That hearing is 8 a.m., Friday, Feb. 13, in Senate Hearing Room 1 in the John A. Cherberg Building on the Capitol campus in Olympia.
Child Welfare social workers provide key services in the continuum of care for abused and neglected children, from case management to home visits.
SB 5943 mandates privatization of Child Welfare Services by 2012. Recent studies and task forces have recommended more surgical changes, like shifting some duties to non-case-carrying workers. Some types of public-private partnerships may work.
But wholesale contracting out is not the solution. Private companies won’t match the pay and benefits of state social workers. So there will be higher turnover. Companies will end up recruiting inexperienced workers. There won’t be the same training available. Tragedies will occur.
So, in the days leading up to Friday’s hearing, please call your senator to oppose SB 5943. Here’s the call to action:
CALL TO ACTION (2/10/09) ON
CHILD WELFARE PRIVATIZATION BILL (SB 5943):
• Call your state senator at 1-800-562-6000.
• Urge her or him to oppose SB 5943, the bill privatizing DSHS Child Welfare Services.
• SB 5943 doesn’t solve the workload and service delivery problem—it makes it worse.
• Private vendors can’t match the pay and accountability of state social workers.
• Privatization will bring high turnover, inexperienced workers and an erosion in quality services for kids.
• SB 5943 ignores recent studies and cuts hundreds of working class jobs.
• Respectfully ask for a response.
• Call on your own time and on your own cell phone.
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2 comments:
DSHS is a failed industry. Private agencies would allow for more accountability. Training at the acadamy in Wesr Seattle is nothing but a boring as i have been told waste of time. the answer to the problems is to mandate Social workers just like Hair dressers or insurance agents or real estate agents or most professions to be licensed. Then they are subject to audit and scrutinity so they individually hold the responsibilty to maintain a standard that unlicensed professionals do not.
Specfically state workers. it would not cost taxpayers a dime.
Obviolsly not a Social Worker. There are a certain amount of credits needed to become a Social worker, and many of us have advanced degrees. Private agencies lack the structure and also tend to underbid contracts and then are unable to meet obligations. The truth is human services is poorly funded. Yes,DSHS is big. Perhaps we have many social issues, economic issues, addiction issues,and abuse to contend with among our many other functions. We are busy, educated, and stretched to the limits. So, the state would effectively displace workers and then expect same workers will go to private agencies, as someone has to do the work. Well THIS Social Worker will not go back to poverty wages in the non-profit world. Why should I?
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