IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 217 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and World Social 

Work Day. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 21, 2017 

Ms. LEE (for herself, Mr. GUTIE ́RREZ, Mr. NADLER, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, 

Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. MEEKS, and Ms. SHEA-PORTER) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education 

and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the goals and ideals of Social Work Month and 

World Social Work Day. 

Whereas the primary mission of the social work profession is 

to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic 

needs of all people, especially the most vulnerable in society; 

Whereas social work pioneers helped lead the Nation’s struggle for social justice and have helped paved the way for 

positive social change; 

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


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 217 IH 

communities, the military, and mental health and health 

care facilities; 

Whereas social workers are key employees at the Federal, 

State, and local levels of government and work to expand 

policies and practices that promote equity and social justice for all people; 

Whereas social work is one of the fastest growing careers in 

the United States, with almost 650,000 members of the 

profession; 

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

Professional Social Work Month’’ theme, ‘‘Social Workers 

Stand Up!’’, and this year’s World Social Work Day on 

March 21, 2017, ‘‘Promoting Community and Environmental Sustainability’’, by working with individuals, organizations, communities, and the larger society to tackle 

and solve issues that confront them; 

Whereas social workers have pushed for decades to ensure 

equal rights for all, including women, communities of 

color, the LGBT community, people who are disabled, 

and various other ethnic, cultural and religious groups; 

Whereas social workers have continued to advocate for legislation and policies that address racial and ethnic justice, 

including renewal of the Voting Rights Act, the Violence 

Against Women’s Act, the Civil Rights Act, the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, workplace safety, and Social Security benefits; 

Whereas social workers are the largest group of mental 

health care providers in the United States, and work 

daily to help people overcome substance use disorders and 

mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety; 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 217 IH 

Whereas social workers know from experience that poverty 

and trauma can create lifelong social and economic disadvantages; 

Whereas social workers know from experience that discrimination of any kind limits human potential and must be 

eliminated; 

Whereas thousands of child, family, and school social workers 

across the country provide assistance to protect children 

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; 

Whereas veterans and their families need community support 

to ensure successful transitions after service; 

Whereas access to mental health treatment and health care 

services saves millions of lives; 

Whereas research has shown that all people, no matter their 

circumstance, may at some time in their lives, need the 

expertise of a skilled social worker; 

Whereas social workers celebrate the courage, hope, and 

strength of the human spirit throughout their careers; 

and 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 217 IH 

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 House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of Social 

3 Work Month and World Social Work Day; 

4 (2) acknowledges the diligent efforts of individ5 uals and groups who promote the importance of so6 cial work and observe Social Work Month and World 

7 Social Work Day; 

8 (3) encourages individuals to engage in appro9 priate ceremonies and activities to promote further 

10 awareness of the life-changing role that social work11 ers play; and 

12 (4) recognizes with gratitude the contributions 

13 of the millions of caring individuals who have chosen 

14 to serve their communities through social work. 

Æ 


sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with BILLS