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S 686 111th Congress Senate

Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act

Official title: A bill to establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to advise Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on policy issues associated with … Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to advise Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services on policy issues associated with the profession of social work, to authorize the Secretary to make grants to support recruitment for, and retention, research, and reinvestment in, the profession, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 24, 2009 See on congress.gov
Social Welfare Advisory bodiesCongressional oversightDepartment of Health and Human ServicesEducation programs funding
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Executive agency funding and structureGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationLicensing and registrationsPolicy sciencesPublic contracts and procurementResearch administration and fundingSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsStudent aid and college costsWages and earningsWorker safety and health
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 24, 2009
Introduced in Senate
Mar 24, 2009
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3687-3690)
Mar 24, 2009
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3686-3687)
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 Latest action March 24, 2009

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3687-3690)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Social Work Reinvestment Commission to provide independent counsel to Congress on policy issues associated with the recruitment for, and retention, research, and reinvestment in, the profession of social work.

Directs the Commission to study and report to Congress on issues facing the social work profession, including: (1) fair market compensation, high social work educational debt, social work workforce trends, translating social work research to practice, and social work safety; and (2) state-level social work licensure policies and reciprocity agreements for providing services across state lines. Requires such study to assess the professional capacity of the social work workforce to serve and respond successfully to the increasing biopsychosocial needs of individuals, groups, and communities in certain areas, including aging and child welfare.

Authorizes the Secretary to award: (1) workplace improvement grants to eligible entities and individuals to address workplace concerns for the social work profession, including caseloads, compensation, social work safety, supervision, and working conditions; and (2) research grants, education and training grants, and community-based programs of excellence grants.

Directs the Secretary to: (1) contract with a national social work research entity to serve as a coordinating center and clearinghouse for information on activities funded under the grants; and (2) develop a multi-media outreach campaign and issue public service announcements that advertise and promote the social work profession.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 686: Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-686/
MLA
"S. 686: Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-686/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 686, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-686/.
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[S. 686: Dorothy I. Height and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Social Work Reinvestment Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-S-686/)
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