III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 399 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Professional Social Work 

Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 15, 2016 

Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Ms. MIKULSKI, and Mr. FRANKEN) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 

Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘‘National Professional 

Social Work Month’’. 

Whereas the primary mission of the social work profession is 

to enhance well-being and help meet the basic needs of 

all people, especially the most vulnerable in society; 

Whereas social work is one of the fastest growing careers in 

the United States with more than 640,000 members of 

the profession; 

Whereas social workers work in all areas of our society to improve happiness, health and prosperity, including in government, schools, universities, social service agencies, 

communities, the military, and mental health and health 

care facilities; 


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•SRES 399 IS 

Whereas social workers daily embody this year’s ‘‘National 

Professional Social Work Month’’ theme, ‘‘Forging Solutions Out of Challenges’’, by helping individuals, communities and the larger society tackle and solve issues that 

confront them; 

Whereas social workers have helped the Nation live up to its 

ideals by successfully pushing for equal rights for all, including women, African Americans, Latinos, people who 

are LGBTQ, and various ethnic, cultural, and religious 

groups; 

Whereas social workers have helped people in the Nation 

overcome racial strife and economic and health care uncertainty by successfully advocating for initiatives such as 

the Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act, unemployment insurance, workplace safety initiatives, benefits under the Social Security Act, the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and 

the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; 

Whereas social workers are the largest group of mental 

health care providers in the United States and work daily 

to help people overcome depression, anxiety, substance 

abuse, and other disorders so they can lead more fulfilling lives; 

Whereas the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs employs 

more than 12,000 professional social workers and social 

workers help bolster the Nation’s security by providing 

support to active duty military personnel, veterans and 

their families; 

Whereas thousands of child, family, and school social workers 

across the country provide assistance to protect children 


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•SRES 399 IS 

and improve the social and psychological functioning of 

children and their families; 

Whereas social workers help children find loving homes and 

create new families through adoption; 

Whereas social workers in schools work with families and 

schools to foster future generations by ensuring students 

reach their full academic and personal potential; 

Whereas social workers work with older adults and their families to improve their quality of life and ability to live 

independently as long as possible and get access to highquality mental health and health care; and 

Whereas social workers have helped the United States and 

other nations overcome earthquakes, floods, wars, and 

other disasters by helping survivors get services such as 

food, shelter, and health care, and mental health care to 

address stress and anxiety: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘‘National 

3 Professional Social Work Month’’; 

4 (2) acknowledges the diligent efforts of individ5 uals and groups who promote the importance of so6 cial work and observe ‘‘National Professional Social 

7 Work Month’’; 

8 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

9 to engage in appropriate ceremonies and activities to 

10 promote further awareness of the life-changing role 

11 that social workers play; and 


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•SRES 399 IS 

1 (4) recognizes with gratitude the contributions 

2 of the hundreds of thousands of caring individuals 

3 who have chosen to serve their communities through 

4 social work. 

Æ 


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