[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1532 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1532
To establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide
independent counsel to Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human
Services on policy issues related to recruitment, retention, research,
and reinvestment in the profession of social work, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 5, 2019
Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, Ms.
Norton, Ms. Brownley of California, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Bishop of
Georgia, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Yarmuth, Miss Rice of New York, Ms. Clarke
of New York, Mr. Evans, Mr. Soto, and Mr. Lewis) 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 and the Secretary of Health and Human
Services on policy issues related to 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Dorothy I. Height
and Whitney M. Young, Jr., Social Work Reinvestment Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
TITLE I--SOCIAL WORK REINVESTMENT COMMISSION
Sec. 101. Establishment.
Sec. 102. Members.
Sec. 103. Duties.
Sec. 104. Powers.
Sec. 105. Compensation.
Sec. 106. Termination.
TITLE II--REINVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION
Sec. 201. Workplace improvement grants.
Sec. 202. Research grants.
Sec. 203. Education and training grants.
Sec. 204. Community-based programs of excellence grants.
Sec. 205. National coordinating center.
Sec. 206. Multimedia outreach campaign.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Although the United States poverty rate has had a
slight decline to 12.3 percent in 2017, poverty remains a
social issue for our Nation, especially for communities of
color and women and children who continue to experience higher
than average poverty rates. Homeowners and those seeking to
become homeowners continue to face challenges with high
mortgage delinquency, mortgage loan interest rates, and threats
of foreclosure. Joblessness and economic insecurity contribute
to the incidence of mental illness, family violence, suicide,
substance abuse, crime, and diminished capacity for health,
family, and community functioning.
(2) Social workers form society's social safety net. Social
workers provide assistance, guidance, and resources to
individuals, families, and communities in poverty.
Additionally, they understand the devastating costs and
consequences of poverty and unemployment on our society and
provide direct services in order to prevent and abate economic
inequality.
(3) The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the social
work profession will grow at an above-average rate through the
year 2026, with a 16-percent growth rate overall and a 20-
percent projected growth rate for health care social workers.
This increase is faster than the 7-percent average for all
occupations, demonstrating a substantial need for social
workers in our Nation.
(4) Social work salaries, on average, are among the lowest
for all occupations in the United States and for those with
master's level education in particular. According to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, the median annual income for social
workers in 2017 was $47,980.
(5) The report titled ``2017 Statistics on Social Work
Education in the United States'' by the Council on Social Work
Education stated that 77.7 percent of students graduating from
Master of Social Work programs incurred debt to earn their
graduate degree. The average debt for a Master of Social Work
degree was approximately $44,296.
(6) Social workers often deal with the most vulnerable
clients in emotional or traumatic situations, and face possible
danger as a result. The National Association of Social Workers
Center for Workforce Studies found that 44 percent of survey
respondents faced personal safety issues on the job. In 2015,
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported that
75 percent of workplace assaults that occurred between 2011 and
2013 took place in the health care and social services
industries.
(7) The Alzheimer's Association of America states that 5.7
million Americans, or 1 in every 10 individuals over the age of
65, 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.
(8) The Children's Defense Fund states that every 47
seconds a child is confirmed as abused or neglected and every
5\1/2\ hours a child is killed from abuse or neglect. The
Administration for Children and Families of the Department of
Health and Human Services states that 437,500 children were in
the United States foster care system at the end of fiscal year
2016. Most children placed in foster care are placed due to
parental abuse or neglect. Research shows that professional
social workers employed in child welfare agencies are more
likely to find permanent homes for children who have been in
foster care for 2 or more years. Unfortunately, less than 40
percent of child welfare workers are professional social
workers.
(9) The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services
estimates that 46.6 million individuals (nearly 1 in 5 or 18.9
percent) in the United States age 18 or older experienced a
diagnosable mental illness in 2017. Additionally, at least 3
million (1 in 10 or 13.3 percent) youth between the ages of 12
and 17 experienced at least one major depressive episode in the
past year. 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.
(10) Social workers working with veterans and their
families provide services that include case management, crisis
interventions, mental health interventions, housing and
financial counseling, high-risk screening, and advocacy. The
Department of Veterans Affairs, which is the largest employer
of social workers in the Nation, employs over 12,000 social
workers who are available to serve an estimated 20.4 million
veterans in the United States. 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.
