Bill would spend $4 million for more social workers
State Rep. Tom Burch, D-Louisville
FRANKFORT — A bill filed in the state House Wednesday would appropriate $4 million to hire additional social workers and improve security for front-line social service employees.
House Bill 328, filed by Louisville Democrats Tom Burch and Joni Jenkins, would also establish an oversight committee to ensure that money appropriated by the General Assembly is used for the benefit of social workers.
In 2007, the Legislature passed the “Boni Bill,” which called for spending $6 million to help increase security and hire more social workers. The bill was named after a social service aide, Boni Frederick, who was killed while taking an infant child from a home visit with her mother.
However, the legislature only appropriated $2million of the $6 million. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services was supposed to come up with the remaining $4 million to implement the bill. However, it’s not clear what happened to the $4 million.
The bill would provide $3 million to fill front-line social worker positions and an additional $1 million for security improvements at social workers’ offices. Cabinet officials would report their progress to a group of lawmakers, the bill says.
– Beth Musgrave
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Rainbow Conti | Jan 28, 2010 | Reply
Oh are you kidding me? No no no and well no!!!!!!!!!!!!!! These people no monsters already take more children to fuel their funding as it is…you want more of them. Their case load would be greatly reduced if they actually quit taking so many children away as it is. We don’t need more workers, we need to tear down and re-build this agency so it is actually effective in the work that they are suppose to be doing. Why not introduce a bill that will help families retain their rights, homes, jobs, etc… instead of trying to take away more children! Quit dumping fuel on this fire!
Allie | Jan 28, 2010 | Reply
Rainbow,
That is my point exactly! Parents already have no chance when it comes to them stealing our kids. Parents have no help from the system, only get put through hell while trying to get our kids home. More money=more families being ripped apart and no help (not even to the children that they take) In the best interest of the child=we have to do this in order to keep the money coming in. They don’t give a rat’s a@@ about the children! Burns my a@@!
Bleu | Jan 28, 2010 | Reply
Instead of throwing more money on the problems, a comprehensive plan needs to be developed including victims of the Department of Protection and Permanency.
Just a few years ago the Inspector General of the Cabinet released a report with I think about twenty recommendations. Not one of those recommendations has been put into place concerning the abuses going within DPP against private citizens.
Go ahead and throw more taxpayer money to social workers; they can go have professional development and talk about the importance of not wearing panties to bed [A true story from the Hardin County Office].
Friendswood neighbor | Aug 11, 2010 | Reply
Funny what gets left out. What Rainbow left out is her children were taken away because she knowingly allowed her husband to molest her child. He is now in prison and she voluntarily gave up rights to that child. Mom of the year right there.