H.Res. 498 — Introduced in House

IV 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 498 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 4, 2014 Ms. Moore (for herself, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. McGovern, and Ms. Lee of California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce RESOLUTION Expressing support for designation of the week of March 2, 2014, through March 8, 2014, as School Social Work Week. Whereas the importance of school social work through the inclusion of school social work programs has been recognized in the current authorizations of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.); Whereas school social workers serve as critical members of a school’s educational team, playing a central role in creating a positive school climate and vital partnerships between the home, school, and community to ensure student academic success; 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; Whereas school social workers coordinate the implementation of the school and community programs that promote positive discipline and regularly assist and train school personnel in promoting positive behaviors and preventing negative behaviors that escalate into disproportionate disciplinary outcomes and responses; 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; Whereas to achieve the goal of helping all children reach their optimal levels of potential and achievement schools must work to remove the emotional, behavioral, and academic barriers that interfere with student success in school; Whereas fewer than 1 in 5 of the children in need of mental health services actually receive these services, and research indicates that school mental health programs improve educational outcomes by decreasing absences, decreasing discipline referrals, and improving academic achievement; Whereas school mental health programs are critical to early identification of mental health problems and in the provision of appropriate services when needed; and Whereas the celebration of School Social Work Week during the week of March 2, 2014, through March 8, 2014, highlights the vital role school social workers play in the lives of students in the United States: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the designation of School Social Work Week; (2) honors and recognizes the contributions of school social workers to the successes of students in schools across the Nation; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 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.