On October 28th, LA County social workers–arm in arm with child advocates–presented their plan to reform social work and save the lives of children to the Blue Ribbon Commission for Child Protection.
The plan, called “Children First,” was developed as part of a package of bargaining proposals. County Social Workers and other County workers, including nurses and librarians, are currently negotiating a new contract with the County.
“The ‘Children First’ plan didn’t come out of thin air. Since last summer we’ve been calling for the adoption of these ideas at the bargaining table.” – David Green, Children’s Social Worker, DCFS
To date, the Board of Supervisors has failed to embrace the common-sense “Children First” plan, even though it’s been endorsed by 60 religious and child welfare organizations who agree that it would fix chronic problems at the Department of Children and Family Services.
LA County children’s social workers are drowning in cases. Last January, the director of the Department of Children and Family Services, Philip Browning, said that 1,400 new social workers are needed to solve the problem. Nothing happened. Just months later, in May, Gabriel Fernandez died tragically.
The Board of Supervisors convened the Blue Ribbon Commission on Child Protection in response. But the workers who protect the County’s abused and neglected children do not have a seat at the table. Neither do the dozens of community organizations that deal exclusively with child welfare issues. These organizations are dedicated to saving LA County’s kids. That’s why they presented their “Children First” Plan to the commission.
Read the “Children First” plan here.
“The status quo is unacceptable. That is why we support the adoption of the ‘Children First’ social worker plan. Under the plan, the County would hire 35 additional children’s social workers each month until we reach the goal of hiring 1,400 new direct service social workers.” 
– Maria Garcia,
Children’s Social Worker, DCFS
“This plan is doable and only requires political will and moral courage to establish it at the start of 2014.This is an opportunity to take concrete steps to protect the children of LA and ensure they are in safe and stable homes.”
– Almira Garza, Children’s Social Worker, DCFS
Most social workers juggle as many as 40 at-risk children a month–three times the recommended federal standard.
The members of the Blue Ribbon Commission thanked SEIU 721 members and community partners for having the courage and conviction to come before the Commission. Moved and impressed with the information and ideas that we presented, the members of the commission asked our coalition to attend the next meeting of the commission on November 26th, when Director Philip Browning will be in attendance.
“Everybody needs to be at the table in order to reform social work in LA County. We look forward to working with our community partners to raise the standard of care for all of LA’s children.”
– Blanca Gomez, Children’s Social Worker, DCFS