[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1206-H1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WEEK
Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 1091) expressing support for designation of the
week of February 28 through March 7, 2010, as ``School Social Work
Week'', as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1091
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 vital members of a
school's educational team, playing a central role in creating
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 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 the No Child Left Behind Act
of 2001 (Public Law 107-110) of helping all children reach
their optimal levels of potential and achievement, including
children with serious emotional disturbances, schools must
work to remove the emotional, behavioral, and academic
barriers that interfere with student success in school;
Whereas in 1999, with the most current data available, the
Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health showed that fewer
than 1 in 5 of the 17,500,000 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;
Whereas the national average ratio of students to school
social workers recommended by the School Social Work
Association of America is 400 to 1; and
Whereas the celebration and of ``School Social Work Week''
during the week of February 28 through March 6, 2010,
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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr.
Petri) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Puerto Rico.
General Leave
Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1091 into the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Puerto Rico?
There was no objection.
Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1091, a resolution to
recognize the week of February 28 through March 6, 2010, as National
School Social Worker Week.
School social workers have long played a critical role in schools and
in the community as a whole. They are professionals with training in
social support and mental health intervention who work with youth to
address their emotional, social, and developmental needs. For example,
students in elementary school are just beginning to develop their
academic skills and their feelings of competence. School social workers
help students build their confidence as learners.
In middle school, many new challenges arise. During this passage from
childhood to adolescence, students are characterized by a need to
explore a variety of interests, connecting their learning in the
classroom to its practical application in life. In middle schools,
school social workers provide leadership to engage all stakeholders in
the delivery of programs and services to help students navigate the
challenges of early adolescence to achieve academic, social, and
behavioral success.
And in high school, students begin separating from parents to explore
their independence and define their individuality. They face increased
pressures to engage in risky behaviors involving sex, alcohol, and
drugs, and many students seek support in choosing acceptable behavior
and establishing mature, meaningful relationships. School social
workers help them
[[Page H1207]]
make thoughtful and appropriate decisions.
On top of this, school social workers must be responsive to the range
of challenges that young people face every day such as poverty,
disability, discrimination, abuse, addiction, bullying, divorce of
parents, loss of a loved one, and other barriers to learning.
School social workers are also on the front lines when disaster
strikes, such as the suicide plane attack in Austin, Texas, that killed
a number of people last month, Hurricane Katrina, as well as our
traumatic events such as 9/11 or school violence incidents like
Columbine.
There is documentation of the growing need for school districts to
expand mental health and student support services in schools. The
numbers indicate that less than 1 in 5 of the 17.5 million children in
need of mental health services actually receive any support from
qualified professionals. Many students go underserved primarily because
the national average ratio of students to school social workers is far
higher than the 400 to 1 ratio recommended by the School Social Work
Association of America.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution serves to recognize the tremendous
importance of school social workers and acknowledge the valuable role
that they play in guiding our students' success. I want to thank
Congressman Kennedy for bringing this resolution forward. I urge my
colleagues to resoundingly pass this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution before us, House
Resolution 1091, expressing support for designation of the week now
passed of February 28 through March 6, 2010, as ``School Social Work
Week.''
School social work is a specialized area of practice within the broad
field of the social work profession. School social workers bring unique
knowledge and skills to the school system and the student services
team. School social workers are instrumental in furthering the purposes
of education, which is to provide a setting for teaching, learning, and
for the attainment of competence and confidence. School social workers
are hired by school districts to enhance the district's ability to meet
its academic mission.
Within the school setting, school social workers are a link between
the student, the student's family, the school, and the community. The
efficacy of this link is considerably dependent upon professional
relationships developed with the student and the student's family, as
well as with other school personnel. School social workers are
concerned with the student's education as well as their emotional and
mental well-being.
School social workers play an important part in the academic and
emotional development of students in schools. They provide services to
students who face challenges that might be a barrier to learning, such
as poverty, disability, abuse, loss of a loved one, or divorce. School
social workers are critical to the identification of mental health
problems and the provision of services when needed.
Today, we honor and recognize the contributions of school social
workers to the success of students in the schools throughout our
Nation. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
Having no requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in
supporting this resolution recognizing National School Social Work
Week.
Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution
1091, supporting ``School Social Work Week.'' I introduced this
resolution in order to recognize and support the critical, often
thankless work performed by social workers in schools across our
country. School social workers bring valuable skills and expertise to
schools and student services teams to ensure that every child has an
opportunity for success.
On a daily basis, school social workers help educators,
administrators, and parents address students' emotional, physical, and
environmental needs. School social workers help educators to understand
cultural, family, and community factors affecting students.
Everyday, they work with administrators to design and implement
prevention programs and policies that address school attendance,
bullying, sexual harassment, teen pregnancy, child abuse and neglect,
special education, and more. Issues like cyber bullying and harassment
are extremely underreported and on the rise in schools across the
country. Adult intervention at school is necessary to effectively curb
these trends.
School social workers also work as liaisons between parents and
schools. They work with parents so that they may participate in their
child's education, understand special education services, and access
other services related to their child's needs.
In healthcare we must treat the whole person and in education we must
do the same. School social workers recognize the importance of
connecting emotional, behavioral, and academic services in order to
maximize children's opportunities for success.
Too many children do not receive the mental health services they
need. Improved and expanded school mental health programs would help to
close this discrepancy. The kinds of services that so many students
desperately need are precisely the type of services that school social
workers can provide. As our economy continues to struggle, and families
all over the country are losing their homes and jobs; the need for
school social workers only multiples.
That is why I am proud to be the sponsor of this resolution. I would
like to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Education
and Labor Committee for allowing this resolution to come to the floor,
and I urge all of my colleagues to support it.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support
of H. Res. 1091, which expresses support for designation of the week of
February 28 through March 7, 2010, as ``School Social Work Week''.
Mr. Speaker, there is a mounting need for local educational
institutions to provide the mental health services social workers offer
when working with students' emotional, physical, and environmental
needs. When students are coupled with sincere and understanding social
worker, they are more likely to succeed and achieve behavioral and
academic success. This legislation will affirm that social workers are
life lines to children, schools, families and communities and those we
fully are committed to any and all initiatives that promote the need
for such crucial workers.
Mr. Speaker, 1 in 5 of the 17,500,000 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. It is imperative that more social workers are
properly trained and deployed into these various school systems to
assist students in reaching their most favorable level of potential and
achievement, especially children with serious emotional barriers. The
observation of `School Social Work Week' during the week of February 28
through March 7, 2010, calls attention to the fundamental role school
social workers play in the lives of students in the United States.
As many may know during the first years in the aftermath of hurricane
Katrina, the Houston school system, mainly Houston Independent School
District, was flooded with children from the affected area school
systems. After being through such a horrific ordeal, students were
expected to continue with their studies as normal. It took the
dedicated work of school social workers which assessed what was already
in place to help the students, conclude what was missing and formulate
a plan to build the student's aptitude to bounce back from adversity.
Now many of these students have gone on to succeed academically and
socially.
So in conclusion, I support H. Res. 1091 and I encourage my
colleagues to join me. In these uncertain times, where natural and
unnatural disasters are on every hand and have caused traumatic
experiences for this nation, let us not forget our youth.
Mr. PIERLUISI. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Pierluisi) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1091, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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