A Thank-You to President Biden for Advancing Social Work, Behavioral Health

In response to President Biden’s recent announcement that he will no longer run for a second term, the NASW Virginia Chapter thanks him and Vice President Kamala Harris for their successful fight to expand investments in mental and behavioral health and to help advance the social work profession during their first term. 

Among their many achievements that have also changed lives for the better in Virginia have been

• signing the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which expanded access to mental health services and substance use disorder treatment by allocating funding for community mental health centers, crisis intervention services, and telehealth resources, particularly in underserved areas. 

• strengthening Medicaid and Medicare, which improved access to affordable quality health and mental health coverage.

• leading historic student loan debt relief efforts, which greatly helped the mental health workforce and other public service professionals. As of late June, the administration had approved $167 billion in student loan debt relief, in addition to improving the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. 

• appointing fair and highly respected judges, including the successful nomination and appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The chapter also echoes the concerns of NASW’s Political Action for Candidate Election (PACE) Committee, which has rejected a return to the policies of the Trump Administration to reverse recent gains on mental health care and other social policies.

“Virginia social workers and their clients are much better off as a result of the leadership and actions of President Biden, especially during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency,” said NASW Virginia Executive Director Debra Riggs. “We remain committed to educating and electing policy leaders dedicated to supporting the behavioral and mental healthcare needs of Virginians and the nation.”   Nationally, NASW voiced its "heartfelt gratitude" in a statement lauding the President "for his dedicated service to our nation. His unwavering commitment to the American people and his steadfast leadership have been a beacon of hope and progress during these challenging times."

The organization drew special attention to Biden’s efforts to promote "unity, justice, and equity ..., and his dedication to addressing the needs of all Americans, particularly the most vulnerable, is deeply appreciated. Under his guidance, our country has made significant strides in mental health, health care, economic recovery, and social justice."

NASW and the chapter will continue mobilizing members, partners, and the social work profession to ensure 

• record levels of investment in mental health care; 

• strong protections of human rights such as LGBTQIA+ rights and reproductive freedom and access; 

• advancement of social and economic justice, including fighting discrimination in all forms; 

• evidence-based strategies to combat climate change; and 

• continued creation of innovative solutions to student debt.