| R 163 |
| 2026 -- H 8289 Enacted 03/12/2026 |
| 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 |
| 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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| LC003530 |
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