Press Releases

Moore, Scholten, and Garcia Introduce Resolution Recognizing “School Social Work Week”

This week, Representatives Gwen Moore (WI-04), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), and Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) introduced a resolution recognizing March 2^nd-March 8^th, 2025, as “School Social Work Week.”

“School social workers are mental health professionals who can help students face challenges in their home life and in the classroom, whether the issue is bullying, familial stress, or poverty. Amid a national school social worker shortage and youth mental health crisis, these professionals are sorely needed to help our young people. It is vital that we lift up school social workers’ amazing contributions to our communities and help expand their impact by increasing the number of school social workers. I am excited to lead this effort with my colleagues and will continue advocating for initiatives that support our students and their families,” said Rep. Moore.

"As a social worker myself, I know that school social workers play a crucial role in ensuring that every student, no matter their background or challenges, has the support they need to thrive," said Rep. Scholten. "From improving access to mental health support to helping families navigate tough situations, their work is vital to student success. I’m proud to lead this resolution recognizing ‘School Social Work Week’ and celebrating the dedication of these professionals who make a real difference in students’ lives every day."

“As a former social worker and Chair of the Congressional Social Work Caucus, I know firsthand how vital school social workers are in helping students overcome challenges inside and outside the classroom. Their dedication, compassion, and expertise make a lasting impact on children, families, and entire communities,” said Rep. Garcia. “I’m proud to support this resolution recognizing School Social Work Week and the life-changing work these professionals do every day. This week, let’s thank them and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring they have the support they need to keep making a difference.”

“The School Social Work Association is honored and grateful to work with Representative Gwen Moore, Representative Sylvia Garcia, and Representative Hillary Scholten on the introduction the school social work resolution that recognizes and celebrates our contributions. This resolution amplifies the crucial role school social workers play in supporting the academic, social, behavioral, and mental health needs of students. We are grateful for the commitment to championing the needs students and their dedication to ensuring that school social workers have the necessary resources and support. We look forward to working closely in our continued efforts to positively impact the lives of students, youth, families, schools and communities,” said Dr. Robert Lucio, SSWAA Advocacy and Legislative Action Committee Co-Chair.

School social workers are mental health professionals and support many services, including leading crisis intervention, supporting behavioral management in the classroom, creating educational programs, and serving as a community-liaison to provides child-specific resources and support to families. There is a current shortage of school social workers and a looming shortage facing this workforce. The School Social Work Association of America and other professional organizations recommend one school social worker for every 250 students. However, ACLU research found that on average nationwide, there is only one school social worker for every 2,106 students.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts there will be a shortage of 74,000 school social workers for the next decade. These statistics highlight the need for more of these professionals in our school to support students.  

Read the full text of the resolution here.