FRANKFORT, Ky. — This is “School Social Workers Week” in Kentucky. On Tuesday, workers were recognized for creating positive change in the community.

What You Need To Know

  • March 3-9 is “School Social Workers Week”

  • Social workers, students and teachers lobbied at the state capitol on Tuesday

  • Gov. Andy Beshear’s proposed budget would raise school social workers’ salary by 10% over two years

  • House Republicans also introduced a bill that would hire more social workers

Renee Sartin has been teaching social work for 15 years at Campbellsville University.

“One of the big things about learning about social work is you get an opportunity to change the future policy. Social justice, human diversity, all those classes are different types of classes that help an individual know who they are and the individuals that they work with on a day-to-day basis,” said Sartin, an associate professor.

She visited the Capitol Rotunda to celebrate her colleagues and to lobby for social workers.

“This is social work lobby day. This is where we get to talk about all the people who have worked really hard to advocate for those who were less fortunate and today we want to be able to, you know, recognize them and let them know how proud we are of them for helping,” she said.

Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said in 2021, social workers and family support staff salaries increased by 10% in Kentucky because of large caseloads and high job turnover rates. He is asking lawmakers to raise that again. 

“My current budget proposal would provide two more raises 6% in the first year, 4% in the second year for yet another 10% raise to try to get you closer compensated for what you deserve,” said Beshear.

Another budget proposal includes funding scholarships at Kentucky State University for social work students. The goal is to reduce caseloads and add hundreds of additional social workers. 

“There’s always a shortage of good people, good social workers, but we are working every day to ensure that we’re able to hire more,” said Sartin.

The governor’s proposed budget also includes a student loan forgiveness program for people who sign up to be social workers. House republicans introduced a budget that also includes a plan to hire more social workers. House Bill 6 was passed and sent to the senate last month. 

The Kentucky Department for Community Based Services said 240 staff members left in the first five months of 2021 and around 400 have left by mid-October. 

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