SENATE RESOLUTION CELEBRATING MARCH OF 2026, AS "NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH" IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

S3145

2026 -- S 3145
========
LC005984
========

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N
CELEBRATING MARCH OF 2026, AS "NATIONAL SOCIAL WORK MONTH" IN THE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By:
Senators DiMario, Appollonio, DiPalma, Raptakis, Dimitri, McKenney,
Mack, Zurier, Vargas, and Felag

Date Introduced:
March 26, 2026

Referred To:
Recommended for Immediate Consideration
1
WHEREAS, Social Workers enter the profession because they have a strong desire to
2
help empower individuals, families, communities, and our nation to overcome issues that prevent
3
them from reaching their full potential; and
4
WHEREAS, Social Workers have worked for more than a century to improve human
5
well-being and enhance the basic needs of all people; and
6
WHEREAS, Social Workers follow a Code of Ethics that call on them to fight social
7
injustice and respect the dignity and worth of all people; and
8
WHEREAS, Social Workers positively touch the lives of Rhode Islanders each day and
9
in a variety of places, including schools, hospitals, the military, child welfare agencies,
10
community centers, and in federal, state and local government; and
11
WHEREAS, The 2026 Social Work Month theme is "Social Worker: Uplift. Defend.
12
Transform", which focuses on the profession's core mission to enhance well-being, meet basic
13
needs, and empower vulnerable populations amidst social divides; and
14
WHEREAS, Social Workers are the largest professional group with mental health
15
licenses in Rhode Island, working daily to help thousands of Americans overcome mental
16
illnesses such as depression and anxiety; and
17
WHEREAS, Social Workers are on the frontlines of the nation’s opioid addiction crisis,
18
helping people get the treatment they need and prevail over substance use disorders; and
19
WHEREAS, Social Workers have helped people cope with death and grief and helped

1
people directly affected by the housing crisis in Rhode Island; and
2
WHEREAS, Social Workers have helped this nation live up to its values by advocating
3
for equal rights for all, including people of color, people who are Indigenous, people who are
4
LGBTQIA2S+, or people who follow various faiths; and
5
WHEREAS, The Social Work profession is one of the fastest growing careers in the
6
United States, with an estimated 770,000 to 790,000 in 2026, with more than 6,000 practicing in
7
Rhode Island, and more than 50,000 expected to enter the profession over the next decade; and
8
WHEREAS, Social Workers have continued to push for changes that have made our
9
society a better place to live, including a livable wage, improved workplace safety, and social
10
safety net programs that help ameliorate poverty, hunger, and homelessness; and
11
WHEREAS, Social Workers endeavor to work throughout our society to meet people
12
where they are and help empower people and our society to reach the goals they wish to attain;
13
now, therefore be it
14
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island hereby celebrates March of
15
2026 as “National Social Work Month” and with gratitude and admiration, recognizes the
16
numerous contributions made by Rhode Island’s Social Workers. We moreover call upon all
17
citizens to join the National Association of Social Workers Rhode Island Chapter in celebration
18
and support of the Social Work profession; and be it further
19
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
20
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Rebekah Gewirtz, MPA, Executive Director,
21
National Association of Social Workers Rhode Island (NASW-RI).
========
LC005984
========

LC005984 - Page 2 of 2