Social Workers and DAs Team Up to Represent the Best Interests of Children
Santa Clara County District Attorney Penelope Blake proposed that the district attorneys hire their own social workers to assess kids. At first the other DAs laughed now the they all want social worker Michael Gammino's help. The program has been so successful they hired two more social workers.
The Team Approach District Attorney Christine Hudson talks about what it is like to represent kids in court and work with a social worker.
Social worker Michael Gammino talks about working for the courts

The Governors Stakeholders Group on Child Welfare Services Reports on Fixing the System.
Everyone admits the system needs help. The governor convened a group to look at reforming child welfare services. Two years into a three years process the Stakeholders group releases its interim findings. The 200 page outline is a comprehensive survey of the trends in child welfare reform, an a useful guide to understanding the problem.

The frontline workers view point adopted.
The report calls for worker to client ratios similar to ratios for nurses and for teachers, so that families can get the quality time they need to heal.

LA County Board of Supervisors replaces 3rd DCFS director in 8 years, and a coalition of child welfare groups has filed a class action lawsuit describing the county foster care system as one that "leaves every child behind." Perhaps they should change their approach.
Dragon editorial: Run Social Services like a Corporation, Not! question if the business model and philosophy of management is the correct one for social services.

Local Union News and calendar of events.

Don't Let What Happened to Enron Workers Happen to Your Pension. Elect Worker Friendly Candidates to the CalPERS Retirement Board

Interest Based Bargaining
Local 535 provides a variety of training programs for members including facilitating a less adversarial form of negotiating

Helen Benson Get Involved Activist and the new chapter president has plans for the LA County Chapter