2026 -- H 8289

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING MARCH OF 2026, AS "NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH" IN THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     Introduced By: Representatives Shallcross Smith, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale,
Corvese, Phillips, Perez, Azzinaro, Diaz, and Giraldo

     Date Introduced: March 12, 2026

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, Social Workers enter the profession because they have a strong desire to

help empower individuals, families, communities, and our nation to overcome issues that prevent

them from reaching their full potential; and

     WHEREAS, Social Workers have worked for more than a century to improve human

well-being and enhance the basic needs of all people; and

     WHEREAS, Social Workers follow a Code of Ethics that call on them to fight social

injustice and respect the dignity and worth of all people; and

     WHEREAS, Social Workers positively touch the lives of Rhode Islanders each day and

in a variety of places, including schools, hospitals, the military, child welfare agencies,

community centers, and in federal, state and local government; and

     WHEREAS, The 2026 Social Work Month theme is "Social Worker: Uplift. Defend.

Transform", which focuses on the profession's core mission to enhance well-being, meet basic

needs, and empower vulnerable populations amidst social divides; and

     WHEREAS, Social Workers are the largest professional group with mental health

licenses in Rhode Island, working daily to help thousands of Americans overcome mental

illnesses such as depression and anxiety; and

     WHEREAS, Social Workers are on the frontlines of the nation’s opioid addiction crisis,

helping people get the treatment they need and prevail over substance use disorders; and

     WHEREAS, Social Workers have helped people cope with death and grief and helped

people directly affected by the housing crisis in Rhode Island; and

     WHEREAS, Social Workers have helped this nation live up to its values by advocating

for equal rights for all, including people of color, people who are Indigenous, people who are

LGBTQIA2S+, or people who follow various faiths; and

     WHEREAS, The Social Work profession is one of the fastest growing careers in the

United States, with an estimated 770,000 to 790,000 in 2026, with more than 6,000 practicing in

Rhode Island, and more than 50,000 expected to enter the profession over the next decade; and

     WHEREAS, Social Workers have continued to push for changes that have made our

society a better place to live, including a livable wage, improved workplace safety, and social

safety net programs that help ameliorate poverty, hunger, and homelessness; and

     WHEREAS, Social Workers endeavor to work throughout our society to meet people

where they are and help empower people and our society to reach the goals they wish to attain;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

celebrates March of 2026 as “National Social Work Month” and with gratitude and admiration,

recognizes the numerous contributions made by Rhode Island’s Social Workers. We moreover

call upon all citizens to join the National Association of Social Workers Rhode Island Chapter in

celebration and support of the Social Work profession; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Rebekah Gewirtz, MPA, Executive Director,

National Association of Social Workers Rhode Island (NASW-RI).

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