On the recordMarch 15, 2011
in honor of World Social Work Day, I rise today to introduce the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act and the Clinical Social Work Medicare Equity Act of 2011. I am proud to introduce legislation that will reduce the shortage of social workers in our nation and properly reimburse social workers for the services they provide. Social workers play a crucial role combating the social problems facing our nation and are essential providers in our health care system. Our health care and social service needs have drastically increased over the past decade and will continue to do so in the next decade. We must have the workforce in place to make sure that our returning soldiers have access to mental health services, our elderly maintain their independence in the communities in which they live, and abused children are placed in safe homes. Social workers provide mental health therapy, caregiver and family counseling, health education, program coordination, and case management. In these tough economic times, social workers have an essential role in keeping communities together and helping individuals and families cope with the stresses they are facing. Social workers are vital to America's social safety net.
