THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY SEIP, BAKER, BARRAR, BEAR, BELFANTI, BISHOP, BOYD, BRENNAN, BUXTON, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN, DONATUCCI, FABRIZIO, FLECK, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, MILNE, MANDERINO, STURLA, SWANGER, WALKO, WATSON, WHITE, ROEBUCK, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, MOUL, MUNDY, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, REICHLEY, HARHART, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KULA, LONGIETTI, McCALL, MELIO, MENSCH, MILLARD AND VULAKOVICH, FEBRUARY 18, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, FEBRUARY 18, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating March 2009 as "Professional Social Work Month" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, The primary mission of social workers is to help

people who need assistance with social issues; and

WHEREAS, Social workers have the education and experience to

guide individuals, families and communities through complex

issues and choices; and

WHEREAS, Social workers hold bachelor's, master's or doctoral

social work degrees and have attained a minimum number of hours

in supervised fieldwork to become a licensed social worker; and

WHEREAS, More than 600,000 people in the United States hold

social work degrees; and

WHEREAS, Social workers connect individuals, families and

communities to available resources; and

WHEREAS, Social workers can be found in hospitals, police

departments, mental health clinics, child welfare agencies,

military facilities, adoption agencies, drug and alcohol

treatment facilities, schools and corporations; and

WHEREAS, Professional social workers are the nation's largest

provider of mental health services; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs employs more than

4,400 social workers to assist veterans and their families with

individual and family counseling, client education, end-of-life

planning, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention and

other services; and

WHEREAS, Social workers are dedicated to improving the

society in which we live; and

WHEREAS, Social workers are positive and compassionate

professionals; and

WHEREAS, Social workers endeavor to make sure everyone has

access to the same basic rights, protections and opportunities;

and

WHEREAS, Social workers help people help themselves, whenever

and wherever they need it most; and

WHEREAS, Social workers are often the driving force behind

important social movements in the United States and abroad; and

WHEREAS, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the

need for social workers is expected to grow twice as fast as any

other occupation, especially in gerontology, home health care,

substance abuse, private social service agencies and school

social work; and

WHEREAS, With approximately 12% of social workers planning to

leave the work force in the next two years and the increasing

need for social work services, there will not be enough social

workers to meet the needs of their clients; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate March

2009 as "Professional Social Work Month" in Pennsylvania and

call upon all citizens to join with the National Association of

Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter, to celebrate and support

social workers and the social work profession.