[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2858 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2858

    To establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide 
 independent counsel to Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human 
   Services on policy issues associated with recruitment, retention, 
 research, and reinvestment in the profession of social work, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 15, 2008

  Ms. Mikulski (for herself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Inouye) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
          Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide 
 independent counsel to Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human 
   Services on policy issues associated with recruitment, retention, 
 research, and reinvestment in the profession of social work, and for 
                            other purposes.

    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 social 
        worker employment is expected to increase. The increase is 
        expected to be greater than the average increase in employment 
        (estimated to be 18 to 26 percent) for all occupations through 
        2014, demonstrating a substantial need for social workers. 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 of, 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 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 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 caseworkers report that 
        front line staff in their agency have been victims of violence 
        or received threats of violence. Social workers are 
        considerably safer when measures such as use of 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) 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. Those professionals also 
        assist the hundreds of thousands of older persons who are 
        abused, neglected, frail, or 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 
        Administration for Children and Families of the Department of 
        Health and Human Services states that 513,000 children were in 
        the United States foster care system in 2005. Most children 
        placed 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 Department of Health and Human Services estimates 
        that 26.2 percent of (or 1 in 4) individuals in the United 
        States age 18 or older experiences a diagnosable mental health 
        disorder. Additionally, 1 in 5 children and adolescents 
        experiences 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 of such services in rural areas.
            (8) The Department of Veterans Affairs 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 suicidal tendencies. Veterans make up 25 percent 
        of homeless people, even though veterans comprise only 11 
        percent of the general population, in the United States. Social 
        workers working with veterans and their families provide case 
        management, crisis interventions, mental health interventions, 
        housing and financial counseling, high risk screening, and 
        advocacy among other services. The Department employs over 
        5,000 professional social workers and is the single largest 
        employer of social workers in the Nation. The Department's 
        social workers also coordinate the Community Residential Care 
        Program, the oldest and most cost-effective of the Department'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 Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention report 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, 1,300,000 people received care from the 
        Nation's hospice providers. Health care and medical social 
        workers practice in areas related to all of these circumstances 
        and provide outreach for prevention of health issues, 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 
        was 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 dropout rates of 50 
        percent or higher. Social workers in school settings help 
        students avoid dropping out through early identification, 
        prevention, intervention, counseling, and support services.
            (11) According to the 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 (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'') 
to provide independent counsel to Congress and the Secretary on policy 
issues associated with recruitment, retention, research, and 
reinvestment in the profession of social work.
    (b) Appointment.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall be appointed by the 
        Secretary, and shall be composed of educated social workers and 
        other members, as follows:
                    (A) 2 deans of schools of social work.
                    (B) 1 social work researcher.
                    (C) 1 related professional researcher.
                    (D) 1 Governor.
                    (E) 2 leaders of national social work 
                organizations.
                    (F) 1 senior social work State official.
                    (G) 1 senior related State official.
                    (H) 2 directors of community-based organizations or 
                nonprofit organizations.
            (2) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--The Secretary shall 
        select a chairperson and vice chairperson for the Commission 
        from among the members of the Commission.
            (3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--Members shall be 
        appointed for the life of the Council. Any vacancy in the 
        Council shall not affect the powers of the Council, but shall 
        be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
    (c) 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 chairperson.
    (d) Consultation.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall consult, to the 
        extent that the Commission determines that such consultation is 
        necessary or useful to carry out subsection (e), with--
                    (A) entities 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 
                Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Health Resources and 
                Services Administration, the Indian Health Service, the 
                National Institutes of Health, and the Substance Abuse 
                and Mental Health Services Administration;
                    (B) the Social Security Administration;
                    (C) the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, 
                Education, Homeland Security, Labor, Justice, State, 
                and Veterans Affairs; and
                    (D) any other agency of the Federal Government, as 
                determined by the Commission.
            (2) Cooperation and counsel.--The entities and agencies 
        described in paragraph (1) shall cooperate with and provide 
        counsel to the Commission to the greatest extent practicable.
    (e) Study.--The Commission shall study--
            (1) social work practice in the areas of aging, child 
        welfare, military and veteran's issues, 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 to be appropriate; and
            (3) State-level social work licensure policies and 
        reciprocity agreements for providing services across State 
        lines.
    (f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
the Commission's first meeting, the Commission shall submit a report to 
Congress and the Secretary on the results of the study, to determine 
and address the immediate and future needs of the social work 
profession.
    (g) Personnel.--
            (1) Travel expenses.--The members of the Commission shall 
        not receive compensation for the performance of services for 
        the Commission, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including 
        per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
        employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 
        5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular 
        places of business in the performance of services for the 
        Commission. Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United 
        States Code, the Secretary may accept the voluntary and 
        uncompensated services of members of the Commission.
            (2) Detail of government employees.--Any Federal Government 
        employee may be detailed to the Commission without 
        reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or 
        loss of civil service status or privilege.
    (h) 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 and individuals under 
subsections (b) through (e) for each fiscal year to support 
demonstration programs 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 4 eligible entities (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 more than $1,000,000 to the 4 eligible entities. The 
        Secretary shall award the grants 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 carried out under 
                this subsection, including proven financial 
                responsibility and administrative capability; and
                    (B) are knowledgeable about relevant workforce 
                trends and have at least 2 years of experience relevant 
                to the demonstration program.
    (c) Research Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
        grants to not less than 25 social workers holding a doctoral 
        degree in social work, for post-doctoral research in social 
        work to further the knowledge base about 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 
        subsection in a total amount of $5,000,000. The Secretary shall 
        award the grants over a 4-year period.
    (d) Education and Training Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award 20 
        grants to eligible entities to support recruitment of social 
        work students for, and education of the students in, 
        baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degree programs, as well 
        as the development of faculty.
            (2) Equal amounts.--The Secretary shall award grants under 
        this subsection in equal amounts of not less than $75,000 and 
        not more than $100,000 to the 20 eligible entities. The 
        Secretary shall award the grants 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 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 work 
                students from or place the students in high need and 
                high demand areas.
    (e) Community-Based Programs of Excellence Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
        grants to 6 eligible entities that are carrying out programs of 
        excellence to further test and replicate effective social work 
        interventions. The Secretary shall choose eligible entities 
        carrying out programs in 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 subsection in equal amounts of not less than $250,000 and 
        not more than $500,000 to the 6 eligible entities. The 
        Secretary shall award the grants annually over a 3-year period.
            (3) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection, 
        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--
            (1) in the case of grants under subsection (b), (d), or 
        (e), to eligible entities that--
                    (A) demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and 
                participation in the entities' programs, of individuals 
                and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, 
                gender, geographic, religious, sexual orientation, 
                linguistic, and class backgrounds;
                    (B) demonstrate a record of active participation of 
                professionally trained social workers in the entities' 
                programs; and
                    (C) provide services and represent the individuals 
                employed by the entities as competent only within the 
                boundaries of their education, training, licenses, 
                certification, consultation received, supervised 
                experience, or other relevant professional experience; 
                and
            (2) in the case of grants under subsection (c), to 
        individuals that--
                    (A) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of 
                individuals and groups described in paragraph (1)(A); 
                and
                    (B) provide services and represent themselves as 
                competent only within the boundaries described in 
                paragraph (1)(C).
    (g) National Coordinating Center.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall enter into a 
        contract with a national social work research entity that--
                    (A) has experience in coordinating the transfer of 
                information and ideas among entities engaged in social 
                work research, practice, education, and policymaking; 
                and
                    (B) maintains relationships with Federal entities, 
                social work degree-granting institutions of higher 
                education and departments of social work within such 
                institutions, and organizations and agencies that 
                employ social workers.
            (2) General duties.--The entity shall serve as a 
        coordinating center and shall organize information and other 
        data, collect and report data, serve as a clearinghouse, and 
        coordinate activities with the entities, institutions, 
        departments, organizations, and agencies described in paragraph 
        (1). The coordinating center shall work with institutions of 
        higher education, research entities, and entities with social 
        work practice settings to identify key research areas to be 
        pursued, select research fellows, and organize appropriate 
        mentorship and professional development efforts.
            (3) Specific activities described.--The coordinating center 
        shall--
                    (A) collect, coordinate, monitor, and distribute 
                data, information on best practices, and findings 
                regarding the activities funded under grants made to 
                eligible entities and individuals under the 
                demonstration programs described in subsections (b) 
                through (e); and
                    (B) prepare and submit to the Secretary a 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.
            (4) Selection.--The Secretary or a designee, in 
        collaboration with the coordinating center, shall select topics 
        to be researched under this subsection, shall select candidates 
        and finalists for research fellow positions, and shall 
        determine other activities to be carried out under this 
        subsection.
            (5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this subsection for 
        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. NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK AWARENESS MONTH.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to designate a 
National Social Work Awareness Month to--
            (1) raise awareness about the importance of the profession 
        of social work; and
            (2) encourage interest groups, stakeholders, and 
        individuals to take an active role in recruitment, retention, 
        research, and reinvestment in the profession of social work.
    (b) Designation.--The Senate--
            (1) designates March of 2008, and of each succeeding year, 
        as ``National Social Work Awareness Month''; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        the month with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Community-based program.--The term ``community-based 
        program'' means an agency, organization, or other entity, 
        carrying out a program 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), a public or 
                private agency working in a social work capacity that 
                demonstrates a need in a workplace concern area 
                described in section 4(b)(1);
                    (B) in reference to section 4(d), a department of 
                social work within an institution of higher education, 
                or the institution of higher education, that offers a 
                baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degree in social 
                work; and
                    (C) in reference to section 4(e), a nonprofit or 
                public community-based program working in a social work 
                capacity in an area described in section 4(e)(1).
            (3) High need and high demand.--The term ``high need and 
        high demand'', used in reference to an area or population, 
        means an area with a population, or a population, respectively, 
        that 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. The area or 
        population at issue may be an area or population defined by the 
        Health Resources and Services Administration as a ``health 
        professional shortage area'', which has a shortage of primary 
        medical care, dental, or mental health providers, and is an 
        urban or rural area, a population group, or a public or 
        nonprofit private medical facility.
            (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. The research referenced to in this 
        paragraph is primarily conducted by doctoral level researchers 
        under university, government, research institute, or community 
        agency auspices.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Health and Human Services.
            (6) Social work.--The term ``social work'' means--
                    (A) the professional activity of helping 
                individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore 
                capacity for social and psychosocial functioning and 
                creating societal conditions favorable to that 
                enhancement or restoration;
                    (B) an activity, the practice of which consists of 
                the professional application of values, principles, and 
                techniques related to the professional activity 
                described in subparagraph (A), including--
                            (i) diagnosis and treatment of mental and 
                        emotional disorders with individuals, families, 
                        and groups;
                            (ii) helping communities or groups provide 
                        or improve social and health services and 
                        participating in relevant legislative 
                        processes; and
                            (iii) helping people obtain tangible 
                        services; and
                    (C) an activity, the practice of which requires 
                knowledge of--
                            (i) human development;
                            (ii) behavior of social, economic and 
                        cultural institutions; and
                            (iii) the interaction of the factors 
                        described in clauses (i) and (ii).
            (7) Social work researcher.--The term ``social work 
        researcher'' means a person who studies social work at the 
        individual, family, group, community, policy, or organizational 
        level, focusing across the human life span on prevention of, 
        intervention in, treatment of, aftercare of, and rehabilitation 
        from acute and chronic social and psychosocial conditions, and 
        includes a person examining the effect of policies on social 
        work practice. The study referred to in this paragraph is 
        primarily conducted by researchers with doctoral degrees who 
        are social workers or 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 a baccalaureate, 
        master's, or doctoral degree, who uses knowledge and skills to 
        provide social work services for clients who may be 
        individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, or 
        society in general.
                                 <all>