1. Social work has seeped its way into nearly every aspect of society. Social workers are employed in education, healthcare, policy, and child welfare. They assist veterans, immigrants, children, the elderly, and people with special needs. Because of this variance, social work has become a vital cornerstone to the functioning of society. For this reason, we are petitioning the 117th Congress to act and support H.R. 1532: the Social Work Reinvestment Act.

The field of social work has struggled to adapt to rapid growth, experiencing significant difficulties in filling vacancies in the field. The Social Work Reinvestment Act would institute a Social Work Reinvestment Commission, which will seek to minimize the problems that often discourage potential social workers from pursuing a career in the field.

The Social Work Reinvestment Act addresses a variety of topics that impact the field, including:

●       Education-related debt

●      Low pay within the field

●      Training and recruitment for potential social workers

●      Social work research

●      Overwhelming caseloads

H.R. 1532 brings an intentional focus to the issues that too often discourage genuine interest in social work careers. The number of students earning social work degrees is not enough to meet the projected growth of the field over the next five years. The intentions of the Social Work Reinvestment Act are necessary in order to maintain and promote the health, safety, growth, and prosperity of individuals, families, and communities alike.

Please contact your elected House representative and Senators in order to advocate for this much-needed legislation. Follow this link if you are unaware of who your elected officials are. https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials