Legislative Agenda for the 107th Congress

January 2001- December 2002

January 29, 2001

Following is NASW's legislative agenda for the 107th Congress, which outlines the key issues on which the association will focus. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the world's largest organization of professional social workers. NASW's 153,000 members work in a wide range of settings at all levels in the public and private sectors. Social workers are professionals who hold bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees in social work. Social workers practice in the fields of health, mental health, child welfare, public welfare, vocational rehabilitation, aging, family services, education, criminal justice, and industry. Social workers are the nation's largest group of mental health service providers and are often the only providers in rural areas. They are administrators, clinicians, policy analysts, researchers, educators, community organizers, and elected officials. Professional social workers focus on populations and communities with special needs, such as families and individuals in poverty, abused and neglected children, individuals with disabilities, people with HIV-related diseases and other chronic conditions, people with mental illnesses, individuals with alcohol and drug dependencies, and people facing barriers to academic achievement.With chapters in every state and members in every congressional district, NASW seeks to promote federal policies and legislation that support social work practice, enhance the lives of the people we serve, and promote social and economic justice. Social workers contribute a unique perspective to the social policy debate, one that includes the relationship between public policies and the people affected by them. NASW will work to continue the vital role of government in providing needed supports for individuals, families, and communities and will support policies that empower or contribute to the empowerment of people to live more humane, productive, and independent lives. NASW also will work to ensure that the role of social workers is acknowledged, protected, and supported in federal legislation.NASW nationally and internationally is concerned about a range of issues that affect the quality of life for people in the United States and the ability of social workers to provide quality services. This year, we will focus our legislative advocacy in the areas of child welfare, health and mental health, economic equity, civil rights, and education.

HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH

NASW will work to promote full parity for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment within the health care system. The association seeks enactment of federal managed care standards that enable consumers to feel confident that quality health care will be available when it is needed and that reassure providers that appropriate clinical and preventive care is economical and feasible. NASW will work to protect the program integrity, financial stability, and entitlement status, as well as the prominent role social workers play in the Medicaid and Medicare programs, including long term care. NASW has as priorities protecting the role of social workers as providers in these programs, as well as the right of clients to be served by social workers. NASW also will work to protect the confidentiality of medical records and patient information.

ECONOMIC EQUITY

NASW maintains its commitment to a universal system of support that includes an adequate safety net and reduces the need for public assistance by providing tools and opportunities for families and the elderly to avoid and be moved out of poverty and contribute to the economic productivity and social functioning of the nation. The association will support proposals to protect and improve economic security provided by the current Social Security system.

CIVIL RIGHTS

NASW supports full civil rights for all people. NASW will continue to support strong federal policies, including affirmative action, aimed at addressing discrimination based on race and gender. In addition, NASW will urge Congress to extend the promise of equal opportunity to all citizens, including gay men, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender persons through the passage of such measures as the Employment Nondiscrimination Act and the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. NASW opposes public policies that alienate Americans by race, ethnicity, gender, age, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

CHILD WELFARE

NASW will continue to support a strong federal role in and adequate funding for child welfare programs, including training programs, and for improvements to the child welfare system. NASW will concentrate its efforts on promoting policies that protect the best interests of children, including the use of qualified staff and reasonable caseloads that permit adequate contact with children, parents, grandparents, and their families. Specifically, NASW will focus on legislation to improve the child welfare workforce and to restructure federal child welfare funding, and will monitor the reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program.

EDUCATION

NASW supports educational reforms that recognize the diverse needs of students and enhance the opportunity for all students, particularly those with multiple barriers, to meet their highest potential. During reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), NASW will seek to enhance recognition of the critical role that school social workers play in producing effective learners and productive citizens. Specifically, NASW will work to reauthorize and ensure adequate funding for the Elementary School Counseling Demonstration Act and expand access to school social work services for all children and youths, including those with emotional and behavioral disorders.

NASW continues to support the profession's goal of institutionalizing research and training programs nationally and will collaborate with other organizations pursuing similar objectives.