Take Action! Support the 5000 Families Pilot Program

Rent Relief Program to Empower Virginia Families

“This program will provide $100M in ongoing rent relief over a two-year period to 5,000 low-income families with school-aged children across Virginia. The 5000 Families initiative will greatly reduce housing cost-burden for Virginia families by ensuring their rents are affordable over the long term. As a result, households will be able to stay in their current home or find a more stable, permanent home of their choice. Additionally, parents will be better equipped to ensure the best possible education for their children. Therefore, the housing stability offered through 5000 Families program will help us achieve the educational outcomes necessary for Virginia to compete in the 21st century. ”

We need your help to advocate for the 5000 Families program! Take 30 seconds to send an email to your legislators by following this link.

For more information visit: https://5000families.com/

Virginia Association of School Social Workers

A SSWAA Affiliate State

Legislative Priorities

For more info visit: https://www.sswaa.org/policy-and-advocacy

Priority: School-Based Mental Health

School-Based Mental Health Services: The mental health needs of students have been growing and have exacerbated recent challenges, which highlighted the need for increased mental health funding throughout America’s schools. Alarmingly high rates of mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety have left school-based mental health services personnel overburdened with higher caseloads, yet severe workforce shortages and tight budgets have left schools unable to expand these services quickly enough to meet demand.

 Action Requested:

  • Support the EDUCATORS for America, Save Education Jobs Act, and other legislative items that provide school districts with the resources to hire and retain LEA/district-employed school social workers and other qualified mental health professionals.

  • Support the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act and the Mental Health Services for Students Act, which would provide funding and support for on-site mental health services for youth in schools nationwide.

  • Define LEA/district-employed mental health professionals to include school social workers.

  • Ensure that support for student mental health programs administered by LEA/district-employed mental health professionals (e.g., school social workers) is included in any comprehensive mental health reform legislation that is developed.

  • Recognize publicly that child and adolescent mental health legislation should be addressed as an urgent legislative priority in Congress.

  • Support telehealth access to mental health and social work services administered by LEA/district-employed mental health professionals.

Priority: Workforce Diversity and Development

Workforce Diversity and Development: School social workers face increased demands in today’s environment and serve an increasingly large and diverse population of students and faculty. Policies should address the quality and quantity of training programs for mental and behavioral health professions and seek to address shortages in the school mental health services workforce.

Action Requested:

  • Pass the FY2024 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations bill in a timely manner so existing federal workforce development programs can receive the additional funding they need before the start of the school year.

  • Pass comprehensive mental health legislation that addresses the shortages in behavioral and mental health workforce disciplines, including school social work.

  • Fund federal grants to support graduate programs in the mental and behavioral health professions.

  • Create tax incentives encouraging and rewarding mental health professionals to perform services in underserved communities.

  • Promote policies that address disproportionality and increase diversity within the school social work workforce.

Priority: Recognition For Profession

Recognition for the School Social Work Profession: School social workers are the vital link between the home, school, and community and provide services to support students’ academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health success. They work with school administrators, teachers, students, and families, providing leadership in forming school discipline policies, mental health intervention, support services, academic success plans, and crisis management.

 

Action Requested:

  • Ensure that legislation related to educators and school support staff explicitly mentions school social workers.

  • Address the definition of highly qualified school social workers by including in legislation/regulations the requirement of a graduate degree in social work from a CSWE-accredited program and meeting all other state and local credentialing requirements for practicing as a school social worker.

  • Ensure school social work titled positions are only filled by those with a social work degree from a CSWE-accredited program.

  • Develop legislation that recognizes the importance of the school social work profession and the wide variety of roles we play in supporting students’ academic, social, physical, and emotional needs.

  • Pass the School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act, which would provide funding and support for local school districts to increase and develop their school social work workforce.