Evening star., 1935-02-17
SOCIAL WORKERS
ASK CIVIL SERVICE
Association Discusses Va
rious Proposals to Elevate
Standing of Profession.

After spending nearly two days in
critical examination of administra-
ton plans for a social security pro-
gram, the American Association of
Social Workers yesterday afternoon
turned searching glance upon their
own profession. In several respects
they found it wanting.
Concerning themselves first with
the matter of qualified personnel. the
convention delegates heard several
leaders of the discussion suggest ap-
plication of civil service principles to
the selection of social workers, heard
others insist that the profession itself
must define its scope more specifically
before it can aspire to ask the respect
accorded a full-fledged profession.
Inexperience Decried.
Decrying the influx of countless in
experienced persons in the field of So
cial work during the unemployment
crisis, DR.. Ellen C. Potter of New Jer-
sey declared:
The profession of social work has
arrived at the period in its develop
ment when it must clearly define a
social work. Law and medicine have
had to do these things and until So
cial work lays its basic foundation we
are not in a position to ask legislative
bodies to set up the machinery where
by social workers may be identified
and licensed. A method by which the
social worker may be identified and
certified, preferably on national ba-
sis. should be brought about"
Carrying the registration idea still
further, Arthur Durham, secretary of
the Family and Child Welfare Divi-
sion Of the Public Charities of Phila-
delphla, proposed that social workers
on public relief administration be
placed under civil service system.
Now that relief has become a ma
jor function of government" Mr.
Durham said. the appointment of
we'll qualified staff members for public
welfare agencies is a matter of con-
Germ not only to social workers but to
legislators, public officials and taXpay-
ers. The establishment of an effective
civil service merit system is not an
academic issue today, it is the key to
the future of a decent public welfare
job in America
Circumstances Scored.
Employment practices affecting So
cial workers next came under exam
ination. Miss Rachel Childrey. super
intendent of the Family Society of
Philadelphia, scoring the circum-
stances surrounding most social en-
ployment OF the present day.
Temporary and emergency admin
iStration is unlikely to put stress on
those organizational factors which are
necessary for permanence and devel-
opment," Miss Childrey reported.
Long hours of work, arbitrary re-
lease OF social workers, inadequate
working conditions, inadequate pro-
lection of personnel and general staff
insecurity result from such planning
and present serious threat on social
work programs. Recognition that
these programs. stretching out year
after year, must be organized on the
basis of longtime planning is over
due. Employment practice is one of
the important aspects of organiza-
tion in which a change from emer-
gency to longtime planning is es-
sential."
Previous to their analysis of their
own profession, the delegates yester-
day continued their inquisition into
administration plans for social secur-
ity legislation. finally voting to make
three recommendations. There we're ):
That Federal Welfare Authority be
established to administer all types of
social security programs, possibly with
representative in the cabinet: that
increased family welfare relief be ex-
tended by the Government and that
appropriations be made to cover this
feature. and that the transient re-
lief program be expanded under pro-
visions of the pending social secur-
ity legislation.
Administration Brings Controversy.
Regarding the present adminiStra-
ton OF relief. vigorous controversy
ragged over the system of allocating
funds from the F. E. r. A. to the in
dividual States. Edith Abbott led
the criticism against the present cir
cumstanceS whereby some States re-
Sei'e oo pei Cent ol Inelr relle1 1undS
from the Government, while others
receive less than half.
A business session of the convention
was held last night and the affair will
close with morning and afternoon
sessions today. Housing, employment
exchanges and health services will be
discussed this morning while the con-
Terence report will be prepared this
afternoon.
AnMICCInM CrNnrrAnu