(11) The American Cancer Society estimated that there would
be 1,735,350 new cases of cancer and 609,640 cancer deaths, or
1,670 deaths a day, in 2018 alone. The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention report that there are over 1,100,000
people living with HIV in the United States, with approximately
38,500 new cases diagnosed in 2015. In 2017, 1,430,000 to
1,700,000 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 and health promotion, help individuals
and their families adapt to their health conditions, connect
patients and family caregivers with community services and
supports, provide grief counseling, and act as a liaison
between individuals and their medical team, helping patients
make informed decisions about their care.
(12) The Children's Defense Fund notes that every 2 seconds
a public school student is suspended and that every 9 seconds a
high school student drops out. The National Center for
Education Statistics states that in 2016 the national dropout
rate for high school students was 6.1 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.
(13) 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 correctional
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,
prisons to reduce recidivism and increase positive community
reentry.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Clinical social worker.--The term ``clinical social
worker'' has the meaning given the term in section 1861(hh)(1)
of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(hh)(1)).
(2) 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,
local, or regional level, to address human service, health
care, or psychosocial needs.
(3) High need and high demand population.--The term ``high
need and high demand population'' means a group of individuals
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. Such term
includes a group of individuals residing in an area designated
by the Health Resources and Services Administration as a
``health professional shortage area'' due to a shortage of
primary medical care, dental, or mental health providers.
(4) Historically black college or university.--The term
``historically black college or university'' has the meaning
given the term ``part B institution'' in section 322(2) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)).
(5) Minority-serving institution.--The term ``minority-
serving institution'' means an institution of higher education
that serves a large percentage of minority students, as
determined by the Secretary of Education, including the
following:
(A) Alaska Native-serving institutions, as defined
in section 317(b)(2) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(b)(2)).
(B) Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, as
defined in section 317(b)(4) of such Act (20 U.S.C.
1059d(b)(4)).
(C) Asian American and Native American Pacific
Islander-serving institutions, as defined in section
320(b)(2) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059g(b)(2)).
(D) Hispanic-serving institutions, as defined in
section 502(a)(5) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1101(a)(5)).
(E) Tribal Colleges and Universities, as defined in
section 316(b)(3) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3)).
(F) Native American-serving, nontribal
institutions, as defined in section 319(b)(2) of such
Act (20 U.S.C. 1059f(b)(2)).
(G) Predominantly Black Institutions, as defined in
section 318(b)(6) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059e(b)(6)).
(H) Historically black colleges or universities.
(6) Program of excellence.--The term ``program of
excellence'' means a program of distinction in a field related
to human service, hosted by a public or private agency, that
has received State or national recognition or another clearly
defined indicator appropriate to the mission of the program,
has clearly defined and measurable goals and objectives,
regularly assesses outcomes, and can provide evidence of a
strong assessment plan that utilizes assessment data to improve
the program.
(7) Related professional researcher.--The term ``related
professional researcher'' means a doctoral level researcher or
any other individual who is professionally engaged in research
in a social, political, economic, health, or mental health
field other than social work for an entity such as a
university, government entity, research institute, or community
agency.
(8) School of social work.--The term ``school of social
work'' means a school that is accredited by the Council on
Social Work Education (the sole accrediting agency recognized
by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation for social
work education in the United States) within an institution of
higher education, that offers baccalaureate, master's, or
doctoral degrees in social work.
(9) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(10) 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 such
enhancement or restoration;
(B) the professional application of values,
principles, and techniques related to the activity
described in subparagraph (A), including--
(i) diagnosing mental and emotional
disorders and treating individuals, families,
or groups for such disorders;
(ii) helping communities or groups provide
or improve social and health services and
participating in relevant legislative processes
to achieve such goals; and
(iii) helping individuals, families, or
groups obtain tangible services, including
personal, protective, informational, advisory,
community, or maintenance services in order to
improve the overall well-being of individuals;
and
(C) a professional activity that requires knowledge
of human development, the behavior of social, economic,
and cultural institutions, and the interaction between
such development and behavior.
(11) Social work researcher.--The term ``social work
researcher'' means a faculty member of an institution of higher
education, doctoral level researcher, or any other individual
who is professionally engaged in the study of social work for
an entity such as a university, government entity, research
institute, or community agency at an individual, family, group,
community, organizational, or policy level, focusing across the
human life span on prevention, treatment, and aftercare of,
intervention in, and rehabilitation from, acute and chronic
social and psychosocial conditions, including the study of the
effect of policies on social work practice.
