WASHINGTON, D.C. - The National Association of Social Workers Political Action for Candidate Election (NASW-PACE) committee endorses social worker Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) in her bid to be elected a U.S. senator from California. NASW represents one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, with more than 700,000 social workers across the nation.
Since first elected to Congress in 1998, Lee has been a strong advocate for social workers and the clients they serve. With a background as a psychiatric social worker in Oakland, CA, Lee serves as chair of the Congressional Social Work Caucus and has been a champion of legislation that would improve delivery of mental health services in our nation. NASW-PACE believes Lee would ably represent her constituents in the Senate.
“The study of social work mandates a comprehensive grasp of the Social Work Code of Ethics, necessitating values such as integrity, public service, and relationship building,” said NASW Chief Executive Officer Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C. “Congresswoman Lee’s social work background is evident in her record, applying a lens of social justice, equity, and dignity to the policies she champions. For a California that is best equipped to face an escalating mental health crisis, homelessness emergency, and more, NASW is confident in Representative Lee’s all-sides approach and is proud to endorse her campaign.”
“As a former psychiatric social worker in Oakland, working with clients to help address the challenges they were facing - many of which reminded me of my own - the impact of policy on everyday Californians’ well-being came clearly into focus,” Lee said. “I’m so honored to have the trust and the backing of my fellow social workers to deliver the change and resources required to meet the needs of the communities they give so much to each and every day.”