**SOCIAL WORKERS**

*RISK THEIR LIVES EVERYDAY TO HELP OTHERS*

**\~HELP KEEP THEM SAFE\~**

*COSPONSOR THE TERI ZENNER SOCIAL WORKER SAFETY ACT*

*COSPONSOR **H.R. 2165***

 

Dear Colleague,

 

Social workers are on the front lines everyday, helping people with
mental health issues, violent tendencies, drug problems, as well as
struggling parents and children who feel lost in the system \--
invisible to the world. 

 

On August 17, 2004, Teri Zenner, a social worker and case manager in
Johnson County, Kansas, was brutally stabbed and murdered during a
routine, in-home visit with one of her clients.  In April 2005, a woman
in Texas fired a shotgun at two social workers visiting her home.  In
March 2006, the New York Times reported that Sally Blackwell, a social
worker, was found dead in a field just outside of Austin, Texas.
Throughout the investigation, her family said that threats were a daily
part of Sally's life as a social worker investigating accusations of
child abuse and neglect with the power to remove children from their
homes. 

 

**The need for increased safety among social workers is a nationwide
issue. **

 

-   A National Association of Social Workers (NASW) survey in 2002 found
    that among 800 workers, 19% had been victims of violence and 63% had
    been threatened. 

>  

-   The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
    found that 70% of child welfare workers had been victims of violence
    or threats while in the line of duty.

 

States such as California, New Jersey, Washington, and Kentucky have
adopted safety guidelines for social workers and case workers to follow
in an effort to reduce the incidence of job-related violence.  These
efforts are commendable, but it is clear that social workers need
additional safety resources. 

 

**Social workers need our help.**

 

Although not every incidence of violence can be prevented, many can, and
the severity of injuries sustained by social workers and case workers
can be reduced.  For this reason, we hope that you will join as a
cosponsor the Teri Zenner Social Worker Safety Act, establishing a grant
program to provide social workers, domestic violence outreach staff and
others that work with at-risk populations, with workplace safety
measures, equipment, and training.  We must do everything we can to
ensure that tragedies like Teri's never happen again.  Contact **Sarah
Lochner (x52865)** to cosponsor [H.R. 2165, the Teri Zenner Social
Worker Safety Act.]{.underline} 

 

Very truly yours,

>  
>
>  

Dennis Moore, M.C.

Don Manzullo, M.C.

Carolyn McCarthy, M.C.                                

Carol Shea-Porter, M.C.

Phil Hare, M.C.

Ted Poe, M.C.

Jim Ramstad, M.C.      

 

 

                       

**[H.R. 2165: Teri Zenner Social Worker Safety Act­]{.underline}**

** **

>         Establishes a grant program to provide for safety measures:
> GPS equipment, self-defense, conflict prevention, facility safety,
> etc.
>
>  
>
>         Authorizes \$5 million per year for the next 5 years
> \[FY2008-2012\]

 

>         Includes reporting requirement

 

>         Requires states to provide 50% matching funds

 

>         Endorsed by the National Association of Social Workers
> \[NASW\]

 

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

 

**[109^th^ Cosponsors:]{.underline}
                                                                                [110^th^
Cosponsors: ]{.underline}**

 

 

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  [Rep Baca, Joe](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Baca++Joe))+01614)))   [Rep Baird, Brian](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Baird++Brian))+01557)))     Rep Chandler, Ben \[D-KY\]
  \[D-CA\]                                                                                                                  \[D-WA\]                                                                                                                          

  [Rep Barrow,                                                                                                              [Rep Berman, Howard                                                                                                               Rep Cohen, Steve \[D-TN\]
  John](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Barrow++John))+01780))) \[D-GA\] L.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Berman++Howard+L.))+00082))) \[D-CA\]      

  [Rep Clay, Wm.                                                                                                            [Rep Cleaver,                                                                                                                     Rep Davis, Susan \[D-CA\]
  Lacy](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Clay++Wm.+Lacy))+01654)))        Emanuel](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Cleaver++Emanuel))+01790))) \[D-MO\]  
  \[D-MO\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  [Rep Conyers, John,                                                                                                       [Rep Costa, Jim](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Costa++Jim))+01774)))         Rep DeLauro, Rosa \[D-CT\]
  Jr.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Conyers++John++Jr.))+00229)))     \[D-CA\]                                                                                                                          
  \[D-MI\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  [Rep Davis,                                                                                                               [Rep Davis, Susan                                                                                                                 Rep Rodriguez, Ciro
  Lincoln](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Davis++Lincoln))+01747)))     A.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Davis++Susan+A.))+01641))) \[D-CA\]        \[D-TX\]
  \[D-TN\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  [Rep Dicks, Norman                                                                                                        [Rep Doggett, Lloyd](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Doggett++Lloyd))+00303))) Rep Rush, Bobby \[D-IL\]
  D.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Dicks++Norman+D.))+00297)))        \[D-TX\]                                                                                                                          
  \[D-WA\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  *[Rep Ehlers, Vernon                                                                                                      [Rep Filner, Bob](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Filner++Bob))+00381)))       Rep Schwartz, Allyson
  J.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Ehlers++Vernon+J.))+00339)))       \[D-CA\]                                                                                                                          \[D-PA\]
  \[R-MI\]*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

