Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass shadowed ER children’s social workers Patricia Frazier and Aiyana Davis at the DCFS Wateridge office April 6. Bass accompanied them as a part of the SEIU 721 “Walk a Day in My Shoes” program on two investigations of allegations of abuse.SEIU Walk a Day in My Shoes program was created to ensure decision makers have hands on experience to better inform their decisions and help them stand up for working families and quality public services.
Social workers responded to an immediate referral concerning allegations of neglect of a seven-year-old, but when they arrived neither the child nor the mother was home nor were any of the neighbors. “Today we were running around a lot trying to find clients, which happens a lot. I do think Speaker Bass got a little idea of some of the things we go through, but I wish she would have opportunity to actually see what it’s like to interview parents about different allegations and see the different concerns we see when we visit families,” Aiyana said.
Bass, who is running for congress, said: “I learned how challenging the job is and it also reinforced the fact that different policies and additional resources are needed. I really admire and respect the work that the social workers do and I am very clear that I need to work on public policy and I could not do the work that they do.”
Bass currently represents the 47th assembly district and is the speaker emeritus. She is running to succeed retiring U.S. Congresswoman Diane Watson in California’s 33rd congressional district.
“We need to pay attention to the system and we need to provide all the resources that we can so that social workers can do their job of keeping children safe.”
— Speaker Karen Bass, Congressional Candidate
“I really enjoyed the company of speaker Karen Bass and I think she is compassionate for social workers and I just hope that when she moves on and wins congress that she does not forget the plight of the social worker.”
— Patricia Frazier, Children’s Social Worker
What’s Next?
The SEIU 721 Walk a Day program gives elected officials and their staff an up-close look at the hard work we do to keep children and families safe. Currently we are taking candidates for local, statewide and federal offices to experience public service firsthand.