Bill Text: MI HR0033 | 2009-2010 | 95th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: A resolution recognizing the week of March 1-7, 2009, as School Social Worker Week in the state of Michigan.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 32-10)
Status: (Passed) 2009-02-25 - Adopted [HR0033 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2009-HR0033-Introduced.html
Reps. Terry Brown, Spade, Haase, Ball, Constan, Dean, Gonzales, Hammel, Hansen, Haugh, Robert Jones, Lahti, LeBlanc, Leland, Lemmons, Lori, McDowell, Neumann, Opsommer, Pearce, Polidori, Proos, Roy Schmidt, Segal, Sheltrown, Stanley, Tlaib, Tyler, Warren, Mayes, Rocca, Rogers, Slavens, Lisa Brown, Durhal, Geiss, Huckleberry, Liss, Meadows, Schuitmaker, Cushingberry and Donigan offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 33.
A resolution recognizing the week of March 1-7, 2009, as School Social Worker Week in the state of Michigan.
Whereas, The Michigan Association of School Social Workers is a professional organization serving more than 900 members; and
Whereas, School social workers are vital members of a school’s educational team, playing a central role in creating partnerships among home, school, and community to ensure student academic success and promote effective transitions for students from school to productive adult lives; and
Whereas, School social workers specialize in providing services to all students, especially those who face enormous challenges from poverty, discrimination, abuse and neglect, addiction, divorce of parents, loss of a loved one, developmental delays, cognitive and learning disabilities, emotional impairment, autistic spectrum disorder, as well as physical and other health problems; and
Whereas, There is a growing need for school districts to provide the services offered by school social workers to address school violence, bullying, peer pressure, and student behavior problems which reduce the opportunity for all students to achieve their full potential for academic success and personal development; and
Whereas, School social workers are in a unique position to address pressing social and environmental problems, such as homelessness, student and family crises, and the problems of truancy, unplanned pregnancy, and school drop-outs; and
Whereas, One in ten children suffers from a serious emotional or mental disturbance, but over half their primary-care providers never ask parents if they have concerns about the mental health of their child, and parents of one in four children diagnosed with a serious mental health problem report difficulty getting needed mental health services for their children. School mental health services, including the diagnostic, therapeutic, referral, and case management services provided by school social workers, are a readily accessible and effective way to help families obtain the mental health services their children need to improve their emotional well-being and educational outcomes; and
Whereas, School social workers are uniquely trained, licensed, and certified professional mental health service providers whose specialized clinical skills, extensive experience, and ongoing professional development equip them to understand child development and the psychopathology of mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, eating disorders, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and the other emotional and adjustment problems that face our children; and
Whereas, School social workers develop and implement treatment plans, behavior intervention plans, and prevention and crisis intervention services that deal with school violence, suicide, and other traumatic events that have significant impacts on students, teachers, and on the entire school; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House f Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize March 1-7, 2009, as School Social Work Week in the state of Michigan; and be it further
Resolved, That we congratulate the Michigan Association of School Social Workers and commend the organization for the valuable role it plays in providing for the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of the young people of the great state of Michigan; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Association of School Social Workers.
