Legislative Agenda for the 108th Congress

First Session: January – December 2003

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the world’s largest organization of professional social workers. With chapters in every state and members in every congressional district, NASW seeks to promote federal policies and legislation that support effective social work practice, enhance the lives of the people we serve, and promote social and economic justice. Professional social workers contribute a unique perspective to the social policy debate, one that includes the relationship between public policies and the people affected by them.

Social Work Expertise

NASW’s 145,000 members work in a wide range of settings at all levels in both the public and private sectors. Professional social work is a distinct profession with rigorous, specialized education and training requirements, state licensure, credentialing, and ethical standards. Depending on the requirements of the particular practice setting, social workers may hold a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in social work. Professional social workers practice in many areas, including health, mental health, education, aging, family services, child welfare, public welfare, vocational rehabilitation, criminal justice, industry, and as private practitioners.

Social workers are the nation’s largest groups of mental health providers and are often the only provider in medically underserved areas.

Issues

NASW remains concerned about a range of issues that affect the quality of life for people nationally and internationally and the ability of professional social workers to provide quality services. This year, we will focus our legislative advocacy in the areas of health, mental health and aging, economic security, civil and human rights, social work research and training, child welfare, and education. NASW also will work to ensure that the role of professional social workers and social work research is acknowledged, protected, and supported in federal legislation.

Health, Mental Health and Aging

NASW holds that all individuals have the right to safe, affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care. Likewise, NASW believes in universal access to the full continuum of health and mental health services including, but not limited to: full mental health parity, prescription drug coverage, trauma and disaster services, chronic disease management, substance abuse prevention and treatment, wellness care, case management, home health care, long-term care, and end-of-life care. Accordingly, NASW will continue to strongly support efforts to expand health insurance coverage to the underinsured and uninsured. Another high priority for NASW is protection of the integrity, financial stability, and entitlement status of federal programs like Medicaid, Medicare, and SCHIP. As in the past, NASW will strive hard to preserve and promote professional social work practice, the continued recognition by the public and private sectors of professional social workers as health and mental heath care providers, and the right of all individuals to seek and receive professional social work services. Similarly, NASW will also continue to seek enactment of federal managed care standards that emphasize not only access to quality heath care for consumers, but also empowerment of clinicians to render the most appropriate clinical care to their patients. NASW will remain vigilant regarding other important issues such as the use and disclosure of confidential medical information, bioterrorism preparedness, and the maintenance of choice in reproductive health.

Economic Security

NASW supports a national economic policy that recognizes a nation's well-being is determined not only by financial conditions but also by the well-being of its citizens. Such an economic policy must include universal access to fair and equitable employment, opportunities to accumulate human and financial assets, and access to unstigmatized social and financial support for those in need. Therefore, NASW will continue its efforts to improve the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program by changing its focus from caseload reduction to poverty reduction, improving support for families with significant barriers to employment, expanding opportunities for higher education and training, and creating a more stable and professional welfare workforce. NASW also will support proposals to protect and improve the Social Security system for low-wage workers, women, children, people of color, and people with disabilities. In addition, the association will seek enactment of proposals to increase opportunities for ownership of financial assets, raise the federal minimum wage, and require equal pay for equal work.

Civil and Human Rights

NASW supports full civil and human rights for all people and opposes public policies that alienate individuals by race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, physical or mental abilities, marital status, sexual orientation, or religious belief. NASW will continue to support strong federal policies, including affirmative action, and international treaties and conventions aimed at addressing discrimination based on race and gender. NASW also will advocate for proposals, such as the Violence Against Women Act, to prevent family violence and provide support to its victims. NASW also supports non-violent approaches to conflict resolution whenever possible. In addition, NASW will urge Congress to extend the promise of equal opportunity to all citizens, including gay men, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender persons through the passage of such measures as the Employment Nondiscrimination Act and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Social Work Research and Training

NASW will continue to support passage of the National Center for Social Work Research Act and will work collaboratively with other organizations in the Action Network for Social Work Education and Research (ANSWER) in pursuing this objective. NASW also will continue to promote the profession’s goal of securing national access to programs that support social work research and training.

Child Welfare

NASW will continue to support a strong federal role in and adequate funding for child welfare programs, including training programs, and for improvements to the child welfare system. NASW will concentrate its efforts on promoting policies that protect the best interests of children, including the use of qualified staff and reasonable caseloads that permit adequate contact with children and their families. Specifically, NASW will focus on proposals to improve the child welfare workforce, and will support other key federal child welfare legislation, including reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA).

Education

NASW supports educational reforms that recognize the diverse needs of students and enhance the opportunity for all students, particularly those with multiple barriers, to meet their highest potential. During reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), NASW will seek to enhance recognition of the critical role school social workers play in producing effective learners and productive citizens. Specifically, NASW will work to ensure adequate funding and expand access to school social work services for all children and youths, including those with learning disabilities and emotional and behavioral disorders.

January 28, 2003