Reintroduction of the National Center For Social Work Research Act
February 24, 2004
THE ISSUE AT HAND
Due to concerns raised by a number of members of congress, Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) has decided to reintroduce the National Center for Social Work Research Act. The concerns focused on the fact that the original bill would place the research center within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Due to a great deal of resistance to expanding NIH, Rep. Rodriguez plans to reintroduce the bill with language that places the center within the Department of Health and Human Services. The final placement in the department will be left to the HHS Secretary's discretion.
Rep. Rodriguez will be reintroducing this bill in March in honor of National Professional Social Work Month. It is very important that the bill have a large number of original cosponsors when it is introduced!
ACTION NEEDED
Contact Your Representative
Contact the office of your U.S. Representative and ask that he/she join Congressman Rodriguez in supporting social work research by becoming an original co-sponsor of the National Center for Social Work Research Act. If the office says the representative is already a co-sponsor, remind them that this bill is being reintroduced with a slight change in the bill's language. Please refer them to Ann Bradford at NASW (202-336-8237), or to Rep. Rodriguez's office if they would like a copy of the new bill language.
To view a list of the co-sponsors of the original bill, H.R. 844, please refer to: https://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/answer/legislation/cosponsors.asp
To contact your members of Congress, you may call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 225-3121, or find their numbers at www.house.gov You may also e-mail a letter through Congress Web, available on the NASW Web site: http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp
BACKGROUND
The National Center for Social Work Research Act authorizes the establishment of a social work research center to support, promote, and disseminate research on the prevention and treatment of critical health and social problems. Such a center will provide vital information that can be used by members of Congress, social workers, and other professionals to develop effective policies that address complex social problems. In addition, it will help the social work profession — and other service delivery professions — provide even more effective services to the public by building the knowledge base and consolidating best practices for the delivery of social work services.
A social work research center would benefit individuals and families across the country. Currently, nearly 500,000 professional social workers deliver crucial mental health and other human services nationwide through community organizations, health care facilities, government agencies, research organizations, and educational institutions. In fact, clinical social workers are the key group of mental health providers for our military, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and many community school systems. Having access to a wide range of information and research would enable these social workers to assist those in need in a much more effective and efficient manner.
For more information, please contact Ann Bradford , NASW senior government relations associate, at abradford@naswdc.org or (202) 336-8237. You may also refer to the ANSWER Web site: http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/answer/ |
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