(12) Social worker.--The term ``social worker'' means an
individual with a baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degree
in social work from an institution of higher education who uses
knowledge and skills to provide social work services for
individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, or
society in general.
TITLE I--SOCIAL WORK REINVESTMENT COMMISSION
SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission
(referred to in this title as the ``Commission'') to provide
independent counsel to Congress and the Secretary on policy issues
related to recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the
profession of social work.
SEC. 102. MEMBERS.
(a) Appointment by Secretary.--Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall appoint members
to the Commission. The members shall include--
(1) 2 deans of schools of social work;
(2) 1 social work researcher;
(3) 1 related professional researcher;
(4) 1 Governor of a State;
(5) 2 leaders of national social work organizations;
(6) 1 senior State government employee who is not an
elected official who has a baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral
degree in social work;
(7) 1 related senior State government employee who is not
an elected official;
(8) 2 directors of community-based organizations or
nonprofit organizations that provide human services;
(9) 1 labor economist;
(10) 1 social work consumer; and
(11) 1 licensed clinical social worker.
(b) Appointment by Other Officers.--Four additional members shall
be appointed to the Commission, with 1 member appointed by each of the
following officers:
(1) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2) The minority leader of the House of Representatives.
(3) The majority leader of the Senate.
(4) The minority leader of the Senate.
(c) Organizational Representation.--To the extent practicable,
members of the Commission shall be appointed--
(1) in a manner that ensures participation of individuals
of different racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious,
linguistic, and class backgrounds and of different genders and
sexual orientations; and
(2) from among individuals who demonstrate knowledge and
understanding of the concerns of the groups described in
paragraph (1).
(d) Selection of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Secretary
shall appoint a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson for the Commission
from among the members of the Commission.
(e) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--Members shall be appointed
for the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission shall not
affect the powers of the Commission and shall be filled in the same
manner as the original appointment not later than 60 days after the
date of vacancy.
(f) Schedule of Meetings.--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 shall be held
at the call of the Chairperson.
SEC. 103. DUTIES.
(a) Study.--The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive study to
examine and assess--
(1) the professional capacity of the social work workforce
to successfully serve and respond to the increasing
biopsychosocial needs of individuals, groups, and communities
in areas related to--
(A) aging;
(B) child welfare;
(C) military and veterans affairs;
(D) mental and behavioral health and disability;
(E) criminal justice and correctional systems;
(F) health and other issues affecting women and
families; and
(G) other topics identified by the Commission;
(2) workforce challenges facing the profession of social
work, including high educational debt, lack of fair market
compensation, the need to translate social work research to
practice, the need to improve social worker safety, the need to
develop State-level social work licensure policies and
reciprocity agreements for social workers providing services
across State lines, the lack of diversity in the social work
profession, and any other issue determined by the Secretary to
be appropriate;
(3) the effect of such challenges on the recruitment and
retention of social workers;
(4) the effect of such challenges and of social worker
shortages on the needs of clients served by social workers; and
(5) the advisability of establishing in the Treasury a
social work enhancement account to provide direct grant
assistance to local governments to encourage the engagement of
social workers in social service programs.
(b) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of its first
meeting, the Commission shall submit a report to the Secretary and to
Congress containing specific findings and conclusions regarding the
need to recruit and retain social workers, to conduct research on the
social work profession, and to reinvest in the profession. The report
shall include recommendations and strategies for corrective actions to
ensure a robust social work workforce capable of keeping up with the
demand for services. The Commission may provide to the Secretary and to
Congress any additional findings or recommendations considered by the
Commission to be important.
SEC. 104. POWERS.
(a) Powers.--In carrying out the duties of the Commission, the
Commission shall have the power to--
(1) hold hearings, take testimony, receive evidence,
administer oaths, and sit and act at such times and places as
the Commission considers advisable;
(2) enter into contracts; and
(3) consult, to the extent that the Commission determines
that such consultation is necessary or useful, with Federal
agencies that include--
(A) 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
Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Health Resources and
Service Administration, the Indian Health Service, the
National Institutes of Health, and the Substance Abuse
and Mental Health Services Administration;
(B) the Social Security Administration; and
(C) the Departments of Agriculture, Defense,
Education, Homeland Security, Labor, Justice, State,
and Veterans Affairs.
