Bill Overview
Title: To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to support the placement of students and licensed professional social workers in public libraries, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill establishes a grant program for social work schools, as well as a technical resource center, to incorporate social workers in public libraries to assist patrons with accessing health, nutrition, and other social services.
Sponsors: Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals who regularly use public libraries and would benefit from enhanced social services through this program.
Estimated Size: 3500000
- Public libraries serve as community hubs, attracting diverse groups of people, including children, families, students, and even the homeless population.
- The bill will mainly impact social work schools and the students enrolled in these programs.
- Libraries across the country will have a changed framework with an integration of social workers, therefore impacting the staff and patrons.
- The grant program is targeted at increasing access to social services, thus impacting individuals who rely on libraries as a key resource for social services, information, and community support.
- This movement will potentially impact millions who visit libraries annually in the U.S., as well as internationally where similar models may be considered in the future.
Reasoning
- The primary beneficiaries of this policy would include regular library-goers who need assistance with social services, as well as social work students who will gain employment and practical experience through the program.
- The policy targets a fraction of all library visitors, these would most likely include low-income populations, seniors, persons with disabilities, and homeless individuals who often use library resources.
- The integration of social workers in public libraries will in particular impact those libraries in urban areas where social service needs are greater.
- Libraries serve diverse populations and not everyone will need social services, hence the range of impact varies greatly depending on personal circumstances.
- Smaller libraries may not receive as much funding or social work personnel compared to larger urban libraries, affecting the scale of impact across different communities.
Simulated Interviews
Unemployed (Denver, CO)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I visit the library often because it's a safe space for me and my child. Having access to a social worker would be amazing because it’s hard for me to navigate social services on my own.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Librarian (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our library sees a lot of people who could really use help with things like housing and health services. This policy could make a big difference in our community.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Social Work Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 19 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm excited about having practical opportunities to work in the community while I'm still in school. It’s a great way for me to learn and help others.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Farmer (Rural Iowa)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm unlikely to use these services because I don't visit the library often, and my needs are different.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired (Boston, MA)
Age: 73 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I find it hard to navigate health systems on my own, so having someone in the library to help would be beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Homeless (Seattle, WA)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a social worker available could help me find housing faster and access services I need.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Software Engineer (Austin, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the library's role in the community, but this policy doesn't affect me directly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired School Teacher (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It can be really challenging to manage my healthcare, so having someone at the library to guide me would be very helpful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
College Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could give me more opportunities to engage with the community and make a tangible difference.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Freelancer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accessing social services can be daunting, so having a social worker at the library could simplify a lot of things for me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 2: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 3: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 5: $40000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $50000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Public libraries are heavily utilized, making them effective venues for social service delivery.
- Integrating social workers in community hubs like libraries can reduce stigma associated with seeking help.
- Program success depends on successful collaboration between libraries, educational institutions, and social services.