| R 183 |
| 2022 -- H 8018 Enacted 03/22/2022 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| PROCLAIMING MARCH OF 2022 TO BE "SOCIAL WORK MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND |
Introduced By: Representatives Kazarian, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Filippi, Casimiro, Felix, Alzate, S Lima, Solomon, and Casey |
| Date Introduced: March 22, 2022 |
| WHEREAS, The Social Work profession for decades has been dedicated to improving |
| human well-being and enhancing the basic needs of all people, especially the most vulnerable |
| among us; and |
| WHEREAS, This year’s Social Work Month theme is "The time is Right for Social |
| Work" and embodies the heroic contributions of the social work profession to our nation, |
| including the work social workers have done to heal our nation during these times of pandemic, |
| racial unrest, economic uncertainty and political divisiveness; and |
| WHEREAS, Social workers have always been present in times of crisis, helping people |
| overcome issues such as death and grief and helping people and communities recover from |
| natural disasters such as fires, hurricanes and earthquakes; and |
| WHEREAS, Social workers have helped this nation live up to its values by successfully |
| advocating for equal rights for all people, no matter their race, sexual identity, gender, gender |
| expression, culture or religion; and |
| WHEREAS, The social work profession is one of the fastest growing professions in the |
| United States, with nearly 800,000 people expected to be employed as Social Workers by 2028; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, Social workers work in all parts of our society to empower people to live to |
| their fullest potential; and |
| WHEREAS, School social workers have worked with families and schools throughout |
| the pandemic to ensure students reach their full academic and personal potential; and |
| WHEREAS, Social workers play a crucial role in our nation’s health care system and |
| have played a key role in this nation’s response to Covid-19 and helping individuals, families and |
| communities cope with the epidemic; and |
| WHEREAS, Social workers for generations have advocated for positive changes that |
| have made our society a better place to live, including urging policymakers to adopt the minimum |
| wage, improve workplace safety and enact social safety net programs that help ameliorate hunger, |
| homelessness, and poverty; and |
| WHEREAS, Social workers are one of the largest groups of national health care |
| providers in the United States, and work daily, whether in person or remotely, to help people |
| overcome substance use disorders and mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety; and |
| WHEREAS, Social workers will continue to stand ready to assist our nation in |
| overcoming present and future challenges, including pushing for racial equity, ending gun |
| violence, improving health care and mental health care for all and urging lawmakers to adopt |
| immigration reforms; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| proclaims March of 2022 to be "Social Work Month" in the State of Rhode Island; 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 Rick Harris, Executive Director, National |
| Association of Social Workers. |
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| LC005600 |
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