HR 795 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to advise Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on policy issues associated with the profession of social work, to authorize the Secretary to make grants to support recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 3, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. TOWNS (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Ms. BORDALLO, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee, Mr. HARE, Mr. HINOJOSA, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HOLT, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. CARNAHAN, Ms. SCHWARTZ, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. SESTAK, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. ISRAEL, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Mr. COURTNEY, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, and Ms. SCHAKOWSKY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and LaborCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to advise Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on policy issues associated with the profession of social work, to authorize the Secretary to make grants to support recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 2. Findings.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 3. Definitions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--SOCIAL WORK REINVESTMENT COMMISSION

Sec. 101. Establishment of Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 102. Purposes and duties of Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 103. Appointment of Commission members.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 104. Powers of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 105. Compensation for Commission members.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 106. Authorization of appropriations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--REINVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION

Sec. 201. Workplace improvement grants.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 202. Research grants.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 203. Education and training grants.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 204. Community-based programs of excellence grants.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 205. National coordinating center.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 206. Multi-media outreach campaign.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that employment of social workers is expected to increase faster than average (estimated to be 22 percent during the 2006-2016 decade), demonstrating a substantial need for social workers. The need is even greater for social workers in the area of aging. The National Association of Social Workers Center for Workforce Studies estimates that nine percent of, or 30,000, licensed social workers specialize in gerontology. By 2010, as more people reach the age of 65, the National Institute on Aging projects that 60,000 to 70,000 social workers will be needed.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) Social work salaries are among the lowest for professionals in general and for those with Master’s level educations in particular. A survey conducted by the John A. Hartford Foundation found that between 1992 and 1999 the annual rate of wage growth for degree-holding social workers was 0.8 percent. According to the National Association of Social Workers, Center for Workforce Studies, 60 percent of full-time social workers earn between $35,000 and $59,999 per year, with 25 percent earning between $40,000 and $49,999 per year. Social workers who earn lower salaries are more likely to work in challenging agency environments and to serve more vulnerable clients. They are also more likely to leave the profession.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) According to one study by the Council on Social Work Education, 68 percent of individuals surveyed who held a Master’s Degree in Social Work graduated with an average debt of $26,777. Additionally, the United States Public Interest Research Group states that 37 percent of public four-year graduates have too much debt to manage as a starting social worker. While social workers may be in positions that are personally fulfilling, due to their high loan debt and low income, many struggle financially.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) Social work can be a dangerous profession. According to the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, 70 percent of caseworkers report that front line staff in their agency have been victims of violence or have received threats of violence. Social workers are considerably safer when measures such as global positioning systems, self-defense training, and conflict prevention are implemented.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) According to a study by the University of Michigan, approximately one in seven adults over the age of 70 have some form of dementia, and 9.7 percent (or 2,400,000 Americans) of those found with dementia were also found to have Alzheimer’s disease. Social workers in gerontology settings work with older adults, including those with dementia to support their physiological, psychological, and social needs through mental health therapy, caregiver and family counseling, health education, program coordination, and case management. These professionals also assist the hundreds of thousands of older persons who are abused, neglected, frail, and vulnerable. Between 2000 and 2004 there was a 19.7 percent increase in the total number of reports of elder and vulnerable adult abuse and neglect.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) The Children’s Defense Fund states that every 36 seconds a child is confirmed as abused or neglected. The Administration for Children and Families states that 510,000 children were in the United States foster care system in 2006. Most of the children in foster care are placed in foster care due to parental abuse or neglect. Research shows that professional social workers in child welfare agencies are more likely to find permanent homes for children who were in foster care for two or more years. Unfortunately, fewer than 40 percent of child welfare workers are professional social workers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 26.2 percent of Americans aged 18 and older (one in four adults) experiences a diagnosable mental disorder. Additionally, one in five children and adolescents experience a mental health disorder. At least one in ten, or about 6,000,000 young people, have a serious emotional disturbance. Social workers provide the majority of mental health counseling services in the United States, and are often the only providers of such services in rural areas.