Houston Republic

WASHINGTON, DC – Recently, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-3), all members of Congress with backgrounds in social work, reintroduced the More Social Workers (MSWs) in Libraries Act. The MSWs in Libraries Act seeks to further strengthen public libraries as community hubs by facilitating aspiring social workers into library facilities across our country.

The bill will help reinforce America’s social worker talent pipeline by creating a paid social worker internship program at public libraries across our nation. Specifically, under the MSWs in Libraries Act, the Department of Education would develop a program to provide competitive grants to institutions of higher education that would be used to fund an internship for social work university students and employ a qualified social worker in a public library to oversee social work student interns. 

“Social workers and their positive impact are essential for healthy and vibrant communities,” said Congresswoman Garcia. “As a social worker early in my career, we must make it easier for aspiring social workers to achieve their professional goals. My bill will ensure social work interns are paid a living wage and are trained under the supervision of qualified social work professionals. I can’t think of a better place than public libraries to host this program – as they are key learning centers and community hubs,” concluded the Congresswoman. 

“As Chair of the Congressional Social Work Caucus and psychiatric social worker by training, I firmly believe in the invaluable role that social workers play in our communities – especially for underserved communities who are too often overlooked and left behind. Amid a national social worker shortage, the MSWs in Libraries Act will establish a process to recruit and empower the next generation of social workers while directly benefiting our public libraries. I am proud to join my colleague Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia in co-leading this important bill” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. 

“As a former social worker, I’m proud to help introduce this legislation that places social workers in public libraries and helps strengthen the workforce by providing paid internships to social work students. Libraries are vital community spaces that are accessible to everyone, which is what makes this legislation so important. By placing social workers in libraries, we are meeting people in need where they’re at. I’m proud to join my colleague Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia in co-leading this important bill” said Congresswoman Scholten. 

The bill is endorsed by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), American Library Association, Congressional Research Institute for Social Work and Policy (CRISP), American Council for School Social Work, Latino Social Work Organization, Pay Our Interns, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the American Academy of Social Work & Social Welfare (AASWSW), Clinical Social Work Association, LIFT, Inc., National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Association of Deans and Directors, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the South Eastern Library Association, and First Focus Campaign for Children. 

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She is Vice Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee and a member of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. 

Original source can be found here.