Social workers across the state convened at the State Capitol on Thursday to advocate for policies on behalf of the social work profession and their clients. The schedule of the day included an orientation meeting with a packet that included bills for which to advocate, information to give to Representatives, and a schedule of whom to meet with and where to find them. Social work proclamations then occurred in House and Senate chambers, and the day concluded with a social work rally on the south steps of the Texas Capitol.
The following policy issues specific to social workers included:
1. Establish pay levels of entry-level baccalaureate social workers (BSWs) that are comparable to entry-level baccalaureate teacher pay levels.
2. Create a social worker loan repayment program (possibly funded by tobacco settlement funds).
3. Establish a Social Work Center for Work force Studies (possibly funded by a surcharge on social work licensing fees).
4. Fund research at Texas Schools of Social Work.
5. Include social workers as providers of any and all services for which they are trained (assessment, diagnosis, treatment, testimony in court proceedings).
6. Raise the classification level of social work positions in state government.*
7. Work with our partners and coalitions to ensure appropriate funding for social service programs in the state budget.*
8. Hire licensed professionals (including social workers) in state agencies and nonprofits.*
9. Give preference in hiring to and employ effective retention strategies for social workers in Protective Services entry-level positions.*
10. Enact liability protections for social workers who serve as volunteers during a disaster and exempt social workers from being licensed as private investigators when performing the work of a mitigation specialist.*
List of Priority Bills
List of All Tracked Bills
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