WHEREAS:

           Effective child welfare systems require a committed, high-performing, and stable workforce; and

WHEREAS:

           A workforce of committed child welfare professionals will not stay long in organizations with unrealistic job expectations and lack of support, which lead to staff burnout largely due to unmanageable workloads; and

WHEREAS:

           Child welfare professionals, including AFSCME members, are committed to the well-being, safety, and stable placement of children; and

WHEREAS:

           Caseload standards already exist from the Child Welfare League of America to provide some direction for appropriate caseload standards, but an even more accurate measure of work would be based on the average amount of time needed to complete each case’s component tasks (otherwise known as workload); and

WHEREAS:

           The anticipated benefits of caseload and workload standards will increase retention, decrease turnover, and ultimately improve services.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

           That AFSCME and its members will promote standards for caseloads; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

            That AFSCME will promote efforts for public child welfare agencies to increase staffing and professional development opportunities and supports for their child welfare and other social service workers.