Sec. 103. Purposes and duties of Commission
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/bill/113/s/997/is/section-103A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive study to examine and assess— the professional capacity of the social work workforce to successfully serve and respond to the increasing biopsychosocial needs of individuals, groups, and communities, in— areas related to— aging; child welfare; military and veterans affairs; mental and behavioral health and disability; criminal justice and correctional systems; and health and issues affecting women and families; and other areas identified by the Commission; the workforce challenges facing the profession of social work, such as high social work educational debt, lack of fair market compensation, the need to address social work workforce trends, translate social work research to practice, promote social work safety, or develop State-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across State lines, or the lack of diversity in the social work profession, or the need to address any other area determined by the Secretary to be appropriate; and the effect that such challenges have on the recruitment and retention of social workers; current workforce challenges and shortages relevant to the needs of clients served by social workers; the social work workforce challenges described in paragraph
(2)and the effects that the challenges will have on the provision of social work related to the areas described in paragraph (1); and the advisability of establishing a social work enhancement account, to provide direct grant assistance to local governments to encourage the engagement of social workers in social service programs. Not later than 18 months after the date of its first meeting, the Commission shall submit a report to the Secretary and Congress containing specific findings and conclusions regarding the need for recruitment for, and retention, research, and reinvestment in, the profession of social work. The report shall include recommendations and strategies for corrective actions to ensure a robust social work workforce capable of keeping up with the demand for needed services. The Commission may provide to Congress any additional findings or recommendations considered by the Commission to be important.