Here is another response to the Social Work Reinvestment Act Op-Ed in the Baltimore Sun.

Baltimore Sun - August 25, 2008
Daphne McClellan and Elizabeth Clark’s column “It’s time for the givers to receive” (Commentary, Aug. 19) did an excellent job pointing out the need for Congress to support the Social Work Reinvestment Act.

As a human resource professional in the field of mental health and social services, I can attest to the large discrepancy between the compensation for professional social workers (and other human services professionals) and the pay for other professional workers.

Professional social workers typically possess a master’s degree that requires two years of graduate study and an internship and must also be licensed by the state. They are entrusted with tremendously complicated work assignments with variable hours that can often include evenings, weekends and on-call work.

But as a result of funding limitations often set by government and limited philanthropic dollars, many organizations like mine must pay professional social workers at rates far below fair and just compensation for their level of education, skills and responsibility.

To cite but one example, it is not unusual for a new schoolteacher working a nine- to 10-month contract to receive annual compensation that is more than that of a licensed social worker employed on a year-round basis.

As a society, we seem to have neglected social service workers far more than educators, nurses, police officers and others.

Now, more than ever, individuals throughout our community need the services provided by social service professionals, and it is past time that the community offers these professionals a fair and just level of compensation.James GipsonLaurel

The writer is director of human resources for the Guide Program Inc.