Page 3 - Work Force September 2016

Legislation would ease caseloads
Risk of child abuse growing
Thousands of children across our state need help getting away from abuse and neglect every day.
But many of the child protective services workers who are tasked with helping these children are faced with heavy caseloads, understaffing and insufficient time to truly help these at-risk children.
This is a potentially dangerous situation and these children deserve better.
That is why CSEA members are urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign legislation that would limit child protective services worker caseloads to 15 active cases per month, a move activists say would allow workers
to devote more time to cases with children most at risk. The bill (A.10506/Lupardo/S.2691/Golden) is expected to be sent to the governor in early September.
While average caseloads vary by county, CPS caseworkers meeting with CSEA staff in recent months have consistently said that having more time to spend on each case would allow them to better protect children and families.
Urgent need for children, workers
CSEA members who work in child protective services say the need for caseload limits is urgent. Many of the CPS workers who spoke to The Work Force about their experiences did not want their names to be used because of a fear of retaliation and unfair blame.
Despite their dedication to helping children and families, many workers find themselves faced with heavy caseloads and chronic understaffing, spurred by high turnover rates and lack of necessary funding.
As a result, too many child protective services workers are unable to spend enough time
on their cases, a situation that potentially places children at risk for further harm.
While the job is always stressful, many of the workers’ decisions can also literally mean life or death for the children in their care. Every day, child protective services workers live with concern for the children in
their care — and fear for the worst for many of them.
“We have seen some horrible cases of abuse,” a Long Island Region caseworker said. “It really takes a toll on people emotionally. Some of our workers have had to get psychological help because the job is so overwhelming mentally, emotionally and physically.”
continued on page 6.
‘Stress and extreme caseloads’ drive county’s high caseworker turnover
JOHNSTOWN — One thing jumped out at CSEA Fulton County Local activist Rick Stahl when he looked over a list of names of the 23 employees who have left
Stahl
over almost twice during that time. That turnover rate is an expensive proposition for the county, given the costly and intensive training for new staff, seven weeks at the state, 40 hours in-house training and annual requirements thereafter.
Why the extreme exodus?
Many reasons, said Stahl, a social welfare examiner. Among them, stress and extreme caseloads.
Some of the workers transferred to other county departments for better working conditions. Other workers pursued the more predictable hours and higher pay staffing the state’s central register, or hotline, as it is known.
Stahl and his co-workers agree that being a CPS caseworker is not for everyone. Effective time
management plays a role, but even the most efficient caseworkers will struggle.
“You have days where it’s quiet and days when you get three cases in two hours and have to drive all over the county,” said Stahl.
The increase in mandated programs and associated paperwork make many social workers wish they could spend less time in front of a computer screen and more time in the field directly assisting those in need.
“We all wish we could have more time to be able to do the job more thoroughly to protect the children,” said Stahl.
Stahl said he is cautiously optimistic that state legislation limiting active caseloads per worker
to 15 per month would help with turnover if the governor signs the bill.
Stahl and his co-workers wonder how some of the basic features of the legislation, if enacted, will translate citing the trickiness of sometimes defining a case.
“Sometimes the road from theory to practice is paved with reality,” said Stahl who agrees that more should be done to free workers’ caseloads.
Stahl, who has been in the trenches for 33 years and has even worked a second job since 1999,
is eligible for retirement but he is dedicated to his work for the county. “I’m not going anywhere” he said. “This job, the work we do, is too important.”
— Therese Assalian
the county’s
Department of Social Services in the last three years.
All were caseworkers trained in the child protective services unit.
When the unit is fully staffed,
a rare circumstance, according to employees, there are 14 caseworkers. With 23 workers gone over the past three years, staffing has turned
September 2016
The Work Force 3