Kentucky Social Workers Under Strain
Patricia Wilson
Kentucky social workers are having to handle higher caseloads while the state continues to cut funding for social service programs, according to this article in the Courier-Journal. Reports of child abuse and neglect are also growing.
Patricia Wilson, the state cabinet’s commissioner for social services, said it is unlikely social workers will get relief in the near future.
“Absolutely, the sense of having more work than they can say grace over is real,” she said. “It is a function of the budget. There is not likely to be any new money in the state of Kentucky any time soon.”
Q: Do you think the media attention on Kentucky’s social worker crisis will prompt lawmakers to boost funding?
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This is not just a problem in KY, but all around the US. Lawmakers will not increase funding to serve the disadvantaged, as the people needing the service do not have the money or power to compell law makers to act rightly and justly. It is my firm opinion that law makers are beholden to giant corporations,the wealthy and priviledged who contribute to campaign re-elections. If social workers want things to change they will have to go back into the street and fight for the changes, as they did in the past. We have gotten too complacent and comfortable in our “clinical roles and titles” and have forgotten where we came from.
Why ask the government for money? If you can create demand and inform the community, this seems like a stronger approach to funding. Isnt it more gratifying to be independent of the government and find people who truly care and believe in what you do?