(b) Cooperation With Commission.--The agencies described in
subsection (a)(3) shall cooperate with, and provide counsel to, the
Commission to the greatest extent practicable.
SEC. 105. COMPENSATION.
(a) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall not
receive compensation for the performance of services for the
Commission, but shall be provided travel expenses, including per diem
in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of Federal
agencies under subchapter 1 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.
(b) Voluntary and Uncompensated Services.--Notwithstanding section
1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may accept the
voluntary and uncompensated services of members of the Commission.
(c) 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.
SEC. 106. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate 30 days after the date on which the
Commission submits the report under section 103(b).
TITLE II--REINVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION
SEC. 201. WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.
(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to 4
eligible entities described in subsection (d) to assist the entities in
carrying out a workplace improvement program to address concerns for
the social work profession, including caseloads, compensation, social
worker safety, supervision, and working conditions.
(b) Equal Amounts.--The Secretary shall award to each of the 4
grant recipients under this section $1,000,000 per fiscal year for 4
consecutive fiscal years beginning with the first fiscal year that
begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Grants to State or Local Governments.--At least 2 of the grant
recipients under this section shall be agencies of State or local
governments.
(d) Eligibility Requirements.--An entity eligible for a grant under
this section shall--
(1) work in a social work capacity;
(2) demonstrate that the entity needs to improve in one or
more of the workplace concern areas described in subsection
(a);
(3) provide services to individuals of different racial,
ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious, linguistic, and class
backgrounds, and different genders and sexual orientations;
(4) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concerns
of the groups described in paragraph (3); and
(5) employ individuals who represent themselves as
competent to provide social work services only within the
boundaries of their education, training, licenses,
certification, professional case consultation, supervised
experience, or other relevant professional experience.
(e) Priority.--In selecting grant recipients under this section,
the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities--
(1) that have proven to be fiscally responsible,
administratively capable, and otherwise equipped to oversee and
monitor a workplace improvement program under this section,
including through a labor-management partnership;
(2) that are knowledgeable about relevant social work
workforce trends; and
(3) that have not less than 2 years of experience relevant
to the workplace improvement program.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $16,000,000 to the Secretary to award grants under this
section.
SEC. 202. RESEARCH GRANTS.
(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to 25
social workers who hold a doctoral degree in social work for
postdoctoral research in social work--
(1) to further the knowledge base about effective social
work interventions; and
(2) to promote usable strategies to translate research into
practice across diverse community settings and service systems.
(b) Equal Amounts.--The Secretary shall award to each of the 25
grant recipients under this section $50,000 per fiscal year for 4
consecutive fiscal years beginning with the first fiscal year that
begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible for a grant under
this section, a social worker shall--
(1) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concerns
of individuals from different racial, ethnic, cultural,
geographic, religious, linguistic, and class backgrounds, and
different genders and sexual orientations; and
(2) represent themselves as competent to provide social
work services only within the boundaries of their education,
training, licenses, certification, professional case
consultation, supervised experience, or other relevant
professional experience.
(d) Minority Representation.--Not less than 10 of the grant
recipients under this section shall be employed by a historically black
college or university or minority-serving institution.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $5,000,000 to the Secretary to award grants under this
section.
SEC. 203. EDUCATION AND TRAINING GRANTS.
(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to 20
eligible institutions of higher education to support the recruitment
and education of social work students in baccalaureate, master's, and
doctoral degree programs and the professional development of social
work faculty.
(b) Equal Amounts.--The Secretary shall award to each of the 20
grant recipients under this section $200,000 per fiscal year for 4
consecutive fiscal years beginning with the first fiscal year that
begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible for a grant under
this section, an institution shall demonstrate that--
(1) the institution enrolls social work students from
different racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious,
linguistic, and class backgrounds, and different genders and
sexual orientations; and
(2) the institution has knowledge and understanding of the
concerns of the groups described in paragraph (1).
(d) Institutional Requirement.--Not less than 4 of the grant
recipients under this section shall be historically black colleges or
universities or other minority-serving institutions.
