LA County Social Workers Respond to Attack of DCFS Employee

SEIU Local 721 Treasurer and Social Worker David Green released the following statement in response to the attack on Social Workers in the LA County Department of Family Services in Santa Fe Springs on the afternoon of Wednesday August 19^th.

Los Angeles County Social Workers Respond to Attack of the Department of Children and Family Services Employee

Latest Attack Comes Amidst LA County Social Worker’s Demands At Bargaining Table for an Urgent Increase in Safety Resources and Procedures at all DCFS Offices

Los Angeles – The following is a statement in response to the attack on Social Workers in the LA County Department of Family Services in Santa Fe Springs on the afternoon of Wednesday August 19^th. Statement on behalf of David Green, a Social Worker for over 15 years and Treasurer of SEIU Local 721 representing approximately 5,000 Department of Children and Family Service Employees in Los Angeles County.

“Our hearts go out to our fellow Social Worker and her family, this attack on one of our sisters is both heartbreaking and infuriating; the issue of safety at our workplace is not new and has been escalating in the last year. A Social worker’s job is to protect children and families by confronting an array of dangerous situations including domestic violence, individuals with severe mental illness and drug use.

Bottom-line, Social Workers can’t protect children in abusive and dangerous family situations if we ourselves are being threatened and physically attacked. This latest attack is unfortunately not a surprise; the lack of safety has been a key issue in our ongoing bargaining for increased quality services in LA County. Current demands at the bargaining table include additional security officers at DCFS offices, the increasing of surveillance cameras and the creation of a safety action team to immediately address all safety concerns in real time.

SEIU Local 721 members will continue to advocate for and demand swift resolutions that will prioritize the safety and wellbeing of each and everyone of our Social Workers.”