NASW Government Relations Update and Action Alert

Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP) Awards Announced for FY04

June 30, 2004

"Studies show that high-quality counseling can prevent students from turning to violence, drug or alcohol abuse as well as improve grades and reduce classroom disruptions." — Secretary of Education Rod Paige announcing last year's ESSCP grantees (June 2003).

SCHOOL COUNSELING GRANTS AWARDED

On Wednesday, June 30, 2004 , the Department of Education announced that 32 additional school districts will receive grants through the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program (ESSCP) this year. These grants will enable schools to expand their counseling programs by hiring school social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists. For a list of this year's grantees, please refer to the bottom of this page.

CURRENT ISSUE AT HAND

While it is great news that 32 more school districts will receive ESSCP funds this year, it is extremely important for NASW members to continue encouraging their members of Congress to include funding for the ESSCP in the FY05 Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations bill. (If Congress fails to fund the program in FY05, then there will be no money to fund the second and third year of the grants that were just announced for FY04.) For the third year in a row, President Bush is attempting to eliminate the program by providing zero dollars for it in his FY05 budget request.

ACTION NEEDED

The lobbying and grassroots efforts put forth by NASW and several other professional organizations were instrumental in the House Labor, HHS, and Education Subcommittee including $33.8 million for ESSCP in its version of the FY05 bill. Therefore, Representatives should be thanked and encouraged to keep this amount in the bill as it moves forward in the process. The Senate's subcommittee has not moved on its version of the bill yet. Senators should be encouraged to include funding for the program, rather than depend on the House to carry the burden of keeping the program in the bill when it goes to conference. The program has a much better chance of remaining in the final bill if both chambers include it in their individual bills.

While it is helpful for all U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives to hear from their constituents about the importance of providing funds for the ESSCP, it is especially important that Republican members of the Labor, HHS, and Education Subcommittees hear from their constituents.

You may contact your senators and representative by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202-225-3121 and asking for a particular member's office. You can also locate their phone numbers through their Web sites by visiting www.senate.gov or www.house.gov

Sample Script

“My name is _________, as a constituent, social worker, and member of the National Association of Social Workers, I am calling to voice my support for the funding of the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program in the FY05 Labor, HHS, and Education Appropriations bill. This is the only federal program devoted to supporting counseling programs in our local schools. Thank you.”

To e-mail or fax a letter to your representative and senators through NASW's Congress Web, please view http://www.socialworkers.org/adv o cacy/grassroots/congressweb.asp

When possible, please edit the form letter to better reflect how your school district has benefited from this program.

For more information, please contact Ann Bradford, NASW senior government relations associate, at abradford@naswdc.org or (202) 336-8237.

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