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are 23,977,000 veterans in the United States. More than 1,100,000 members of the Armed Forces have been deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan since 2001. A once declining veteran population is now surging and is in dire need of mental health treatment to address issues such as post traumatic stress disorder, depression, drug and alcohol addiction, and suicide. Veterans make up 25 percent of homeless people in the United States, even though they comprise only 11 percent of the general population. Social workers working with veterans and their families provide case management, crisis intervention, mental health interventions, housing and financial counseling, high risk screening, and advocacy among other services. The Department of Veterans Affairs employs over 5,000 professional social workers and is the single largest employer of social workers in the country. Social workers in the Department also coordinate the Community Residential Care Program, the oldest and most cost-effective of the Department’s extended care programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) The American Cancer Society estimates that there were 1,437,180 new cases of cancer and 565,650 cancer deaths in 2008 alone. The incidence of cancer will increase dramatically as the population grows older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that at the end of 2003 there were 1,039,000 to 1,285,000 people living with HIV or AIDS in the United States. In 2006, 1,300,000 people received care from hospice providers in the United States. Health care and medical social workers practice in all of these areas and provide outreach for prevention, help individuals and their families adapt to their circumstances, provide grief counseling, and act as a liaison between individuals and their medical team, helping patients make informed decisions about their care.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) The National Center for Education Statistics states that in 2005 the national dropout rate for high school students totaled 9.3 percent. White students dropped out at a rate of 5.8 percent. African-American students dropped out at a rate of 10.7 percent. Hispanic students dropped out at a rate of 22.1 percent. Some vulnerable communities have drop out rates of 50 percent or higher. Social workers in school settings help these students through early identification, prevention, intervention, counseling, and support services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) According to the Department of Justice, every year more than 650,000 ex-offenders are released from Federal and State prisons. Social workers employed in the corrections system address disproportionate minority incarceration rates, provide treatment for mental health problems and drug and alcohol addiction, and work within as well as outside of the prison to reduce recidivism and increase positive community reentry.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) COMMISSION- The term ‘Commission’ means the Social Work Reinvestment Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM- The term ‘community-based program’ means an agency, organization, or other entity carrying out a program that provides direct social work services, or community development services, at a neighborhood, locality, or regional level, to address human service, health care, or psycho-social needs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) HIGH NEED AND HIGH DEMAND POPULATION- The term ‘high need and high demand population’ means a group that lacks sufficient resources and, as a result, has a greater probability of being harmed by specific social, environmental, or health problems than the population as a whole. The group at issue may be a group residing in an area defined by the Health Resources and Services Administration as a ‘health professional shortage area,’ which has a shortage of primary medical care, dental, or mental health providers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY- The term ‘historically black college or university’ means the institutions that are within the definition given the term ‘part B institution’ in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION- The term ‘minority serving institution’ means an educational institution that serves a large percentage of minority students, including Alaska/Native Hawaiian Institutions, Asian-Serving Institutions, Black-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. Minority serving institutions are classified based on either legislation or the percentage of minority student enrollment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) RELATED PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHER- The term ‘related professional researcher’ means a person who is professionally engaged in research in a social, political, economic, health, or mental health field. The research referenced to in this paragraph is primarily conducted by doctoral level researchers under university, government, research institute, or community agency auspices.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Health and Human Services.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) SOCIAL WORK- The term ‘social work’ means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the professional activity of helping individuals, groups, or communities enhance or restore capacity for social and psycho-social functioning and creating societal conditions favorable to that enhancement or restoration;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) an activity, the practice of which consists of the professional application of values, principles, and techniques related to the professional activity described in subparagraph (A), including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders with individuals, families, and groups;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) helping communities or groups provide or improve social and health services and participating in relevant legislative processes; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) helping people obtain tangible services; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) an activity, the practice of which requires knowledge of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(i) human development;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(ii) behavior of social, economic, and cultural institutions; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(iii) the interaction of the factors described in clauses (i) and (ii).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) SOCIAL WORK RESEARCHER- The term ‘social work researcher’ means a person who studies social work at the individual, family, group, community, policy, or organizational level, focusing across the human life span on prevention of, intervention in, treatment of, aftercare of, and rehabilitation from acute and chronic social and psycho-social conditions, and includes a person examining the effect of policies on social work practice. The study referred to in this paragraph is primarily conducted by researchers with doctoral degrees who are social workers or faculty under university, government, research institute, or community agency auspices.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) SOCIAL WORKER- The term ‘social worker’ means a graduate of a school of social work with a baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degree, who uses knowledge and skills to provide social work services for clients who may be individuals, families, groups, communities, organizations, or society in general.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE I--SOCIAL WORK REINVESTMENT COMMISSIONCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

Not later than three months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress and the Secretary on policy issues associated with the recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession of social work.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 102. PURPOSES AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION.

