Social Workers Speak » safety http://www.socialworkersspeak.org NASW Communications Network - Social Workers speak out on television, movies and other media Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:35:44 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Article: Kansas Passes Safety Law for Social Workers http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/media/article-kansas-passes-safety-law-for-social-workers.html http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/media/article-kansas-passes-safety-law-for-social-workers.html#comments Mon, 12 Apr 2010 18:37:21 +0000 GWright http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=2725

Photo of Terri Zenner care of Teri Zenner Memorial Web site (www.terizenner.com)

Kansas passed a new law requiring social workers take personal safety training.

The law was created in response to the murder of Teri Zenner, who was stabbed by 17-year-old client Andrew Ellmaker during a home visit. Ellmaker is now serving a 50-year sentence.

To learn more, click here to read Kansas City Star online article.

Q: Teri Zenner’s widower Matt Zenner pressed for the new law, saying it would prevent future social worker deaths. Do you agree?

]]> http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/media/article-kansas-passes-safety-law-for-social-workers.html/feed 2 Budget Cuts Turn N.Y. Social Workers into Safety Inspectors http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/budget-cuts-turn-n-y-social-workers-into-safety-inspectors.html http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/budget-cuts-turn-n-y-social-workers-into-safety-inspectors.html#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:09:45 +0000 GWright http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=1551 Jeers to the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities. According to this Times Union article, the department is trying to cut costs by having social workers and teachers do safety inspections.

Here’s an excerpt from that article:

“This is, in a word, irresponsible. OMRDD should have a fully qualified person dedicated to inspecting its facilities, or hire qualified private inspectors. Even in a hiring freeze, the state allows the filling of jobs essential to public safety.”

Q: Are you being required to do more duties than social work due to budget cuts?

]]> http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/budget-cuts-turn-n-y-social-workers-into-safety-inspectors.html/feed 0 Minnesota Counties Adopting Alternative Child Safety Plans http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/media/minnesota-counties-adopting-alternative-child-safety-plans.html http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/media/minnesota-counties-adopting-alternative-child-safety-plans.html#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:36:07 +0000 GWright http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=782 Victoria Johannes, courtesy of the St. Cloud Times.

Victoria Johannes, courtesy of the St. Cloud Times.

Kudos to the St. Cloud Times for its story on an innovative approach social workers in some Minnesota counties are using to keep children in homes. Instead of removing mistreated children from homes, social workers develop a plan with the family to keep their offspring safe. Social workers also recruit a network of relatives, friends, neighbors and acquaintances to support the families and ensure they are following the plan.

“We’re seeing that by involving parents and their extended support early in the case that we’re able to allow the family to make the important ongoing decisions for the kids, rather than having judges make decisions for the kids.” — Social Service Supervisor Victoria Johannes

Q: Should social service departments in other parts of the country adopt a similar strategy to reduce the number of children placed in foster care? Please leave your comments below.

]]> http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/media/minnesota-counties-adopting-alternative-child-safety-plans.html/feed 0 Indiana Woman Tapped to Become Child Services Ombudsman http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/indiana-womantapped-to-become-child-services-ombudsman.html http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/indiana-womantapped-to-become-child-services-ombudsman.html#comments Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:47:34 +0000 GWright http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=777 Cheers to the Chicago Tribune for its brief story on Susan Hoppe, who will become Indiana’s new child services ombudsman. Hoppe, a social worker, will act as an indpendent evaluator of the safety and welfare of state children.

]]> http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/indiana-womantapped-to-become-child-services-ombudsman.html/feed 0 Michigan Social Workers Fear For Lives http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/michigan-social-workers-fear-for-their-lives.html http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/michigan-social-workers-fear-for-their-lives.html#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:16:10 +0000 admin http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=433
Line at Michigan unemployment office. Photo courtesy of Michigan Live LLC.

Line at Michigan unemployment office. Photo courtesy of Michigan Live LLC.

A recent Associated Press article says Michigan social workers fear they will be assaulted by people angered because they have to wait in long lines for assistance. The threat may be real but the article buried the real issue. Due to the bad economy Michigan social workers are being overwhelmed by thousands of new cases and the state does not have the budget to hire more help! Read the article and tell Social Workers Speak! what you think.

]]> http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/cheers-and-jeers/michigan-social-workers-fear-for-their-lives.html/feed 2 WLKY.com: Social Workers – Laptops Don’t Stop Bullets http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/media/wlky-com-social-workers-laptops-dont-stop-bullets.html http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/media/wlky-com-social-workers-laptops-dont-stop-bullets.html#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 02:40:54 +0000 admin http://www.socialworkersspeak.org/?p=362 Kentucky Social Workers Want Say In How Safety Funding Is Allocated

WLKY.com – FRANKFORT, KY — Wednesday, Kentucky social workers told legislators in Frankfort the promises of a law meant to keep social workers safe have been broken.

The law was set up after social worker, Boni Frederick, was stabbed and bludgeoned to death three years ago after taking an infant for what was supposed to be a final home visit.

The Boni Bill was born as a result, but social workers told legislators budget cuts are killing its purpose.

Several social workers shared their stories of doing their jobs in fear as they tried to convince the joint House-Senate Health and Welfare committee more needs to be done to protect them. [full article]

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