Whereas the importance of school social work is recognized in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq. ) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq. ) through the inclusion of school social work programs and services in such Acts; Whereas school social workers are especially skilled in providing services to students who face serious challenges to school success, including disability, poverty, discrimination, abuse, neglect, mental illness, homelessness, bullying, familial stressors, and other barriers to learning; Whereas school social workers are needed more now than at any time in recent memory, as more students are struggling with mental and behavioral health disorders, with nearly 1 in 6 children from 2 to 8 years old (17.4 percent) having a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder; Whereas individuals who wish to access community mental health services often find such services unavailable, inaccessible, or inadequate; Whereas school-based mental health programs are critical to early identification of and early intervention for mental health problems; Whereas school social workers, being licensed mental health professionals in schools in the United States, provide necessary assessment, interventions, counseling, family outreach, and community referrals; Whereas school mental health programs are critical to early identification of mental health problems and in the provision of appropriate mental health services when needed; Whereas school social workers maintain knowledge of school culture and school climate, which are necessary for responsible school safety planning; Whereas fewer than 1 in 5 children in need of mental health services actually receive these services, and research indicates that school mental health programs improve educational outcomes by decreasing absences, dropout rates, and discipline referrals, while improving academic achievement