April 14, 2003

The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison                                                            
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC  20510

RE:   S 73 - National Social Work Research Center

Dear Senator Hutchison:

The Texas Association of Social Work Deans and Directors of Social Work Programs first wrote you on January 17, 2001 expressing to you our collective support for and asking you to join Senator Inouye in co-sponsoring the National Center for Social Work Research Act. We again write you requesting you to co-sponsor S73, once again introduced by Senator Inouye.

As Texas educators, we are pleased that Representative Ciro Rodriguez has also reintroduced his version of the bill, H.R. 844, in the House of Representatives, and is co-sponsored by Fort Worth Representative Kay Granger as well. Other House republican co-sponsors include Jim Leach, Jim Greenwood, and Fred Upton.

This legislation was first introduced in 1999 and through subsequent session gained a great deal of bi-partisan support. But following 9/11, congressional attention was redirected to more pressing matters.

The purpose of both bills is to establish a social work research center to support, promote and disseminate research on the prevention and treatment of critical health and social problems. If enacted, this critical piece of legislation will provide you, your colleagues, and staff of various committees and federal agencies with vital information, which can be used to develop policies that effectively address complex social problems.

Our schools, which are public and private as well as sectarian and non-sectarian, are located in rural and urban communities across the state of Texas. Collectively, our current social work students, alumnae and alumni total more than 15,000 individuals, the vast majority of whom reside and work in Texas. Day in and day out Texas social workers are working to enhance the well being of millions of individuals and families. In many of our Texas rural and under-served communities social workers provide front-line prevention and treatment services in the areas of school violence, child abuse, domestic violence, and substance abuse services.  In many of the smaller Texas counties and towns social workers are the only health care professionals providing specialty care for individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS, anxiety, depression, and more serous mental health problems. Texas social workers are also key providers of service within the military and the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as in child welfare and in schools.

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Social workers here in Texas, as well as in other states, are in a unique position to provide valuable research information on complex social and health problems. Senator Inouye’s proposal would help the social work and other service delivery professions provide even more effective services to the public by building the knowledge base and consolidating best practices for delivery of social work services. The Center, by issuing reports on research findings, would also help those, such as yourself, who must make policy decisions related to the prevention and treatment of social ills.

We ask that you join Senator Inouye by co-sponsoring this legislation and consider the favorable impact it will have on all Texans.

In advance, and on behalf of the Texas Association of Social Work Deans and Directors of Social Work Programs, I wish to thank you for you thoughtful consideration and support.

Sincerely,

Dorinda Noble, President
Texas Association of Social Work Deans and Directors
Southwest TexasState University
San Marcos, TX78666-4616