
individuals to take an active role in the recruitment,
retention, research and reinvestment into the profession of
social work.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Community based program.--The term ``community based
program'' means an agency, organization or program, usually
not-for-profit, that provides direct social work services, or
community development services at a neighborhood, locality or
regional level to address human service, health care, or
psychosocial needs.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) in reference to section 4(b), either a public
or private agency working in a social work capacity
that demonstrates a need in one of the defined
workplace improvement areas described in section
4(b)(1);
(B) in reference to section 4(c), an individual who
has graduated with a doctorate degree in the field of
social work and will commit to using grant funds for
postdoctoral social work research;
(C) in reference to section 4(d), a social work
education program offering the bachelors, masters, or
doctorate degree in social work; and
(D) in reference to section 4(e), a not-for-profit
or public agency working in a social work capacity in
one of the defined areas in section 4(e)(1).
(3) High need and high demand.--The term ``high need and
high demand'' means an area or population which lacks
sufficient resources and as a result has a greater probability
of being harmed by specific social, environmental, or health
problems than the population as a whole. Such areas may be
defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA) as ``health professional shortage areas'' which may have
shortages of primary medical care, dental, or mental health
providers and may be urban or rural areas, population groups,
or medical or other public facilities.
(4) Related professional researcher.--The term ``related
professional researcher'' means a person who is professionally
engaged in research in a social, political, economic, health or
mental health field. Such research is primarily conducted by
doctoral level researchers under university, government,
research institute, or community agency auspices.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' refers to the
Secretary of Health and Human Services.
(6) Social work.--The term ``social work'' means the
professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or
communities enhance or restore capacity for social and
psychosocial functioning and creating societal conditions
favorable to this goal. Social work practice consists of the
professional application of social work values, principles, and
techniques, including--
(A) diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional
disorders with individuals, families, and groups;
(B) helping communities or groups provide or
improve social and health services; participating in
relevant legislative processes; and
(C) helping people obtain tangible services.
The practice of social work requires knowledge of human
development and behavior of social, economic and cultural
institutions, and of the interaction of all these factors.
(7) Social work researcher.--The term ``social work
researcher'' means a person who studies the individual, family,
group, community, policy or organizational level, focusing
across the life span on prevention, intervention, treatment,
aftercare, and rehabilitation of acute and chronic social and
psychosocial conditions, and includes examining policies effect
on social work practice. Social work research is primarily
conducted by doctoral level social workers and faculty under
university, government, research institute, or community agency
auspices.
(8) Social worker.--The term ``social worker'' means a
graduate of a school of social work with either bachelor's,
master's, or doctoral degrees who use their knowledge and
skills to provide social work services for clients who may be
individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, or
society in general.
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