Thanks to our collective advocacy and strong support from key Senators, $20 million is to be appropriated for fiscal year 2000, for the Elementary School Counseling Demonstration program (ESCD). The program was first authorized in 1994 as part of the Improving America's Schools Act (which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act), but no funding has ever been appropriated for the program.

The House passed the omnibus spending measure (H.R. 3194) containing the funding on Thursday, November 18, 1999. The Senate, forced to overcome procedural hurdles on other issues, is expected to pass the bill over the weekend. President Clinton will then sign the bill into law.

This victory is rooted in work that began almost ten years ago. In 1990, NASW, the American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, and National Association of School Psychologists collaborated on a legislative proposal to promote school-based counseling services and the hiring of "qualified" school social workers, school psychologists, and school counselors. The first version of the Elementary School Counseling Demonstration Act (ESCD) was introduced in the House and Senate in 1991. After four years of collective advocacy, the ESCD was finally enacted, as part of the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994. Now, five years later, comes the first appropriation. It is a timely reminder of the long-term, collaborative advocacy that is needed for even small successes.

This success is significant not only because the level of funding is double the original authorization of $10 million, but also because it creates a new pot of federal money dedicated solely for school counseling programs. It also provides congressional recognition of the value of school-based counseling services -- recognition that can serve as a much-needed stepping stone for advocacy in the next session with Members of Congress and their staffs, who overall have very little knowledge of who school social workers are, what they do, and why their services are important to public education.

The actual funding available may be less than $20 million due to a 0.38 percent across-the-board cut incorporated into the final appropriations agreement. Each agency will have some discretion in implementing the cuts under their jurisdiction and it is too early to know how the Department of Education will handle its reductions. Agencies can spare specific programs from the 0.38 percent cut by imposing larger cuts in other programs, but no program can be cut by more than 15 percent. Under those parameters, the ESCD may be funded at $20 million or may be reduced by anywhere from $76,000 to $3 million. Even $17 million would constitute a wonderful win. Applications for the grant monies are not expected to be developed by the Department of Education for several months.

Before advocacy begins for the next session, it is critical that "Thank Yous" be sent to Members of Congress most responsible for this victory. Without their tireless efforts, the Elementary School Counseling Demonstration program would not have been funded. Thank yous from social workers in the Senators' respective states is the top priority, but thank yous from social workers in other states would also be welcomed.

Our school social work appropriations champions include:

Pennsylvania: Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), Chair, Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee

Letter: The Honorable Arlen Specter, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510; Dear Senator Specter

Phone: Majority Appropriations Office (202-224-7230); Personal Office (202-224-4254)

Iowa: Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Ranking Member, Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee

Letter: The Honorable Tom Harkin, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510; Dear Senator Harkin

Phone: Minority Appropriations Office (202-224-7288); Personal Office (202-224-3254)

Washington: Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Member, Senate Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee

Letter: The Honorable Patty Murray, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510; Dear Senator Murray

Phone: Personal Office (202-224-2621)

NASW has been promoting the role of school social workers in providing school-based mental health and other pupil services in the context of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), Public Law 103-382 -- legislation that defines the federal role in elementary and secondary education.

ESEA was to have been reauthorized in 1999, but as is often the case, Congress has let the timetable slip. Reauthorization is now expected to occur in 2000. During the first session, the House passed two separate bills that would reauthorize portions of ESEA, but did not complete its work. The Senate, which plans to reauthorize ESEA as a whole, has taken no formal action.

The sponsors of all four bills hope to incorporate their proposals into the reauthorization of ESEA. In order for that to be accomplished, much greater congressional support is needed. Support from Republicans is especially critical. If your Members of Congress are not yet cosponsors of the various bills, visit, call or write and ask for their support. If your time for advocacy is limited, please concentrate your efforts on securing cosponsors for S. 1443 and H.R. 2567. Strong, sustained advocacy by you and your colleagues is essential for securing greater federal investment in school social work services. Information on contacting Members of Congress follows.

(1) Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Improvement Act (S. 1443)—introduced in the Senate by Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) on July 27, 1999. S. 1443 would expand the original Elementary School Counseling Demonstration program by providing grants not only to elementary schools, but also secondary schools, to establish or expand comprehensive school counseling programs staffed by teams of qualified school social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists. These professionals would work with students, teachers, and families to help prevent violence, improve children's mental health, and eliminate barriers to learning and academic achievement. S. 1443 included a funding authorization of $100 million for fiscal year (FY) 2000 and "such sums as may be necessary" for FYs 2001-2004.

