SSWAAZ Legislative and Advocacy Committee Update
Our Legislative & Advocacy Committee meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month from 5:00pm – 6:00pm via Zoom. The SSWAAZ Legislative & Advocacy Committee meeting is open to any SSWAAZ member. If you have any additional questions, please email the Legislative Committee Chairs at sswaazboard@gmail.com
SSWAAZ Response to Area School Districts Eliminating School Social Workers From Campuses
Response to the elimination of SSW’s in area school Districts PDF
SEL Statement
In response to ongoing attacks on social and emotional learning, (SEL) and districts moving to eliminate SEL altogether, SSWAAZ has written a statement in support of SEL. Please see the document below for the complete statement. It is imperative that School Social Workers in our State speak up in support of SEL at every opportunity. Stay tuned for other ways to get involved.
SSWAAZ Legislative Updates
SSWAAZ is currently involved in advocacy efforts involving the following proposed Legislation in the Arizona State Legislature.
HB2160 – school mental health professionals; academy: Proposes for eligible universities to implement an AZ School Mental Health Professionals Academy to incentivize students to enter the school psychology, school social work and school counseling professions and commit to work as such in public schools in AZ after graduation.
SSWAAZ Position: In Favor
SB1001 – pronouns; biological sex; school policies: Prohibits school employees from using a pronoun that differs from a ‘student’s biological sex’ without written permission from the student’s parent or guardian.
SSWAAZ Position: Opposed Legislation
HB2458 – race; ethnicity; prohibited instruction Prohibits a public school, school district or state agency or an employee from providing or allowing any person to provide instruction that promotes or advocates for specified concepts relating to race or ethnicity. Establishes a complaint process and civil penalty for violations.
SSWAAZ Position: Opposed Legislation
SSWAAZ Legislative Resources and Position Statements
HB 2161 Guidance & Update
On April 29th, 2022 Governor Ducey signed HB2161 “Parental Rights; Schools; Educational Records” into law. This law has reaching implications for school social workers and other school staff. This law requires that parents have access to all written and electronic records of a school district or charter school or a school district or charter school employee concerning the parent’s child and to all electronic accounts of the parent’s child.
SSWAAZ will continue to work with our partners and members to keep up to date and bring members the most current information and guidance as it becomes available. In addition our legislative committee will be providing letter templates and an advocacy toolkit for you to use at your discretion. If you are interested in serving on the committee please reach out to us at sswaazboard@gmail.com.
Access to Mental Health Providers
SB1189- proposed to lower the student to counselor ratio with increased funding for school counselors but did NOT include School Social Workers. SSWAAZ entered a position of neutrality and advocated for SSW to be included. SB1189 subsequently was removed from the Senate Education Committee Agenda.
Following the removal of SB1189 from the Senate Education Committee agenda, HB 2667 has been introduced. This legislation seeks to appropriate Educational funds for mental health personnel including both school social workers and school counselors. SSWAAZ’s position is in favor of this legislation.
To continue advocacy efforts use this link https://www.azleg.gov/findmylegislator/ to find your
Representative and share your support for this HB2667.
Culturally Responsive Education in Arizona
HB 2112- proposes to eliminate culturally responsive education in AZ and includes fines for teachers and educators who teach/discuss“instruction that promotes or advocates for any specified concepts relating to race, ethnicity and sex. “
SSWAAZ has issued a statement of opposition to HB 2112 . Unfortunately, the bill has currently passed through the AZ House and has been transmitted to the Senate. Once it is assigned a number and made active in the Senate, SSWAAZ will again be calling on all members to take immediate Action in opposition to this harmful Bill.
Contacting your State Legislator
To contact your State Legislator, follow the information found on this page.
Action: Contact The ADE Superintendent, Kathy Hoffman, and thank her for championing a school safety task force and the expansion of the School Safety Program. Click Here for a sample letter.
Statement and letter template on Secure and Protect Act of 2019 (Immigration law)
To download SSWAA’s call to action and letter template, please click here: SSWAA_ACTION ALERT oppose S 1494
Statement on RedForEd
To download our statement on RedForEd, SSWAAZ-Position-Statement-on-RedForEd.
School Social Work Association of America
SSWAA strives to stay up to date and provide various letters for you to use in advocacy anywhere from school to state level. Visit their website for more information.