P1 1WHEREAS, March 2016 is recognized nationally as Social
2Work Month and this year’s theme is, “Social Work: Forging
3Solutions Out of Challenges”; and
4WHEREAS, The social work profession has its roots in the 1889
5Chicago settlement house movement led by the “Mother of Social
6Work,” Jane Addams; and
7WHEREAS, The primary mission of the social work profession
8is to enhance and meet the basic needs of all people, with particular
9attention to the needs of, and empowerment through social action
10and social justice for, those who are poor, oppressed, and living
11in poverty; and
12WHEREAS, Today, there are over 650,000 professional social
13workers in the United States, over 65,000 of whom are in
14California; and
15WHEREAS, There are over 7,500 graduate students in the social
16work pipeline in 22 accredited California State University,
17University of California, and private programs throughout the
18state; and
19WHEREAS, Professional social workers train in an intensive
20combination of classroom and community experiences focused on
21individuals, families, and communities in crisis and in need of
22help; and
23WHEREAS, Professional social workers provide services across
24the age spectrum, from prenatal to end of life services; and
P2 1WHEREAS, Professional social workers serve in diverse
2settings, including schools, courtrooms, health clinics, hospitals,
3senior centers, homeless shelters, nursing homes, the military,
4disaster relief, prisons, corporations, and in political office; and
5WHEREAS, Professional social workers who have served in
6Congress include the Honorable Ron Dellums, MSW, the
7Honorable Barbara Lee, MSW, and the Honorable Susan Davis,
8MSW, and professional social workers who have served in the
9California State Legislature include the Honorable Mary Salas,
10BSW, the Honorable Patty Berg, B.A. in social work; and the
11Honorable Mariko Yamada, MSW; and
12WHEREAS, Professional social workers who have combined
13their leadership skills and knowledge of community development
14into distinguished positions include Arturo Rodriguez, MSW,
15President of the United Farmworkers Organization, and Caitlyn
16Ryan, LCSW, Director of the Family Acceptance Project; now,
17therefore, be it
18Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That March
192016 is proclaimed Social Work Month in the State of California,
20and the Assembly commends the California Chapter of the National
21Association of Social Workers for its role in advancing professional
22social work and promoting the well-being of the people of
23California, and also encourages all Californians to take part in
24March “Social Work: Forging Solutions Out of Challenges” events
25throughout California; and be it further
26Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
27of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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