10-R083
2010 -- S 2504
Enacted 02/25/10
S E N A T E R E
S O L U T I O N
DESIGNATING THE
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 28TH THROUGH MARCH 7TH, 2010, AS "SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK
WEEK" IN THE STATE OF
Introduced By: Senators Picard, Metts, DeVall, Sheehan, and Gallo
Date Introduced: February 25, 2010
WHEREAS, The United
States House of Representatives and Senate have recognized the
importance of school social work through the inclusion of school
social work programs in the
current authorizations of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 and the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and
WHEREAS, School social
workers serve as vital members of a school’s educational
team, playing a central role in creating partnerships
among the home, school, and community to
ensure student academic success; and
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;
and
WHEREAS, There is a growing need for local educational agencies to
offer the mental
health services that school social workers provide when
working with families, teachers,
principals, community agencies, and other entities to address
students’ emotional, physical, and
environmental needs so that students may achieve behavioral and
academic success; and
WHEREAS, Research
indicates that school mental health programs improve educational
outcomes by decreasing absences, decreasing discipline
referrals, and improving academic
achievement; and
WHEREAS, School mental
health programs are critical to early identification of mental
health problems and providing appropriate services when
needed; and
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, One hundred and
ninety-three school social workers in
public and private school population of greater than 176,000
youths; and
WHEREAS, The celebration of “School Social Work Week” highlights the
vital role
school social workers play in the lives of students in
RESOLVED,
That this Senate of the State of
hereby designates February 28th through March 7th of 2010 to
be “School Social Work Week” in
the State of
workers to the successes of students in schools across the
state; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate hereby encourages the people of
“School Social Work Week”
with appropriate ceremonies and activities that 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 futures as productive citizens; and
be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Rick
Harris, LICSW, Executive Director of
the National Association of Social Workers.
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LC01939
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