AUGUSTA - Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle, introduced legislation Friday that would provide additional student debt relief for social workers to help grow the profession and improve mental health services in Maine.
Created in 2011, the Social Worker Education Loan Repayment Program awards $5,000 to three qualified applicants each year. LD 632 would expand this program to award $20,000 to 100 applicants annually. Qualifying employment would include, but not be limited to, working in public service, corrections, education, nonprofits and private practices that provide services to Medicaid and Medicare recipients.
"Simultaneously, young people, adults and older Mainers are struggling to manage and maintain their mental health," said Crafts, a licensed social worker. "Recent reports indicate 1 in 3 high school females have considered suicide, our drug and alcohol-related overdose fatalities have skyrocketed and local mental health agencies report that they have thousands of Mainers on their waitlists going unserved. Attracting and retaining more social workers would help address the problem."
Crafts introduced the bill after discussions with the Maine chapter of the National Association of Social Workers and research conducted with Maine's higher education institutions. Together, they surveyed licensed social workers and found that the most common barriers to entry the field were student debt and low wages.
Over 30 clinical licensed social workers and social work students submitted testimony in support of the bill and expressed the need for student loan forgiveness.
Among them was Ann Hartman, a representative from the University of Maine School of Social Work. "As the Case Management Program Director at a statewide behavioral agency, I can attest that the need for basic behavioral health care is at an unprecedented level. People are reaching out for help, and it is largely unavailable or requires an extensive wait of six to eight months. Part of the solution is measures like LD 632, which reinvests in our social workers and supports them staying in Maine," said Hartman.
Kate Marble, the program director at Health Affiliates Maine, also testified in support of the bill. "The huge school loan debt social work students incur compared to their salaries after graduating is driving them from the profession when we need them the most. We need to provide student loan debt relief to keep social workers in the business of doing what they do best, caring for our communities with heart, effectiveness and integrity."
A survey from The Council on Social Work Education and the National Association of Social Workers indicates that social workers, on average, carry between $68,000 to $76,000 in student loan debt. This burden is further compounded by the low salaries and compensation that is common in the profession.
The bill faces further action in the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee with a work session scheduled for Friday March 31 at 9:30 a.m.
Rep. Crafts is serving her second term in the Maine House and represents Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro and Monhegan Plantation. She is a member of the Legislature's Marine Resources and Transportation Committees.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Crafts], c. 305-965-2744