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Updated: 11:28 AM Feb 5, 2010
Social workers say "Boni Bill" needs revision
Legislation passed three years ago aimed at protecting social workers during home visits isn't working, said social workers who testified in a Ky. House committee Thursday.
Posted: 6:43 PM Jan 14, 2010Reporter: Phil Pendleton Email Address: phil.pendleton@wkyt.com |
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6 Comments 
Their job is to help children and families, but often times they claim they are the ones who are the victims.
“But I do feel that I have saved at least one person. But for every one I save, there’s two that want to hurt me,” social worker Lula Duerson said as she testified before the House Health and Welfare committee on Thursday.
Legislation passed in the 2007 session called the “Boni Bill” in the name of Boni Frederick, who died during a home visit, was supposed to fund millions for many safety improvements.
“Money was spent on items that had little to do with safety, such as cell phones that don’t work in many areas,” said social worker Larry Simmons.
Social workers say the problem is that the Boni Bill asked for the Executive branch to find $6 million, but only $2 million was actually delivered.
So now social workers are pushing for what was originally promised them. Their plea comes at a time when Kentucky leads the nation in child deaths. Some believe that’s because social worker numbers are stretched so thin.
“I work long hours, 12 to 13 hours a day,” said social worker April Tidwell.
And there’s horror stories of what they encounter.
“We had a worker attacked by a pit bull..she got away only because she ran fast enough,” said Tidwell.
So lawmakers are pledging to act again.
“Some of you should have hazardous duty pay, because you go into the trenches and war zones,” said Rep. Susan Westrom, D-Lexington.
Committee chairman Tom Burch says he’s going to file another Boni Bill tomorrow or next week.
Latest Comments
I so agree with the post from Elanger, KY concerning the statements made by the foster parent. Foster parent: your rationalization behind your objection is really misplaced. And how sorry are you about Boni Frederick that you still can't see the need for action in terms of worker safety? Perhaps it is because you are ignorant (and I mean that in the nicest sense) of the true dangers that social workers are put in on a daily basis. I have been chased, cursed, and threatened out of homes. I am a social worker that does not believe in provoking trouble..but sometimes just your presence and the sheer reasons for you being in the home is quite enough to disturb some people to anger and violence. I respect the sensitivity of the intrusiveness of these situations but at the end of the day, I also have 2 children to get home to because I am not JUST a social worker, I am a mother, daughter, friend,...the list goes on and on and I value MY LIFE! How dare the state ignore who we are!
I just read the comments from "foster parent." Lady, you have a "dog in the hunt"! You want to adopt this foster child - and it's vital to have good adoptive families for our children. BUT you are not the child's parent and The Court first protects the rights of the parents. The social workers do NOT make those decisions; the courts do.I understand how difficult it is to wait for the legal system to work but the legal system protects ALL of us. And,I don't know what social work office you visit where people sit around and gossip, but that is not the way it is in my office! Stop blaming the social worker because they can't meet your agenda. Your job is to take care of the child in your home and to support the social worker as he/she tries to move this case through the legal system. Your attitude just makes our job that much more difficult.
I hate that Bonni was killed, but this is just another waste of money. Every time I go to my local DFS office the social workers are just sitting around gossipping. Then, when I call in to try to get somthing done they are always too busy. They are really good at telling a sad story. I have had a foster child in my home for 3 years and she is just 3 1/2 years old. The social workers have drug their feet on what should be an open and shut case. Even today the birthparents, when they are not in jail or show up high enough for the social workers to care, still get visits with MY BABY. Let me and other foster parents adopt these children get them out of the system and you could double your presence in dangerous situations. Oops I forgot this is the goverment, the only way to fix it is more money and higher taxes!
