Social Work Safety

The safety of social workers across the country is brought to the attention of the public when a social worker is killed in the line of duty. This is an issue of great importance to the National Association of Social Workers and its 56 chapters every day. The recent tragedy of the murder of a social worker in Massachusetts brings to light the diminishing resources of social workers and the increasing complexity of client issues.

NASW expresses our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Diruhi Mattain. We also extend our sympathy to her colleagues at Family Continuity, Inc.

NASW has been called upon by the media to provide the social work perspective on this important issue. While we are working diligently to inform journalists of the issues affecting social workers, we strongly advocate that improved safety precautions be taken for all social workers.

Social worker slain; client charged - Boston Globe

NASW Social Work Safety Information

NASW Advocacy on Legislation on Social Work Safety
http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/alerts/2007/072707.asp
http://www.socialworkers.org/pressroom/2007/071607.asp

NASW Standards for Social Work Practice in Child Welfare
http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/standards/NASWChildWelfareStandards0905.pdf

Child Welfare: A Congressional Report on Workforce Issues
http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/children/cfp0603.pdf

Security Risk, Preventing Client Violence against Social Workers
NASW Book (available for purchase)
http://www.naswpress.org/publications/books/policy/security_risk/3215toc.html

Build Support For Resolution On Social Worker Safety: Contact Your U.S. Representatives
http://www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/alerts/110805.asp

Committee for the Study and Prevention of Violence against Social Workers:
Safety Guidelines, Revised March 1996
http://www.socialworkers.org/profession/centennial/violence.htm

Tragedies Spark Worker-Safety Awareness:
Many Think Client Violence 'Won't Happen Here'
https://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/news/2004/04/tragedies2.asp?back=yes

Assuring the Sufficiency of a Frontline Workforce:
A National Study of Licensed Social Workers (EXECUTIVE SUMMARY)
http://workforce.socialworkers.org/studies/nasw_06_execsummary.pdf

“If You’re Right for the Job, It’s the Best Job in the World”
The National Association of Social Workers’ Child Welfare Specialty Practice Section Members Describe their Experiences In Child Welfare
http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/children/NASWChildWelfareRpt062004.pdf

Other Social Work Safety Information

Congressional testimony by NASW Executive Director Betsy Clark, PhD, that references several studies involving child welfare staffing and worker safety (including reference to a Kentucky study)
http://waysandmeans.house.gov/hearings.asp?formmode=view&id=1079#_edn3

Double Jeopardy: Caseworkers at Risk Helping At-Risk Kids
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Web Site
http://www.afscme.org/publications/1331.cfm