Sec. 205. National coordinating center
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The Secretary shall enter into a contract with a national social work entity such as the National Association of Social Workers or the Council on Social Work Education. Such entity shall— have experience in coordinating the transfer of information and ideas among entities engaged in social work research, practice, education, and policymaking; and maintain relationships with Federal entities, social work degree-granting institutions of higher education, departments of social work within such institutions, and organizations and agencies that employ social workers. The entity with which the Secretary enters into a contract under subsection
(a)(referred to in this section as the coordinating center ) shall organize, collect, and report to the Secretary and to Congress data and information related to the social work profession, serve as a clearinghouse, and coordinate activities with the entities, institutions, departments, organizations, and agencies described in subsection (a)(2). The coordinating center shall work with institutions of higher education, research entities, and organizations with social work practice settings, including government entities, military departments, elementary and secondary schools, social services agencies, private practices, inpatient and outpatient mental health service providers, child welfare agencies, correctional facilities, and nursing homes, to identify key research areas, establish research fellowships, and organize appropriate mentorship and professional development efforts. The coordinating center shall— engage in activities to build on the efforts of the National Association of Social Workers National Center for Workforce Studies; collect, coordinate, monitor, and distribute data and information on best practices and findings regarding the activities funded by grants awarded under sections 201 through 204; prepare and submit to the Secretary a report that includes recommendations regarding the need to recruit new social workers, retain current social workers, conduct social work research, and reinvest in the profession of social work; demonstrate cultural competency and promote the participation of diverse groups; and in collaboration with the Secretary, select research topics to further the goals of this section, establish new research fellowships to conduct such research, and identify and appoint qualified individuals to such fellowship positions from among individuals who hold master’s or doctoral degrees in social work or are enrolled in master’s or doctoral degree programs at schools of social work. The Secretary may conduct and authorize such other activities as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out this section. There are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.