FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 22, 2004
 CONTACT :
Caitlin O'Halloran
(916) 319-2089

Assemblywoman Lois Wolk Accepts Master Plan for Social Work Education

SACRAMENTO - Today, Assemblymember Lois Wolk was given a report outlining a course of action to deal with California's critical shortage of social workers in order to meet the needs of the state's growing high-risk populations. The presentation was be made by Dr. Jane Middleton, Chair of the California Association of Deans of Directors of Schools of Social Work and Dr. Teresa Morris, President of California Social Work Education Center Board of Directors.

"This report is the culmination of months of work by leaders in the profession. It will serve as a guide for the Legislature to put a concrete plan into action to increase the number of social workers in California," said Wolk.

"The Master Plan for Social Work Education in the State of California" (Assembly Concurrent Resolution 215, Resolution Chapter 174, Statutes of 2002) proposes an integrated plan for the development and training of this critical workforce that includes a restructuring of social worker professional education.

"This is an exciting day for social workers in California," stated Master Plan Committee member Teresa Morris, director of the Department of Social Work at California State University, San Bernardino. "With this Master Plan, the social work profession has a vision and mission for the future. Representatives of California's universities, community colleges, and employers have collaborated to address the shortage of social workers in California. We offer a plan for education and employment of social workers at all levels of learning from high school to Ph.D. We show how social work will play a major role in improving the quality of life for all Californians."

While the shortage of social workers is a nationwide dilemma, the Master Plan is an effort to address California's problems - brought to light in legislatively mandated and academic studies and a series of Assembly Human Services Committee hearings - particularly considering the implications for the state's populations of elderly, abused and neglected children and youth, mentally disabled, and homeless.

As mandated by legislation, the Master Plan is a collaboration among the California Association of Deans and Directors of Schools of Social Work, the California Social Work Education Center, the California Community Colleges, the University of California, the California State University, the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, and other stakeholders.

Note to the media: The report is available on CalSWEC's website at http://calswec.berkeley.edu.

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