Whereas the Nation’s 728,000 social workers are an essential workforce that promotes the health and well-being of Americans in communities across the country every day;

Whereas social workers are leaders in addressing the influence of social determinants of health such as housing, employment, education, and transportation on individual and communal health and well-being;

Whereas social workers pursue social justice as part of their code of ethics and have been a leading voice in social change movements for over a century, combating discrimination in all its forms and promoting voting rights, a livable wage, workplace safety, social safety net programs that help alleviate poverty, hunger, and homelessness, and the rights of people with disabilities;

Whereas social workers support individuals and communities in a wide range of settings including hospitals, health and behavioral health care facilities, nursing homes, community centers, Veterans Affairs clinics, schools, child welfare agencies, law enforcement agencies, disaster relief agencies, correctional institutions, and private practice settings;

Whereas social workers work in all levels of government to advance the promise of America and the health and well-being of Americans;

Whereas social workers are one of the largest providers of mental health, behavioral health, and social care services in the United States, working daily to help thousands of Americans overcome mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, and meet basic needs;

Whereas social workers are on the frontlines of the Nation’s addiction crisis, helping people get the treatment they need and prevail over substance use disorders;

Whereas social workers play a vital role in—

(1)

helping America’s veterans and their families access benefits, secure housing, and cope with stress and post-traumatic stress disorder;

(2)

promoting the health, well-being, and dignity of older adults and their ability to live safely and securely in their own homes and communities; and

(3)

supporting the millions of family caregivers across the country who are caring for loved ones in need of assistance;

Whereas social workers are a vital source of assistance, comfort, and support for individuals and families coping with illness, dying, death, and grief;

Whereas social workers play a vital role in helping individuals, families, and communities rebuild their lives and neighborhoods after natural disasters such as fires, floods, hurricanes, and extreme heat;

Whereas social workers play a vital role in promoting infant and maternal health and in keeping children and families safe from interpersonal violence;

Whereas social workers support students and collaborate with parents, teachers, school boards, and community agencies to promote student success in schools across the country;

Whereas social workers are a critical source of information, services, and support in the Nation’s rural communities;

Whereas social workers served on the frontlines of the COVID–19 public health emergency, delivering behavioral health services and helping individuals, families, and communities cope with the devastating loss of life, jobs, and safety during the pandemic;

Whereas this year’s Social Work Month theme, Social Work: Compassion + Action, embodies the fact that social workers go through years of education and training, so they have the skills and expertise to transform their care for others into action that brings positive results;

Whereas social workers enter the profession because they have a strong desire to help empower individuals, families, communities, and the Nation to overcome issues that prevent them from reaching their full potential;

Whereas social workers are essential to community well-being;

Whereas, as practitioners, social workers are trained to help people address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living;

Whereas social workers are employed to effect positive change in individuals, families, groups, and entire communities;

Whereas social workers advocate for equal rights for all;

Whereas the social work profession is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, with more than 800,000 people expected to be employed as social workers by 2033, but the social worker workforce is still not large enough to meet the demand in the face of the growing mental health crisis in the United States;

Whereas there is a need to make a meaningful investment in recruitment and retention of the social work profession; and

Whereas social workers are ethically bound to work throughout society to meet people where they are and help empower people and society to reach the goals they wish to attain: Now, therefore, be it