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Title II — Reinvestment Grant Programs to Support Social Work Profession

S. 997 · 113th Congress · May 21, 2013 · Lineage

II Reinvestment Grant Programs to Support Social Work Profession

Sec. 201 Workplace improvement grants

(a)
Grants authorized— The Secretary may award grants to 4 eligible entities described in subsection (d) to address workplace concerns for the social work profession, including caseloads, compensation, social work safety, supervision, and working conditions.
(b)
Equal amounts— The Secretary shall award grants under this section in equal amounts to the 4 eligible entities. The Secretary shall award the grants annually over a 4-year period.
(c)
Local or state government entities requirement— At least 2 of the grant recipients shall be State or local government agencies.
(d)
Eligibility requirements— To be eligible for a grant under this section, an entity shall—
(1)
work in a social work capacity that demonstrates a need regarding a workplace concern area described in subsection (a);
(2)
demonstrate—
(A)
participation in the entities’ programs of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious, linguistic, and class backgrounds, and different genders and sexual orientations; and
(B)
knowledge and understanding of the concerns of the individuals and groups described in subparagraph (A);
(3)
demonstrate a record of active participation of social workers in the entities’ programs; and
(4)
provide services and represent the individuals employed by the entities as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, licenses, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.
(e)
Priority— In selecting the grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible entities that—
(1)
are equipped with the capacity to oversee and monitor a workplace improvement program carried out under this section, including proven fiscal responsibility and administrative capability; and
(2)
are knowledgeable about relevant workforce trends and have at least 2 years of experience relevant to the workplace improvement program.
(f)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated $16,000,000 to the Secretary to award grants under this section.

Sec. 202 Research grants

(a)
Grants authorized— The Secretary may award grants to not less than 25 social workers who hold a doctoral degree in social work, for post-doctoral research in social work—
(1)
to further the knowledge base about effective social work interventions; and
(2)
to promote usable strategies to translate research into practice across diverse community settings and service systems.
(b)
Amounts— The Secretary shall award the grants annually over a 4-year period.
(c)
Eligibility requirements— To be eligible for a grant under this section, a social worker shall—
(1)
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the concerns of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious, linguistic, and class backgrounds, and different genders and sexual orientations; and
(2)
provide services and represent themselves as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, licenses, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.
(d)
Minority representation— At least 10 of the social workers awarded grants under subsection (a) shall be employed by a historically black college or university or minority-serving institution.
(e)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 to the Secretary to award grants under this section.

Sec. 203 Education and training grants

(a)
Grants authorized— The Secretary may award 20 grants to eligible institutions of higher education to support the recruitment of social work students for, and education of the students in, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, as well as the development of faculty in social work.
(b)
Equal amounts— The Secretary shall award grants under this section in equal amounts of not more than $100,000 to the 20 eligible institutions. The Secretary shall award the grants annually over a 4-year period.
(c)
Eligibility requirements— To be eligible for a grant under this section, an institution shall demonstrate—
(1)
participation in the institutions’ programs of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious, linguistic, and class backgrounds, and different genders and sexual orientations; and
(2)
knowledge and understanding of the concerns of the individuals and groups described in paragraph (1).
(d)
Institutional requirement— At least 4 of the grant recipients shall be historically black colleges or universities or other minority-serving institutions.
(e)
Priority— In selecting the grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to institutions of higher education that—
(1)
are accredited by the Council on Social Work Education;
(2)
have a graduation rate of not less than 80 percent for social work students; and
(3)
exhibit an ability to recruit social workers from and place social workers in areas with a high need and high demand population.
(f)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000 to the Secretary to award grants under this section.

Sec. 204 Community-based programs of excellence grants

(a)
Grants authorized— The Secretary may award grants to 6 eligible covered entities, to further test and replicate effective social work interventions.
(b)
Covered entity— For purposes of this section, the term covered entity means—
(1)
a public entity that is carrying out a community-based program of excellence; and
(2)
a nonprofit organization that is carrying out a program of excellence.
(c)
Equal amounts— The Secretary shall award grants under this section in equal amounts of not more than $500,000 to eligible covered entities. The Secretary shall award the grants annually over a 3-year period.
(d)
Eligibility requirements— To be eligible for a grant under this section, a covered entity shall—
(1)
carry out programs in the areas of aging, child welfare, military and veteran’s issues, mental and behavioral health and disability, criminal justice and correction systems, and health and issues affecting women and families;
(2)
demonstrate—
(A)
participation in the covered entities’ programs of individuals and groups from different racial, ethnic, cultural, geographic, religious, linguistic, and class backgrounds, and different genders and sexual orientations; and
(B)
knowledge and understanding of the concerns of the individuals and groups described in subparagraph (A);
(3)
demonstrate a record of active participation of social workers in the covered entities' programs; and
(4)
provide services and represent the individuals employed by the covered entities as competent only within the boundaries of their education, training, licenses, certification, consultation received, supervised experience, or other relevant professional experience.
(e)
Priority— In selecting the grant recipients under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to eligible covered entities that—
(1)
have demonstrated successful and measurable outcomes that are worthy of replication;
(2)
have been in operation for at least 2 years; and
(3)
work with high need and high demand populations.
(f)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated $9,000,000 to the Secretary to award grants under this section.

Sec. 205 National coordinating center

(a)
Establishment— The Secretary shall enter into a contract with a national social work entity that—
(1)
has experience in coordinating the transfer of information and ideas among entities engaged in social work research, practice, education, and policymaking; and
(2)
maintains relationships with Federal entities, social work degree-granting institutions of higher education and departments of social work within such institutions, and organizations and agencies that employ social workers.
(b)
General duties— The contract recipient (referred to in this section as the “coordinating center”) shall serve as a coordinating center and shall organize information and other data, collect and report data, serve as a clearinghouse, and coordinate activities with the entities, institutions, departments, organizations, and agencies described in subsection (a)(2).
(c)
Collaboration— The coordinating center shall work with institutions of higher education, research entities, and entities with social work practice settings to identify key research areas to be pursued, identify qualified research fellows, and organize appropriate mentorship and professional development efforts.
(d)
Specific activities of the coordinating center— The coordinating center shall—
(1)
build on the efforts of the National Association of Social Workers National Center for Workforce Studies;
(2)
collect, coordinate, monitor, and distribute data, information on best practices and findings regarding the activities funded under grants made to eligible entities and individuals under the grant programs described in sections 201 though 204;
(3)
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; and
(4)
demonstrate cultural competency and promote the participation of diverse groups.
(e)
Selection— The Secretary, in collaboration with the coordinating center, shall—
(1)
select topics to be researched under this section;
(2)
select candidates and finalists for research fellow positions; and
(3)
determine other activities to be carried out under this section.
(f)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2013 to 2017.

Sec. 206 Multimedia outreach campaign

(a)
Development and issuance of public service announcements— The Secretary shall develop and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the social work profession, highlight the advantages and rewards of social work, and encourage individuals to enter the social work profession.
(b)
Method— The public service announcements described in subsection (a) shall be broadcast through appropriate media outlets, including television or radio, in a manner intended to reach as wide and diverse an audience as possible.
(c)
Authorization of appropriations— There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2016.