Report Title:

Child Abuse; Minors; Social Workers

Description:

Requires the department of human services to adopt child welfare social worker caseload standards. Requires child welfare social workers to be reclassified to achieve a two salary range upgrade. Effective 7/1/05. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3036

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the State has a duty to care for and protect the children who are victims of abuse and neglect and, as a matter of public policy, the State assumes an obligation of the highest order to ensure their safety. High social worker caseloads reduce personal contact with children, placing them at greater risk of abuse and neglect.

The legislature finds that child welfare work is labor intensive. Caseworkers must be able to engage families through face-to-face contacts, assess the safety of children at risk, monitor case progress, and ensure that essential services and supports are provided. This cannot be done if social workers are unable to spend sufficient time with children, families, and caregivers. Studies of critical incidents involving child abuse and neglect almost always involve an overworked employee who did not have sufficient time to adequately assess or monitor the child’s situation. Furthermore, child welfare offices are too often inadequately staffed because of the high turnover rate of social workers in this field. A pay distinction between social workers of other agencies and those in child welfare would increase the department's ability to retain child welfare social workers.

The legislature further finds that the State must take all steps necessary to ensure the safety and well-being for all children who come to the attention of the child protective services system. Achieving safety and permanency goals is more likely if caseloads enable social workers to have more frequent contact with children. Also, increasing the pay level will also encourage recruitment and retention of these workers.

SECTION 2. The department of human services shall adopt the caseload standards of the Child Welfare League of America Standards of Excellence for Services for Abused or Neglected Children and Their Families, to improve service outcomes for children and their families and to promote consistency and standardization of practice in child protective services. Additionally, the department of human resources development shall implement a reclassification of the child welfare social workers resulting in a two salary range upgrade over the current social worker classification levels.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.