IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 978 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of March 3–7, 2008, 

as ‘‘School Social Work Week’’ to 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 future as productive citizens. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 12, 2008 

Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. LANGEVIN, Ms. MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, 

Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. HONDA, Mr. HARE, 

Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. SUTTON, Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California, Mr. 

HINCHEY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. CHANDLER, Mrs. CAPPS, and Mr. 

LOEBSACK) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of March 

3–7, 2008, as ‘‘School Social Work Week’’ to 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 future as productive citizens. 

Whereas the School Social Work Association of America declared the week of March 3–7, 2008, ‘‘School Social 

Work Week’’; 

Whereas the House of Representatives recognized the importance of school social work through the inclusion of 

school social work programs in the current authorization 


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•HRES 978 IH 

of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 

and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; 

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 school districts to offer 

the mental health services that school social workers provide when working with families, teachers, principals, 

community agencies, and other entities to address the 

emotional, physical, and environmental needs so that students may achieve behavioral and academic success; 

Whereas to achieve the goals of the No Child Left Behind 

Act of 2001 of help for all children in reaching their optimal potential and achievement, including those with serious emotional disturbances, 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 17,500,000 children in need 

of mental health services actually receive these services, 

and the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental 

Health indicates that school mental health programs improve educational outcomes by decreasing absences, decreasing discipline referrals, and improving academic 

achievement; 


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•HRES 978 IH 

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 of ‘‘School Social Work Week’’ highlights the awareness of the vital role school social workers 

play in the lives of students in the United States: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors and recognizes the contributions of 

3 school social workers to the success of students in 

4 schools across the Nation; and 

5 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

6 to observe ‘‘School Social Work Week’’ with appro7 priate ceremonies and activities that promote aware8 ness of the vital role of school social workers in 

9 schools, and the community as a whole, in helping 

10 students prepare for their future as productive citi11 zens. 

Æ 


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