Page 4 - Work Force September 2016

WorkForce
ISSN 1522-1091
Official publication of
CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO 143 Washington Ave. Albany, NY 12210-2303 Danny Donohue, President
STEPHEN A. MADARASZ Communications Director & Publisher
EMILY COTE
Deputy Director of Communications
LOU HMIELESKI Executive Editor
JANICE GAVIN Associate Editor
JANICE M. KUCSKAR Graphic Production Specialist
JASON D. HOSIER Graphic Production Specialist
BETH MCINTYRE Communications Assistant
CommuniCations speCialists
Long Island Region: WENDI BOWIE (631) 462-0030
Metropolitan Region: DAVID GALARZA (212) 406-2156
Southern Region: JESSICA LADLEE (845) 831-1000
Capital Region: THERESE ASSALIAN (518) 782-4400
Central Region: MARK M. KOTZIN (315) 433-0050
Western Region: OVE OVERMYER (716) 691-6555
Headquarters: JILL ASENCIO (518) 257-1276
The Publications Committee: Karen Bright
Robert Ellis
Tim Finnigan
Debbie Nappi-Gonzalez Marie Snyder Rick Stahl Vincenza Turpin
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President Danny Donohue in touch with
The WorkForce
At-risk children nEeed our attention
very day, across New York state, also know there can be unacceptable thousands of children are at risk of outcomes through no fault of their own.
4 The Work Force
September 2016
abuse and neglect.
Their situation is made worse
because the people responsible for
their protection — Child Protective Services workers — are overwhelmed by caseloads that practically guarantee many children will fall through the gaping holes in the social safety net. In some places, caseloads can run up to nearly 70 active cases per month.
That is simply dangerous and nearly impossible to handle. But don’t take
my word for it. That was the conclusion of a 2006 report by the state’s Office of Children and Family Services. It found that smaller caseloads have a direct benefit for children under supervision.
These at-risk children deserve better.
Caseworkers know this and agonize over the working conditions that too often leave them only bad or worse choices. They have difficult work to do under the best of situations but rarely have the luxury of that reality. They
It’s the worst kind of stress.
Last spring, both the Senate and the
Assembly acted to address the needs of kids. Legislation capping caseloads and moving New York in the right direction was approved by both houses. It follows the conclusions of the OCFS report by capping active cases to 15 per month and requiring adequate staffing to ensure appropriate follow-up, investigation
and site visits to assess the well-being of children in a variety of circumstances.
Now it’s up to Gov. Andrew Cuomo to sign it and give these kids a chance
at a better life. It’s the right thing to do for the children and our communities. CSEA joins many other responsible organizations and elected officials in urging the governor to sign and set the standard.