(a) Study- The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive study to examine and assess--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the professional capacity of the social work workforce to successfully serve and respond to the increasing biopsychosocial needs of individuals, groups, and communities in the areas of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) aging;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) child welfare;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) military and veterans affairs;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) mental and behavioral health and disability;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(E) criminal justice and correctional systems;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(F) health and issues affecting women and families; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(G) other areas as identified by the Commission;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the workforce challenges facing the profession of social work, such as high social work educational debt, fair market compensation, social work workforce trends, translating social work research to practice, social work safety, State-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across State lines, the lack of diversity in the social work profession, or any other area determined by the Secretary, and the effect that such challenges have on the recruitment and retention of professional social workers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) current workforce challenges and shortages relevant to the needs of clients served by professional social workers;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) the social work workforce challenges described in paragraph (2) and the effects that they will have on the areas described in paragraph (1); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) the advisability of establishing a social work enhancement account intended to provide direct grant assistance to local governments to encourage the engagement of professional social workers in social service programs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Report- Not later than 18 months after the date of its first meeting, the Commission shall submit a report to the Secretary and Congress containing specific findings and conclusions regarding the need for recruitment, retention, research, and reinvestment in the profession of social work. The report shall include recommendations and strategies for corrective actions to ensure a robust social work workforce capable of keeping up with the demand for needed services. The Commission may provide to Congress any additional findings or recommendations considered by the Commission to be important.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 103. APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSION MEMBERS.

(a) Appointment by the Secretary- The Secretary shall appoint members to the Commission. The members shall reflect representation by social workers and other members, including:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Two deans of schools of social work.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) One social work researcher.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) One related professional researcher.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) One governor.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) Two leaders of national social work organizations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) One senior social work State official.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) One senior related State official.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) Two directors of community-based organizations or nonprofit organizations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) One labor economist.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) One social work consumer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) One licensed clinical social worker.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Appointment by Other Officials- Four additional members shall be appointed to the Commission, one member chosen by:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) The Speaker of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) The minority leader of the House of Representatives.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) The majority leader of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) The minority leader of the Senate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Appointment of Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson- The Secretary shall select a chairperson and vice-chairperson for the Commission from among the members of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Period of Appointment; Vacancies- Members shall be appointed for the life of the Commission, and any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect the powers of the Commission. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Organizational Representation- Members of the Commission should be appointed so as to demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and participation of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, geographic, religious, sexual orientation, linguistic, and class backgrounds.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Schedule of Meetings- The Commission shall hold its first meeting not later than six weeks after the date on which the final member of the Commission is appointed, and subsequent meetings at the call of the chair.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 104. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) Powers- The Commission shall have the power to--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) hold hearings and sit and act at such times and places take testimony, receive evidence, and administer oaths;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) delegate the Commission powers described in paragraph (1) to any Commission subcommittee or member thereof for the purpose of carrying out this Act;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) enter into contracts to enable the Commission to perform its work under this Act; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) consult, to the extent that it determines necessary or useful, with other agencies and organizations, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Administration for Children and Families, the Administration on Aging, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, the Health Resources and Service Administration, the Indian Health Service, the National Institutes of Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the Social Security Administration;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Education, Homeland Security, Labor, Justice, State, and Veterans Affairs; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) any other agency as determined by the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Cooperation With the Commission- The entities and agencies described in subsection (a)(3) shall cooperate with and provide counsel to the Commission to the greatest extent practicable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 105. COMPENSATION FOR COMMISSION MEMBERS.

(a) Travel Expenses- The members of the Commission shall not receive compensation for the performance of services for the Commission, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission. Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of members of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Detail of Government Employees- Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out the activities of the Commission.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

TITLE II--REINVESTMENT GRANT PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 201. WORKPLACE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.

(a) Grants Authorized- The Secretary may award grants to four eligible entities described in subsection (c) to address workplace concerns for the social work profession, including caseloads, compensation, social work safety, supervision, and working conditions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Local or State Government Entities Requirement- At least two of the grant recipients must be local or State government agencies.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Grantee Eligibility Requirements- To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity must--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) work in a social work capacity that demonstrates a need in a workplace concern area described in subsection (a);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and participation in the entities’ programs of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, geographic, religious, sexual orientation, linguistic, and class backgrounds;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) demonstrate a record of active participation of professionally trained social workers in the entities’ programs; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) provide services and represent the individuals employed by the entities as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, licenses, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Equal Amounts- The Secretary shall distribute the grant funds annually to the four grant recipients over a four-year period in equal amounts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Priority- In selecting the grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) are equipped with the capacity to oversee and monitor the grant-funded workplace improvement program carried out under this section, including proven fiscal responsibility and administrative capability; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) are knowledgeable about relevant workforce trends and have at least two years of experience relevant to the grant-funded workplace improvement program.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated $16,000,000 to the Secretary to provide grants under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 202. RESEARCH GRANTS.

