[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 498 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 498

   Expressing support for designation of the week of March 2, 2014, 
         through March 8, 2014, as ``School Social Work Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 4, 2014

 Ms. Moore (for herself, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. 
     McGovern, and Ms. Lee of California) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the 
                               Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing support for designation of the week of March 2, 2014, 
         through March 8, 2014, as ``School Social Work Week''.

Whereas the importance of school social work through the inclusion of school 
        social work programs has been recognized in the current authorizations 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et 
        seq.) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
        1400 et seq.);
Whereas school social workers serve as critical members of a school's 
        educational team, playing a central role in creating a positive school 
        climate and vital partnerships between the home, school, and community 
        to ensure student academic success;
Whereas school social workers are especially skilled in providing services to 
        students who face serious challenges to school success, including 
        poverty, disability, discrimination, abuse, addiction, bullying, divorce 
        of parents, loss of a loved one, and other barriers to learning;
Whereas school social workers coordinate the implementation of the school and 
        community programs that promote positive discipline and regularly assist 
        and train school personnel in promoting positive behaviors and 
        preventing negative behaviors that escalate into disproportionate 
        disciplinary outcomes and responses;
Whereas there is a growing need for local educational agencies to offer the 
        mental health services that school social workers provide when working 
        with families, teachers, principals, community agencies, and other 
        entities to address students' emotional, physical, and environmental 
        needs so that students may achieve behavioral and academic success;
Whereas to achieve the goal of helping all children reach their optimal levels 
        of potential and achievement schools must work to remove the emotional, 
        behavioral, and academic barriers that interfere with student success in 
        school;
Whereas fewer than 1 in 5 of the children in need of mental health services 
        actually receive these services, and research indicates that school 
        mental health programs improve educational outcomes by decreasing 
        absences, decreasing discipline referrals, and improving academic 
        achievement;
Whereas school mental health programs are critical to early identification of 
        mental health problems and in the provision of appropriate services when 
        needed; and
Whereas the celebration of ``School Social Work Week'' during the week of March 
        2, 2014, through March 8, 2014, highlights the vital role school social 
        workers play in the lives of students in the United States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``School Social Work 
        Week'';
            (2) honors and recognizes the contributions of school 
        social workers to the successes of students in schools across 
        the Nation; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        ``School Social Work Week'' with appropriate ceremonies and 
        activities that promote awareness of the vital role of school 
        social workers, in schools and in the community as a whole, in 
        helping students prepare for their futures as productive 
        citizens.
                                 <all>