AUGUSTA — The National Association of Social Workers Maine Chapter will celebrate Social Work Month this Wednesday, March 27 in the Hall of Flags in the Maine State Capitol during Social Work Advocacy Day. Proceedings will focus on empowering social workers as we address issues in our state and nation, including more mental health services providers. We invite members of the press to join us at noon in the Hall of Flags, where participants will stand together for Gun Safety and Social Work Education Loan Repayment legislation. Social work leaders will be available to discuss results from Maine’s recent behavioral health access survey and priority bills to support our behavioral health workforce.
People become social workers because they have a strong desire to help others. Social workers have a hearty sense of social justice and follow a Code of Ethics that calls on them to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people. They are particularly attuned to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty. Currently, social workers are the largest group of behavioral health providers in the state, with over 7,400 licensed providers.
Social work leaders are concerned about Maine’s critical shortage of behavioral health providers, as reported in a Bangor Daily News Op-ed article on Saturday. Long wait lists decrease access to mental health care, which can easily result in worsening symptoms and the development of other medical and substance use conditions, impacting functioning and requiring more extensive and expensive care.
We urge supporters of social workers to press state and federal lawmakers to pass legislation that supports social workers and help boost their salaries, including the Improving Access to Mental Health Act and legislation to improve social work safety. A 2023 survey showed that the average student loan of master’s prepared social workers in Maine was over $74,000, with salaries that make it challenging to pay off the loans. We ask our state legislators to fund the Social Work Education Loan Repayment program (LD 632). Pass the Social Work Compact (LD 2140). Fund the task force to study alternatives to the exam for social work licensing (LD 1990) and the other behavioral health workforce bills in the Maine Resiliency Package.
Our nation continues to face challenges ahead, including a higher demand for mental health services. It is important that our society empower and support social workers so they can continue to help millions of Americans improve their lives.
