Introduced By: Representatives Quick and Hetherington
Date Introduced : February 26, 1998
WHEREAS, Professional social workers have a century of experience helping individuals and effective social change that benefits everyone;
WHEREAS, Social work developed in the last century in response to poverty, homelessness, mistreatment of prisoners and persons with mental illness, and the plight of widows and orphans;
WHEREAS, The first training classes for social workers began in 1898;
WHEREAS, Social workers have played key roles in every major social reform movement, from settlement houses to labor reform, to the New Deal, to civil rights;
WHEREAS, Many things we take for granted today -- Social Security, child labor laws, the minimum wage, the 40-hour week, Medicare, unemployment insurance, humane treatment of persons with mental illness -- came about because social workers saw injustice, acted and inspired others;
WHEREAS, Professional social workers continue to provide valuable services in health and mental health, child welfare, aging, and other areas; to increase opportunities for all members of society; and to speak out on behalf of the poor, the vulnerable, and the voiceless;
WHEREAS, Professional social workers daily help alleviate society's most intractable problems, working one-on-one with troubled children and families, organizing communities for change, performing cutting edge research, and administering social programs; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations in recognition of professional social workers and all that they do to increase the well-being of individuals and society, do hereby proclaim the Month of March 1998 as Professional Social Work Centennial Month, and call upon members of the community to join with the social work profession in support of appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities honoring Social Workers, Celebrating 100 years of Professional Social Work; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Social Work Department of St. Anne's Hospital.
