Social Workers in Child Welfare: Ready for Duty

Abstract

This article responds to Do Social Workers Make Better Child Welfare Workers than Non-Social Workers? by Dr. Robin E. Perry. The article articulates National Association of Social Workers'support for a professional social work labor force to serve children and their families and for continued federal investment in the training of these workers. Professionally educated and trained social workers in child welfare agencies have good retention rates, report high satisfaction with their work, and have a solid understanding of the child welfare service arena. Children and families in crisis deserve access to the best resources available, including professional social workers.