Sample Letter for Social Work Schools and Programs 2006

June 28, 2006

The Honorable (NAME of Senator or Representative)
United States Senate or United States House of Representatives
Address
Washington, DC

Dear Senator or Representative (LAST NAME):

I am writing to express my strong support for the establishment of a National Center for Social Work Research.

As you know, social work is the professional activity of helping people overcome social and health problems, such as poverty, mental illness, child abuse and neglect, economic uncertainty, domestic violence, and drug abuse. Professional social workers interact directly with individuals and families, as well as with communities, organizations, and systems to improve services. Social work research provides necessary information for professional practice. Through social work research, the profession can:

• Assess the needs and resources of people in their environments.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of social services in meeting peoples’ needs.
• Demonstrate relative costs and benefits of social services.
• Advance professional education in light of changing contexts for practice.
• Understand the impact of legislation and social policy on the clients and communities served.

At (UNIVERSITY NAME), we have an outstanding Social Work Program with excellent faculty involved in diverse types of research. A National Center for Social Work Research would be beneficial, not only to our faculty, but also to he citizens of (State) who benefit from their efforts.  If passed, the National Center for Social Work Research Act would:

• Conduct, support and disseminate targeted research concerning social work methods and outcomes related to problems of significant social concern.
• Promote research and training that is designed to inform social work practices.
• Provide policymakers with empirical based research information to enable policy makers to better understand complex social issues and make informed funding decisions about service effectiveness and cost efficiency.
• Provide research training and instruction in the national center, nonprofit institutions, research traineeships and fellowships.
• Provide grants to nonprofit institutions to provide training and instruction and traineeships and fellowships.
• Convene workshops and conferences.

Senator Inouye has introduced S. 90 which amends the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of a National Center for Social Work Research. This center would support, promote and disseminate information with respect to basic clinical, organizational, and community social work research as well as other programs in patient care, including child and family services. I believe this is a very worthwhile project and hope that you will favorably consider sponsoring this bill in the House. If I can provide you with additional information regarding how a National Center for Social Work Research would benefit (STATE OR HOME DISTRICT), please do not hesitate to contact me at (CONTACT INFORMATION).  Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to your support.

Sincerely,

Name, Title
School