MSWs in Libraries Act
In April, Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-12), and Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-3), reintroduced the More Social Workers (MSWs) in Libraries Act, H.R. 3006. All three have backgrounds in social work.
Under the MSWs in Libraries Act, the Department of Education would develop a program to provide competitive grants to institutions of higher education that would be used to fund internships for social work students in regional public libraries. This sets a precedent for the inclusion of paid internship programs as an integral component of social work workforce development.
Increasing the number of paid internship opportunities for social work students is an urgent need. Many social work students are facing financial hardship as a barrier to their degree completion. Paid internships would make social work education more inclusive, and in turn more socioeconomically and racially diverse. Additionally, paid internships would be a historic investment in care work, which is feminized and racialized work that employers often undervalue.
Why are paid internships important for workforce development?
“As a social worker early in my career, we must make it easier for aspiring social workers to achieve their professional goals. My bill will ensure social work interns are paid a living wage and are trained under the supervision of qualified social work professionals.”
–Congresswomen Sylvia Garcia
Why are paid internships important to students?
“I’m envisioning a future where privilege is not a prerequisite for entering the social work field. I want social work institutions locally and nationally to invest in that vision.”
–Quin Hackman, Payment for Placements at Boise State University
Use ‘Compose Second Message’
COPY & PASTE
this text into the Message Body:
As a social work student, I am writing to urge you to cosponsor the More Social Workers (MSWs) in Libraries Act (H.R. 3006).
The MSWs in Libraries Act would strengthen public libraries as community hubs by funding social worker and student social worker positions. Importantly, the bill would provide paid internships for social work students in libraries. Social work students are required to complete an internship as part of their degree program. Most of these internships are unpaid and the hours are equivalent to having a part-time job.
Paid internships in libraries would help to supplement the immediate financial needs of social work students, allowing them to successfully graduate and enter the professional workforce, which is currently experiencing a shortage of trained practitioners. Additionally, paid internships will make social work education more inclusive and accessible, reducing the barriers to obtaining social work employment.