(a) Grants Authorized- The Secretary may award grants to not less than 25 social workers who hold a doctoral degree in social work for post-doctoral research in social work--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to further the knowledge base about effective social work interventions; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to promote usable strategies to translate research into practice across diverse community settings and service systems.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Grantee Eligibility Requirements- To be eligible for a grant under this section, a social worker must--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, geographic, religious, sexual orientation, linguistic, and class backgrounds; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) provide services and represent themselves as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, licenses, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Minority Representation- At least 10 of the social workers awarded grants in subsection (a) must be employed by a historically black college or university or minority serving institution.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Amounts- The Secretary shall distribute the grant funds annually to the grant recipients over a four-year period.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to the Secretary to provide grants under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 203. EDUCATION AND TRAINING GRANTS.

(a) Grants Authorized- The Secretary may award 20 grants to institutions of higher education that offer baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees in social work to support the recruitment of social work students for, and education of the students in, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as the development of faculty.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Grantee Eligibility Requirements- To be eligible for a grant under this section, an institution must demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and participation in the institutions’ programs of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, geographic, religious, sexual orientation, linguistic, and class backgrounds.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Institutional Requirement- At least four of the grant recipients must be a historically black college or university or other minority serving institution.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Equal Amounts- The Secretary shall distribute the grant funds annually to the 20 grant recipients over a four-year period in equal amounts. A grant recipient may not receive more than $100,000 annually in grant money under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Priority- In selecting the grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to institutions of higher education that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) have a graduation rate of not less than 80 percent for social work students; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) exhibit an ability to recruit social workers from and place them in areas with a high need and high demand population.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000 to the Secretary to provide grants under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 204. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS OF EXCELLENCE GRANTS.

(a) Grants Authorized- The Secretary may award grants to six public community-based programs or nonprofit organizations that are carrying out programs of excellence to further test and replicate effective social work interventions.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Grantee Eligibility Requirements- To be eligible for a grant under this section, a public community-based program or nonprofit organization must--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) carry out programs in the areas of aging, child welfare, military and veteran’s issues, mental and behavioral health and disability, criminal justice and correction systems, and health and issues affecting women and families;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and participation in the public community-based programs or nonprofit organizations’ programs of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, gender, geographic, religious, sexual orientation, linguistic, and class backgrounds;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) demonstrate a record of active participation of professionally trained social workers in the public community-based programs or nonprofit organizations’ programs; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) provide services and represent the individuals employed by the public community-based programs or nonprofit organizations as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, licenses, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Equal Amounts- The Secretary shall distribute the grant funds annually to the grant recipients over a three-year period in equal amounts. A grant recipient may not receive more than $500,000 annually in grant money under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Priority- In selecting the grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to public community-based programs or nonprofit organizations that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) have demonstrated successful and measurable outcomes that are worthy of replication;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) have been in operation for at least two years; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) work with high need and high demand populations.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated $9,000,000 to the Secretary to provide grants under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 205. NATIONAL COORDINATING CENTER.

(a) Establishment- The Secretary shall enter into a contract with a national social work research entity that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) has experience in coordinating the transfer of information and ideas among entities engaged in social work research, practice, education, and policymaking; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) maintains relationships with Federal entities, social work degree-granting institutions of higher education and departments of social work within such institutions, and organizations and agencies that employ social workers.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) General Duties- The contract recipient (in this section referred to as the ‘coordinating center’) shall serve as a coordinating center and shall organize information and other data, collect and report data, serve as a clearinghouse, and coordinate activities with the entities, institutions, departments, organizations, and agencies described in subsection (a)(2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Collaboration- The coordinating center shall work with institutions of higher education, research entities, and entities with social work practice settings to identify key research areas to be pursued, select research fellows, and organize appropriate mentorship and professional development efforts.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Specific Activities of the Coordinating Center- The coordinating center shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) collect, coordinate, monitor, and distribute data, information on best practices and findings regarding the activities funded under grants made to eligible entities and individuals under the grant programs described in sections 201 though 204;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary a report that includes recommendations regarding the need to recruit new social workers, retain current social workers, conduct social work research, and reinvestment into the profession of social work; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) demonstrate cultural competency and promote the participation of diverse groups.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Selection- The Secretary, in collaboration with the coordinating center, shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) select topics to be researched under this section;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) select candidates and finalists for research fellow positions; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) determine other activities to be carried out under this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2010 to 2014.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 206. MULTI-MEDIA OUTREACH CAMPAIGN.

(a) Development and Issuance of Public Service Announcements- The Secretary shall develop and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the social work profession, highlight the advantages and rewards of social work, and encourage individuals to enter the social work profession.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Method- The public service announcements described in subsection (a) shall be broadcast through appropriate media outlets, including television or radio, in a manner intended to reach as wide and diverse an audience as possible.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Authorization of Appropriations- There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink