LibGuides: IST 560: Library Advocacy Group: Relevant Federal Action

Federal Action in 118th Congress

More Social Workers (MSWs) in Libraries Act (H.R.3006, 2023)

The MSWs 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 work talent pipeline by creating a paid social work internship program at public libraries across our nation. Specifically, under the MSWs 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 in a regional public library and employ qualified social workers in regional public libraries to oversee social work of student interns.

More Social Work (MSW) In Libraries Act
This legislation would create a grant administered by Dept of Education and IMLS to supply funding for social work interns who are working in public libraries.
Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act
This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award competitive grants for planning and implementing community mental wellness and resilience programs through networks of schools, businesses, health and human services providers, and other community groups. These programs take a public health approach to build the capacity of the community to detect, prevent, and heal mental health, behavioral health, and psychosocial conditions.
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This bill if enacted, would impact service partners.

Actions In Previous Congresses

Community Based Response Act
This bill unenacted legislation from the 117th Congress establishes a program to assist communities with implementing alternative emergency response models in vulnerable populations to resolve crisis situations that may not require a law enforcement response or situations in which a law enforcement response may increase the response may increase the risk of harm.
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This legislation would have had an impact on services provided by service partners.
Protecting Social Workers and Health Professionals from Workplace Violence Act
This unenacted bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to states, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations for providing safety measures to social workers, health workers, and human services professionals who perform services in high-risk and potentially dangerous situations.
National Association of Social Workers Issue Brief on Protecting Social Workers and Health Professionals from Workplace Violence
The bipartisan Protecting Social Workers and Health Professionals from Workplace Violence Act (S. 4412/H.R. 8492), will promote safer working conditions by establishing a grant program within the Department of Health and Human Services to fund the implementation of workplace safety measures. The grants may be used by States, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations to deploy safety equipment (such as security cameras and GPS locators), make facility improvements, implement safety training programs, and provide support services for professionals who have been victims of violence. The bill provides $10,000,000 per year, to be awarded over 5 years.

This legislation was introduced by Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), who is also a social worker, and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), as well as Representatives, Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) and Robin Kelly (D-IL-02).

Federal Agencies that Support Community Needs

Below find a list of federal agencies that provide resources that social workers use to help people in need.

HHS (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services): Provides resources for persons experiencing homelessness and supports housing stability for those with mental illness

ACF (Administration for Children and Families): Addresses homelessness through various programs

CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services): Involved in delivering treatment and services to homeless individuals.

HUD (U.S. Dept of Housing & Urban Development) administers block grants available to communities to disperse to organizations

CIST Student Sandbox

IST 560: Library Advocacy Group

Federal Action in 118th Congress

Actions In Previous Congresses

Federal Agencies that Support Community Needs