Rep. Ed Towns Salutes Social Work Month

WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY10), founder and chair of the Congressional Social Work Caucus, released the following statement in celebration of March as Social Work Month:

“This month we take time to honor social workers who labor tirelessly to improve the lives of all Americans. We celebrate the dedicated women and men in the social work profession who take on the challenge of meeting the needs of the elderly, the unemployed, people with physical and mental disabilities, victims of abuse, and people living with HIV and AIDS, in order to provide them relief and a better quality of life. We are thankful for their commitment.

“During my work in the social work profession I thoroughly enjoyed being a driving force for change, ensuring that those under my care had access to quality health care, education, and employment opportunities. As a Member of Congress, I continue my dedication to improving the lives of Americans through advocating for fair and just policies and sponsoring legislation.

“When I think of champions for change I consider people like Dr. Dorothy I. Height who began her career as a caseworker in the New York City Welfare Department and created a legacy of more than seventy years of dedicated service to the community. I consider leaders such as Whitney M. Young, Jr. who made a lifelong commitment to the social work profession in his quest to reduce poverty and bring an end to employment discrimination.

“Social workers are valuable assets in our communities which is why I proudly introduced the Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act. This act will aid social workers by helping to reduce school loan debt, increasing workplace safety, and promoting higher wages. It will also provide mechanisms to recruit, retain, and retrain social workers to improve our schools, hospitals and communities.

“During the month of March let us join with the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE), and the Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) and a host of other organizations in their efforts to develop the professional growth of current and future social workers. Thank your local social workers for all of their hard work and take advantage of the resources they provide. It is an honorable deed to spread hope and support to children, families, and communities. To the social workers everywhere, in honor of Social Work Month, we salute you!”

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