Cosponsors of S. 1443 (6): Senators Tom Daschle (D-SD); Tim Johnson (D-SD); Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Paul Wellstone (D-MN).

(2) 100,000 New School Counselors Act (H.R. 2567)—introduced in the House by Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA), a social worker, on July 20, 1999. H.R. 2567 would pool state, federal, and local funding for schools to hire school social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists to meet the American School Health Association’s minimum student-to-mental health professional ratios. The recommended ratios are one school social worker to 800 students, one school psychologist to 1,000 students and one school counselor to 250 students. The Act includes a funding authorization of $340 million annually for FYs 2000-2004.

Cosponsors of H.R. 2567 (28): Representatives Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Julia Carson (D-IN), William Clay (D-MO), Bob Filner (D-CA), Martin Frost (D-TX), Gene Green (D-TX), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), James McGovern (D-MA), Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), George Miller (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), James Oberstar (D-MN), Major Owens (D-NY), Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Charles Rangel (D-NY); Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Maxine Waters (D-CA).

Both the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Improvement Act and the 100,000 New School Counselors Act define a ‘school social worker’ as "an individual who holds a master’s degree in social work and is licensed or certified by the State in which services are provided or holds a school social work specialist credential."

(3) Safe Schools Act (S. 1465)—introduced in the Senate by Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) on July 29, 1999. S. 1465 would provide funding to hire school social workers, school psychologists, and school counselors on a full-time or consultant basis to work in teams to address the needs of teachers, parents, and students; create a loan forgiveness program to encourage mental health professionals to serve in elementary or secondary schools for five years; provide funding to establish or expand after-school and summer programs; require school report cards to include among other items, mental health services available to students; and require the Secretary of Education to report on successful alternative education settings for disruptive or violent students. The Act includes a funding authorization of $135 million annually for FYs 2000-2004--$100 million for the hiring of mental health professionals, $10 million for the loan forgiveness program, and $25 million for mentoring programs.

Cosponsors of S. 1465: None.

(4) Bill to Recruit, Train, and Hire 100,000 School-based Resource Staff (H.R. 2982)—introduced in the House by Representative Patsy Mink (D-HI) on September 30, 1999. H.R. 2982 would provide grants to states and local educational agencies to recruit, train, and hire 100,000 school-based resource staff. Resource staff would help address the mental, emotional, and developmental need of students and support other school staff and teachers in reaching students early before problems arise. The bill includes a funding authorization of $3.5 billion for FY 2000, $3.15 billion for FY 2001, and $2.8 billion annually for FYs 20002-2004.

Among the definitions of "resource staff" is "an individual who has documented competence and training in mental health to be able to provide services to children and adolescents in a school setting and who . . . holds a master’s degree in social work and is licensed or certified by the State in which services are to be provided or holds a school social work specialist credential."

Cosponsors of H.R. 2982 (19): Representatives Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Bill Clay (D-MO), Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Sam Farr (D-CA), Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Dale Kildee (D-MI), John Lewis (D-GA), Matthew Martinez (D-CA), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), George Miller (D-CA), Major Owens (D-NY), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Robert Scott (D-VA), Pete Stark (D-CA), John Tierney (D-MA), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).

CONTACTING MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Many Members of Congress will be at home between now and when the second session begins in January. Take the opportunity to talk with them at Town Meetings, set up meetings in their district offices, or arrange a visit (photo op) to your school/program.

Members of the House of Representatives

Phone: All Members can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard 202-225-3121.

Mail: The Honorable (first name, last name), U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515; Dear Representative (last name):

Members of the Senate

Phone: All Members can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard 202-224-3121.

Mail: The Honorable (first name, last name), United States Senate, Washington, DC 20515; Dear Senator (last name):

For additional details on NASW’s legislative advocacy on behalf of school social work, please see NASW's School Social Work Section webpage: www.socialworkers.org/sections/SSW/default.htm.

Please provide feedback to:

Cynthia Woodside
Government Relations & Political Action
National Association of Social Workers
750 First Street, NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002
Ph: 800-638-8799, ext. 324 or 202-336-8324
Fax: 202-336-8311
Email: cwoodsid@naswdc.org
Website: www.socialworkers.org