; Whereas the 2024 Social Work Month theme, Empowering Social Workers: Inspiring Action, Leading Change embodies how social workers are invaluable to the ever-changing dynamics of our country; Whereas social workers enter the profession because they have a strong desire to help empower individuals, families, communities, and the United States to overcome issues that prevent them from reaching their full potential; Whereas social workers are essential to community well-being, and, as practitioners, social workers are trained to help individuals address personal and systemic barriers to optimal living; Whereas social workers are employed to effect positive change in individuals, families, groups, and entire communities; Whereas social workers advocate for equal rights for all; Whereas the social work profession is one of the fastest growing professions in the United States, but the profession is still not large enough to meet the demand in the face of the mental health crisis; Whereas there is a need to make a meaningful investment in recruitment and retention of the social work profession; and Whereas social workers are ethically bound to work throughout our society to meet individuals where they are and help empower individuals and our society to reach the goals they wish to attain: Now, therefore, be it