  [Rep Grijalva, Raul                                                                                                       [Rep Herseth,                                                                                                                     Rep Sutton, Betty \[D-OH\]
  M.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Grijalva++Raul+M.))+01708)))       Stephanie](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Herseth++Stephanie))+01760)))       
  \[D-AZ\]                                                                                                                  \[D-SD\]                                                                                                                          

  [Rep Hinchey, Maurice                                                                                                     [Rep Honda, Michael                                                                                                                
  D.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Hinchey++Maurice+D.))+00541)))     M.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Honda++Michael+M.))+01634))) \[D-CA\]      
  \[D-NY\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  [Rep Israel,                                                                                                              [Rep Jackson-Lee,                                                                                                                  
  Steve](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Israel++Steve))+01663)))        Sheila](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Jackson-Lee++Sheila))+00588)))         
  \[D-NY\]                                                                                                                  \[D-TX\]                                                                                                                          

  [Rep Kildee, Dale                                                                                                         [Rep Lantos, Tom](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Lantos++Tom))+00663)))        
  E.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Kildee++Dale+E.))+00631)))         \[D-CA\]                                                                                                                          
  \[D-MI\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  *[Rep Leach, James                                                                                                        [Rep Lee, Barbara](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Lee++Barbara))+01501)))      
  A.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Leach++James+A.))+00672)))         \[D-CA\]                                                                                                                          
  \[R-IA\]*                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

  [Rep Lofgren,                                                                                                             *[Rep Manzullo, Donald                                                                                                             
  Zoe](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Lofgren++Zoe))+00701))) \[D-CA\]  A.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Manzullo++Donald+A.))+00733))) \[R-IL\]*   

  [Rep Matsui, Doris                                                                                                        [Rep McCarthy,                                                                                                                     
  O.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Matsui++Doris+O.))+01814)))        Carolyn](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+McCarthy++Carolyn))+01503))) \[D-NY\] 
  \[D-CA\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  [Rep McCollum,                                                                                                            [Rep McDermott, Jim](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+McDermott++Jim))+00766)))  
  Betty](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+McCollum++Betty))+01653)))      \[D-WA\]                                                                                                                          
  \[D-MN\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  [Rep Owens, Major                                                                                                         [Rep Napolitano, Grace                                                                                                             
  R.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Owens++Major+R.))+00883)))         F.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Napolitano++Grace+F.))+01602))) \[D-CA\]   
  \[D-NY\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  *[Rep Poe, Ted](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Poe++Ted))+01802)))    [Rep Payne, Donald                                                                                                                 
  \[R-TX\]*                                                                                                                 M.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Payne++Donald+M.))+00902))) \[D-NJ\]       

  [Rep Price, David                                                                                                         [Rep Pomeroy, Earl](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Pomeroy++Earl))+00922)))    
  E.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Price++David+E.))+00930)))         \[D-ND\]                                                                                                                          
  \[D-NC\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  [Rep Ross, Mike](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Ross++Mike))+01632))) *[Rep Radanovich,                                                                                                                  
  \[D-AR\]                                                                                                                  George](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Radanovich++George))+00939)))          
                                                                                                                            \[R-CA\]*                                                                                                                         

  [Rep Sabo, Martin                                                                                                         [Rep Ruppersberger,                                                                                                                
  Olav](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Sabo++Martin+Olav))+01007)))     Dutch](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Ruppersberger++C.+A.+Dutch))+01728)))   
  \[D-MN\]                                                                                                                  \[D-MD\]                                                                                                                          

  [Rep Schwartz, Allyson                                                                                                    [Rep Schiff, Adam                                                                                                                  
  Y.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Schwartz++Allyson+Y.))+01798)))    B.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Schiff++Adam+B.))+01635))) \[D-CA\]        
  \[D-PA\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  [Rep Stark, Fortney                                                                                                       [Rep Solis, Hilda                                                                                                                  
  Pete](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Stark++Fortney+Pete))+01101)))   L.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Solis++Hilda+L.))+01636))) \[D-CA\]        
  \[D-CA\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

  [Rep Waxman, Henry                                                                                                        [Rep Thompson, Mike](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Thompson++Mike))+01593)))  
  A.](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Waxman++Henry+A.))+01209)))        \[D-CA\]                                                                                                                          
  \[D-CA\]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

                                                                                                                            [Rep Wexler, Robert](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/bdquery/?&Db=d109&querybd=@FIELD(FLD004+@4((@1(Rep+Wexler++Robert))+01537)))  
                                                                                                                            \[D-FL-19\]                                                                                                                       
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