GOVERNMENT RELATIONS UPDATE

Action Needed on Bill to Provide Loan Forgiveness for Social Workers Who Choose Child Welfare

February 26, 2003

THE ISSUE AT HAND

On Thursday, February 13, 2003, the Child Protective Services Student Loan Forgiveness Act was introduced in both the House and the Senate.  The House bill (H.R. 734) was introduced by Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH).  The Senate companion bill (S. 409) was introduced by Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH), giving the legislation important bipartisan support.  Cosponsors are listed below. 

The bill creates a demonstration program designed to bring more highly trained individuals (those with BSWs or MSWs) into the child welfare system and keep them in the field for longer periods of time.  Only students who obtain either a BSW or MSW and are employed in a state child welfare agency, or public or private agency under contract with the state, would be eligible.  Loan forgiveness would begin in the third year of employment.  After the third consecutive year of employment, 20 percent of the total amount of the loan would be forgiven; after the fourth consecutive year, 30 percent; and after the fifth consecutive year, 50 percent. 

The forgiveness program covers the Stafford and Ford Direct Loan programs only.  Students with PLUS Loans or Consolidation Loans would not be eligible.  Loan forgiveness would only be available for loans awarded after the date of enactment of the legislation.  Loan forgiveness could not be applied retroactively.  Funding of $20 million is authorized for the program.  If the program is approved, Congress would then have to take additional action to fund the program through the appropriations process.  

For additional details, see the bill summary on NASW's Child Welfare Issues page. 

ACTION NEEDED

(1) If your Senator and/or Representative are among the original cosponsors of the bill thank them for their support. 

Cosponsors of H.R. 734:

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH)
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)
Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
Rep. Timothy Ryan (D-OH)

Cosponsors of S. 409:

Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH)
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV)

(2) If your Senators and Representative are not among the cosponsors, urge them to become cosponsors.  

SAMPLE MESSAGES

A sample letter has been posted on NASW's Congress Web to email or fax to Members of Congress.  

A sample phone message follows.  All Members can be reached through the Capitol switchboard at 202-225-3121.  Individual telephone numbers, fax numbers, and email addresses are available through NASW's Congress Web www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp.  If you make a phone call, please let us know via email at advocacy@naswdc.org.

Sample Phone Message – For COSPONSORS

My name is ________________ from _________________ (city, state).  As a constituent, professional social worker, and member of the National Association of Social Workers, I am calling to thank Senator (or Representative) ____________ (last name) for cosponsoring the Child Protective Services Student Loan Forgiveness Act (S. 409) (or H.R. 734). 

This legislation addresses a critical part of the ongoing crisis in child welfare agencies around the country.  High vacancy and turnover rates are having a negative impact on outcomes for our most vulnerable children and families.  Recruiting and retaining better qualified professionals will help to improve those outcomes.   

I appreciate the Senator’s (or Representative’s) support.  Thank you.  

Sample Phone Message – For NON-COSPONSORS

My name is ________________ from _________________ (city, state).  As a constituent, professional social worker, and member of the National Association of Social Workers, I am calling to urge Senator (or Representative) ____________ (last name) to cosponsor the Child Protective Services Student Loan Forgiveness Act (S. 409) (or H.R. 734). 

This legislation will help to address the ongoing crisis in child welfare agencies around the country.  It is designed to get better qualified professionals into the child welfare system and keep them there.  Current high vacancy and turnover rates are negatively impacting the lives of some of our most vulnerable children and their families.  Without aggressive action, the situation will only worsen in the future. 

I hope I can count on the Senator’s (or Representative’s) support for this legislation.  Thank you.  

TIMING

The Child Protection Services Student Loan Forgiveness Act is not expected to move through the legislative process as a separate bill, but be incorporated into the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA).  While there is no set timetable for moving HEA, it is important to start building support for the bill, so contacts should be made as soon as possible.  

BACKGROUND

This legislation builds on a loan forgiveness program created under the Perkins loan program in the Higher Education Act (HEA) Amendments of 1992.  The Perkins program is targeted toward teachers.  However, a number of other disciplines are also eligible, including “full-time qualified professional providers (including social workers) of early intervention services (as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) in a public or other nonprofit program under public supervision” and “full-time employees of an eligible public or private nonprofit child or family service agency who is providing or supervising the provision of services to both high-risk children (including those at risk of abuse or neglect) who are from low-income communities and the families of such children.”  For qualifying loans made on or after July 23, 1992, 15 percent is forgiven for the first two years of full-time employment, 20 percent for the third and fourth years, and 30 percent for the fifth year. 

Several problems have been documented with the 1992 program that hamper social workers’ access, including the targeting of teachers, lack of adequate funding, and poor publicity by the U.S. Department of Education and individual colleges and universities. 

The Child Protective Services Student Loan Forgiveness Act seeks to remedy some of those problems.  First, eligibility is limited to degreed social workers who work in child welfare and second, the Department of Education is directed to provide information on the program on its website and to colleges and universities.  

NASW provided input on similar bills introduced in the last Congress (107^th) by Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) and Senator Mike DeWine (R-OH).  Strong advocacy by social workers in Ohio resulted in this year’s sponsorship by Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH).  NASW has endorsed the legislation. 

While the bill does not tackle all the problems facing the child welfare workforce, it does begin to address the recruitment and retention of qualified professionals.  It also provides social workers with an opportunity to educate Members of Congress on the value of social work training in the provision of child welfare services and the need to address other problems in the system. 

Please contact your Members of Congress TODAY!

TAKE ACTION NOW

THANKS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY!