1Designating the month of March 2013 as "Professional Social Work
2Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Social work is a profession of hope-fueled advocates
4that helps millions of struggling people in all stages of life
5every day; and

6WHEREAS, More than 650,000 highly trained social workers in
7the United States help individuals and families of all
8backgrounds and circumstances by serving as guides and as
9lifelines in crisis to discover and attain different and better
10options; and

11WHEREAS, The primary mission of social work is to enhance
12human well-being and to help all people, but especially the most
13vulnerable, meet their basic needs; and

14WHEREAS, Illness, loss, abuse and poverty profoundly impact
15lives, but how people deal with such circumstances determines
16whether the experience will be a limiting or a liberating one;
17and

18WHEREAS, For more than 100 years social workers have helped

1weave a social safety net; and

2WHEREAS, Social workers in this Commonwealth on a daily basis
3address the emotional, psychological, economic and physical
4needs of hundreds of thousands of people; and

5WHEREAS, Social workers help people to fully and better
6participate in their own lives, at home and in the community
7through a wide range of services; and

8WHEREAS, Social work is currently one of the fastest growing
9professions in the United States; and

10WHEREAS, Social workers serve across the spectrum of careers,
11including private and public agencies, hospices and hospitals,
12schools and universities, businesses and foundations, the
13military and veterans centers, as well as in elected office at
14all levels; and

15WHEREAS, Social workers enlist the courage, strength and
16determination of the human spirit to empower others to hope,
17dream and achieve; therefore be it

18RESOLVED, That, in recognition of social workers and their
19commitment to individuals, families and communities through
20service, research, education and advocacy, the Senate designate
21the month of March 2013 as "Professional Social Work Month" in
22Pennsylvania and call upon all citizens to join with the
23National Association of Social Workers, Pennsylvania Chapter, in
24celebration and support of social workers and the social work
25profession.