Support the Social Work Reinvestment Act

Recently I posted about a CNNmoney article that said Social Work is the most stressful, overworked and underpaid profession. Today I received an email from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) that referenced the article.

Dear Colleague,

I am writing to ask you, and every single NASW member, to contact your members of Congress and show your full support for the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act (H.R. 795/ S.686). This is the first piece of federal legislation ever introduced that will directly address the workforce challenges that our profession is facing. These challenges, such as low salaries, high educational debt, and serious safety concerns are making it difficult to assist the 10 million clients that social workers across the country serve each day. Take a moment to view this CNNmoney.com study, which rates social work at the top of the list of stressful jobs that pay badly. Rep. Towns recently discussed this study in a “Dear Colleague” he sent to his fellow members of Congress asking for their support for H.R. 795.

The Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act is designed to address the workforce challenges we are facing, thereby helping to ensure that millions of individuals and families throughout the nation can continue to receive competent social work care. The legislation will establish a Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide a comprehensive analysis of current workforce trends and develop long-term recommendations and strategies to ensure an adequate social work workforce. In addition, demonstration programs will award grants in the areas of workplace improvements, research, education, training, and community-based programs of excellence.

We also want to thank social workers, Representative Towns and Senator Mikulski, for introducing this legislation and for their consistent dedication and leadership of the social work profession. We hope you will take a moment to thank them too. You can print this postcard and mail it to Senator Mikulski and Representative Towns or you can send them a quick thank you email. (View Senator Mikulski’s and Representative Towns’ contact information.) It’s important to remember and thank our social work advocates in Congress!

As always, we appreciate your advocacy and leadership on the issues that are important to our profession.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth J. Clark, PhD, ACSW, MPH
Executive Director

I suggest you support the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act as well.

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