Reps. Hovey-Wright, Brown, Abed, Geiss, Brinks, Schor, Switalski, Banks, Townsend, Kivela, Dianda, Singh, Yanez, Kosowski, Smiley, Lane, Faris, Cochran, Driskell, Lamonte, Brunner, Price, Slavens, Stanley, Hobbs, Ananich, Robinson, Kandrevas, Roberts, Lipton, Knezek, Zemke, Daley, Heise, Denby, Jacobsen, Pagel, Lori, Kowall, Oakes, Barnett, Darany and Durhal offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 39. 

A resolution to declare March 2013 as Social Work Month in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, The social work profession creates pathways to full participation in society; and

Whereas, The primary mission of social work is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic needs of all people, especially the most vulnerable; and

Whereas, For over 100 years social workers have helped America’s leaders weave the nation’s social safety net; and

Whereas, Social workers address the emotional, psychological, economic, and/or physical needs of millions of people every day; and

Whereas, Social workers help clients use their strengths, resilience, and self-advocacy to navigate life challenges; and

Whereas, Social workers help people function better in their environments, improve their relationships with others, and solve personal and family problems through a wide range of psychosocial services. They also assist individuals and families in every stage of life from all communities and advocate for fairness and access to resources that benefit the most people; and

Whereas, Social work is currently one of the fastest growing professions in the United States; and

Whereas, Social workers are employed in many different organizations and industries including private and public agencies, hospices and hospitals, schools and universities, businesses and foundations, and military branches and veterans centers as well as national and local public elected offices; and

Whereas, Social workers celebrate the courage, strength, and determination of the human spirit and work to empower others to hope, dream, and believe in their own potential; and

Whereas, Our nation would be less successful without the contributions of America's 650,000 social workers; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare March 2013 as Social Work Month in the state of Michigan. We call upon all citizens to join with the National Association of Social Workers in celebration and support of the social work profession.