(e) Priority.--In selecting grant recipients under this section,
the Secretary shall give priority to institutions of higher education--
(1) that are accredited by the Council on Social Work
Education;
(2) that have a graduation rate of not less than 80 percent
for social work students; and
(3) that exhibit an ability to recruit social workers from,
and place social workers in, areas with a high need and high
demand population.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $16,000,000 to the Secretary to award grants under this
section.
SEC. 204. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE GRANTS.
(a) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary shall award grants to 6
eligible covered entities to test and replicate effective social work
interventions.
(b) Covered Entity.--For purposes of this section, the term
``covered entity'' means--
(1) a State or local government or a department, agency,
special-purpose district, or other instrumentality of a State
or local government, that is carrying out a community-based
program of excellence; or
(2) a nonprofit organization that is carrying out a program
of excellence.
(c) Equal Amounts.--The Secretary shall award to each of the 6
grant recipients under this section $500,000 per fiscal year for 3
consecutive fiscal years beginning with the first fiscal year that
begins after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Eligibility Requirements.--To be eligible for a grant under
this section, a covered entity shall--
(1) carry out programs in the areas of aging, child
welfare, military and veterans issues, mental and behavioral
health and disability, criminal justice and correction systems,
and health and other issues affecting women and families;
(2) provide services to individuals of different racial,
ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious, linguistic, and class
backgrounds, and different genders and sexual orientations;
(3) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concerns
of the groups described in paragraph (2);
(4) demonstrate a record of active participation of social
workers in the programs of the entity; and
(5) employ individuals who represent themselves as
competent to provide social work services only within the
boundaries of their education, training, licenses,
certification, professional case consultation, supervised
experience, or other relevant professional experience.
(e) Priority.--In selecting the grant recipients under this
section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible covered
entities--
(1) that have demonstrated successful and measurable
outcomes that the Secretary considers worthy of replication,
including labor-management partnerships that have improved
retention of social workers;
(2) that have been in operation for at least 2 years; and
(3) that work with high need and high demand populations.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $9,000,000 to the Secretary to award grants under this
section.
SEC. 205. NATIONAL COORDINATING CENTER.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall enter into a contract with
a national social work entity such as the National Association of
Social Workers or the Council on Social Work Education. Such entity
shall--
(1) have experience in coordinating the transfer of
information and ideas among entities engaged in social work
research, practice, education, and policymaking; and
(2) maintain relationships with Federal entities, social
work degree-granting institutions of higher education,
departments of social work within such institutions, and
organizations and agencies that employ social workers.
(b) General Duties.--The entity with which the Secretary enters
into a contract under subsection (a) (referred to in this section as
the ``coordinating center'') shall organize, collect, and report to the
Secretary and to Congress data and information related to the social
work profession, serve as a clearinghouse, and coordinate activities
with the entities, institutions, departments, organizations, and
agencies described in subsection (a)(2).
(c) Collaboration.--The coordinating center shall work with
institutions of higher education, research entities, and organizations
with social work practice settings, including government entities,
military departments, elementary and secondary schools, social services
agencies, private practices, inpatient and outpatient mental health
service providers, child welfare agencies, correctional facilities, and
nursing homes, to identify key research areas, establish research
fellowships, and organize appropriate mentorship and professional
development efforts.
(d) Specific Activities of the Coordinating Center.--The
coordinating center shall--
(1) engage in activities to build on the efforts of the
National Association of Social Workers National Center for
Workforce Studies;
(2) collect, coordinate, monitor, and distribute data and
information on best practices and findings regarding the
activities funded by grants awarded under sections 201 through
204;
(3) 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 in the profession of social work;
(4) demonstrate cultural competency and promote the
participation of diverse groups; and
(5) in collaboration with the Secretary, select research
topics to further the goals of this section, establish new
research fellowships to conduct such research, and identify and
appoint qualified individuals to such fellowship positions from
among individuals who hold master's or doctoral degrees in
social work or are enrolled in master's or doctoral degree
programs at schools of social work.
(e) Powers of Secretary.--The Secretary may conduct and authorize
such other activities as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry
out this section.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal
years 2020 through 2024.
SEC. 206. MULTIMEDIA OUTREACH CAMPAIGN.
(a) Development and Issuance of Public Service Announcements.--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.
(b) Method.--The public service announcements described in
subsection (a) shall be broadcast through appropriate media outlets,
including television or radio, in a manner intended to reach as wide
and diverse of an audience as possible.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section
for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.
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