[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 52 (Monday, March 26, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H3028-H3029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH AND
WORLD SOCIAL WORK DAY
Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 266) supporting the goals and ideals of
Professional Social Work Month and World Social Work Day.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 266
Whereas social workers have the demonstrated education and
experience to guide individuals, families, and communities
through complex issues and choices;
Whereas social workers connect individuals, families, and
communities to available resources;
Whereas social workers are dedicated to improving the
society in which we live;
Whereas social workers are positive and compassionate
professionals;
Whereas social workers stand up for others to make sure
everyone has access to the same basic rights, protections,
and opportunities;
Whereas social workers have been the driving force behind
important social movements in the United States and abroad;
and
Whereas Professional Social Work Month, and World Social
Work Day, which is March 27, 2007, will build awareness of
the role of professional social workers and their commitment
and dedication to individuals, families, and communities
everywhere though service delivery, research, education, and
legislative advocacy: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Professional Social
Work Month and World Social Work Day;
(2) acknowledges the diligent efforts of individuals and
groups who promote the importance of social work and who are
observing Professional Social Work Month and World Social
Work Day;
(3) encourages the American people to engage in appropriate
ceremonies and activities to further promote awareness of the
life-changing role of social workers;
(4) recognizes with gratitude the contributions of the
millions of caring individuals who have chosen to serve their
communities through social work; and
(5) encourages young people to seek out educational and
professional opportunities to become social workers.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr.
David Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Hampshire.
General Leave
Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during
which Members may insert material relevant to House Resolution 266 into
the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New Hampshire?
There was no objection.
Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Ms. SHEA-PORTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to offer
House Resolution 266, which honors the dedication and compassion of
professional social workers. Our highest calling as humans is to
provide service to others, especially those less fortunate than
ourselves.
At the turn of the 20th century, thousands of people lived in despair
and poverty, and it was the early progressive moment in which the
social work movement was born, providing food, clothing, health care
and education to the less fortunate.
Social workers had a role in civil rights and in women's freedom.
Today, social workers continue this fight to ensure that vulnerable
families have the support and the health care that they need.
Social workers are everywhere in our society, caring for all of us.
They help people in all stages of life, from children to the elderly,
and in all situations, from adoption to hospice care. You can find
social workers in hospitals, police departments, mental health clinics,
military facilities and corporations.
Professional social workers are the Nation's largest providers of
mental health care services. They provide
[[Page H3029]]
more mental health services than psychologists, psychiatrists and
psychiatric nurses combined.
More than 600,000 people in the United States hold social work
degrees. The Veterans Administration employs more than 4,400 social
workers to assist veterans and their families with individual and
family counseling, client education, end-of-life planning, substance
abuse treatment, crisis intervention and other services.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House
Resolution 266. This resolution would recognize the important work of
our Nation's social workers and support the goals and ideals of
Professional Social Worker Month and World Social Worker Day.
Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help
improve people's lives and play a valuable role in the Nation's health
care system. Social workers help people function the best way they can
in their environment, deal with their relationships, and solve personal
and family problems.
Social workers often see clients who face life-threatening disease or
social problems such as inadequate housing, unemployment, a serious
illness, a disability, or substance abuse. Social workers also assist
families that have serious domestic conflicts, sometimes involving a
child or spousal abuse.
For example, child, family and school social workers provide social
services and assistance to improve the social and psychological
functioning of children and their families and to maximize the family
well-being and academic functioning of children. They assist single
parents, arrange adoption, or help find foster homes for neglected,
abandoned or abused children.
In schools, they address problems such as teenage misbehavior and
truancy and advise teachers on how they can cope with problem students.
Social workers also specialize in services for senior citizens, running
support groups for family caregivers or for the adult children of aging
parents, advising elderly people or family members about choices in
areas such as housing, transportation, and long-term care and
coordination and monitoring of these services.
Through employee assistance programs, they may help workers cope with
job-related pressures or with personal problems that affect the quality
of their work.
Medical and public health social workers provide persons, families,
and vulnerable populations with psychosocial support needed to cope
with chronic, acute and terminal illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease
and cancer. They also assess and treat individuals with mental illness
or substance abuse, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco and other
drugs. They also may help plan for supportive services to ease
patients' return into the community.
In my State of Tennessee, we have a long tradition of recognizing the
vital role of social workers. In 2005, the Tennessee legislature, of
which I was honored to serve as a member for many years, passed
important legislation which required social workers to have received a
B.S. or master's degree in social work from an accredited school,
received a doctorate or Ph.D. in social work, or have a specialized
certificate or license from the State.
As a society, we have come to trust that the people using a certain
title have completed specific training to prepare them for their work
in assisting the public. Thanks to this legislation, Tennessee now
ensures that positions requiring the skills and training of
professional social workers are filled with fully qualified
professionals.
In addition, the East Tennessee State University Department of Social
Work has a long and proud history of preparing the majority of social
workers in the region that I represent. In addition to providing high-
quality education to future social workers, the Department hosts a
Social Work Career Day where students, community agencies and
practitioners come together and share educational experience and
information on a career in social work. Students and faculty are also
involved in a number of community based interdisciplinary learning and
service activities.
According to the United States Department of Labor, the need for
additional social workers is expected to increase faster than the
average of all other occupations through the year 2014 due to the
rapidly growing elderly population which is expected to create greater
demand for health and social careers. The growth in social work is
expected to occur most rapidly in home health care services, assisted
living and senior living communities and the school setting. In
addition, there is expected to be a significant need for those social
workers specializing in substance abuse.
Nearly 50 percent of the United States population, age 15 to 54,
report having at least one psychiatric disorder. Both severe and
persistent mental disorders, including addictions, have profound
consequences for individuals, their families and society, affecting
their ability to learn, to grow into healthy adults and to nurture
children, to work and secure housing and to engage in other routines of
living. Recognizing the prevalence of mental disorders and the cost
they exact on our society, social workers provide more than 40 percent
of all mental health services available to Americans, making them an
integral part of our Nation's health care delivery system.
So we stand here to recognize the importance of our Nation's social
workers and support the Professional Social Work Month and World Social
Work Day. We also stand to encourage more young adults to seek out
educational and professional opportunities as social workers where they
can play a positive impact on changing people's lives.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in highlighting the
contributions of social workers and to support House Resolution 266.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1500
Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Today we thank all those who have toiled in the
fields of our community, including my maternal grandmother, who left
the comfort of her home each day at the turn of the century and went to
the Lower East Side to help immigrants. And we praise all of those who
reach out to others every day in their community.
Social workers' service makes our communities stronger. March is
National Professional Work Month, and Tuesday, March 27 is World Social
Work Day. I honor their service and thank them for caring for all of us
each day.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance
of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New Hampshire (Ms. Shea-Porter) that the House suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 266.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. SHEA-PORTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
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