Senate Resolution No. 487

BY: Senator KENNEDY

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
March 5-11, 2023, as School Social Work Week in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks that are set aside to inform key audiences about the role
and value of school social workers in caring for our most precious
resource, our youth; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 5-11, 2023, as
School Social Work Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National School Social Work Week; and

WHEREAS, The theme for National School Social Work Week 2023 is "We
Rise."; School Social Workers rise up - supporting their students,
families, and school communities; and

WHEREAS, The importance of school social work through the inclusion
of school social work programs and services has been recognized in the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.)
and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et
seq.); and

WHEREAS, School social workers serve as vital members of a school's
education team, playing a central role in creating partnerships between
the home, school, and community to ensure student academic success; and

WHEREAS, School social workers are especially skilled in providing
services to students who face serious challenges to school success,
including disability, poverty, discrimination, abuse, neglect, mental
illness, homelessness, bullying, familial stressors, and other barriers
to learning; and

WHEREAS, School social workers are more necessary now than any time
in recent memory, as more students are struggling with mental and
behavioral health disorders, with nearly one in six children, two to
eight years old (17.4%), having a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or
developmental disorder; and

WHEREAS, Those who wish to access community mental health services
often find them unavailable, inaccessible, or inadequate; and

WHEREAS, School mental health programs are critical to early
identification of and early intervention for mental health problems; and

WHEREAS, School social workers, being licensed mental health
professionals in our schools, provide necessary assessment,
interventions, counseling, family outreach, and community referrals; and

WHEREAS, Fewer than one in five children in need of mental health
services actually receive these services, and research indicates that

school mental health programs improve educational outcomes by decreasing
absences, dropout rates, and discipline referrals, while improving
academic achievement; and

WHEREAS, The celebration of School Social Work Week highlights the
vital role school social workers play in the lives of students in New
York State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim March 5-11, 2023, as
School Social Work Week in the State of New York, and to honor and
recognize the contributions of school social workers to the success of
students in schools across the State, as well as encourage the people of
New York State to observe School Social Work Week with appropriate
activities that promote awareness of the vital role of school social
workers, in schools and in the community helping students prepare for
their futures as productive, engaged citizens; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York and to the School Social Work Association of America.