Press Releases

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-Milwaukee) introduced legislation that would help schools hire or keep school social workers.

School social workers provide a range of services to students from counseling to crisis intervention to addressing truancy.  Students who benefit from school social workers face multiple issues at home and school, including disability, poverty, abuse, teen pregnancy, drug addiction, bullying, or more. 

Congresswoman Moore said, “Kids face big difficulties at home even before they show up to school.  These affect their learning and can make them act out, withdraw, or even skip school all together.  School social workers have a proven track record of helping students overcome obstacles in their lives and succeed in school, which we know is necessary for future success.”

School social workers have been proven effective for improving students’ academic performance, conduct, mental health, attendance and more.  Specifically, Moore’s legislation – the School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act -- creates a grant program to help high-need schools hire and retain school social workers to help the most at-risk students.

With tightening budgets across the country – including nearly $1 billion of proposed K-12 cuts in Wisconsin alone – Moore’s legislation would help ensure that students do not lose school social workers due to budget cuts.  

Moore’s bill is supported by the School Social Work Association of America and the National Association of Social Workers.