Reps. Ruth Johnson, Accavitti, Adamini, Anderson, Bieda, Brandenburg, DeRossett, Ehardt, Emmons, Garfield, Gillard, Hopgood, Howell, Jamnick, Koetje, LaSata, Law, Meyer, Middaugh, Murphy, Palsrok, Pastor, Rocca, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Shulman, Stakoe, Stallworth, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Vander Veen, Voorhees, Wojno, Brown, Byrum, Gleason, Huizenga, Lipsey, Pumford and Sak offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 212.

A resolution recognizing the week of March 7-13, 2004, 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 500 members; and

Whereas, School social workers serve as 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

Whereas, School social workers specialize in providing services to students who are often facing enormous challenges such as poverty, discrimination, abuse, addiction, bullying, divorce of parents, loss of a loved one, and learning disorders; and

Whereas, There is a growing need for school districts to provide the services offered by school social workers to the students by addressing problems such as school violence, as well as working with families, teachers, principals, community agencies, and others to address emotional, physical, and environmental needs so a student may achieve behavioral and academic success; and

Whereas, Fewer than one in five of the 17.5 million children in need of mental health services actually receive them and the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health indicates that school mental health programs improve educational outcomes; and

Whereas, School social workers are uniquely trained to provide specialized services that include clinical skills and understanding of psychopathology such as depression, autism and eating disorders, as well as development of behavior intervention plans and crisis intervention in cases of suicide, school violence, and other traumatic events; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize March 7-13, 2004, as School Social Work Week; 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.