Real Talk - A Discussion About Social Work Salaries

The "Kelsunn-on-the-Air" Social Work Podcast

Kelsunn Communications, Inc (www.kelsunn.org) invites you to this indepth and informative interview about the inequities in Social Work Salaries. Here is a little of what our three distinguished guests will be sharing:

Olivia Knox, MSW: NASW-NYS Chapter Policy Coordinator (naswnys.org)

She is one of the co-authors of a detailed research project on Social Worker Salaries. She says, “A new report shows social workers are not being paid equal to similar professions. The report, from the National Association of Social Workers New York State Chapter finds 34% of social workers surveyed are at the same salary they were when they started their job. Knox adds that, “many feel that “Stagnant Wages” are why social workers are leaving the field.

Adrienne LoPresti, LCSW-R: Executive Director of YES Community Counseling Center (www.yesccc.org)

She shares some other interesting insights on this topic. She shares that one of the reasons “why the inequity in salaries exists is because Social Work is seen as being a mostly “female-dominated” profession. She shares her thoughts on what is needed for reform within the various systems of influence such as the government sectors, NYS Dept. of Education, Medicaid, and Private Insurances.

Randi DiAntonio, LMSW: Vice President of the NYS Public Employees Federation (PEF) (pef.org)

She talks about a major research project her organization did. She shares the data showing the impact that inequitable salaries are having on the public Social Work profession. She states that “More than 70% of survey respondents indicated their work location has at least one vacancy for a social worker. As a result, social workers who choose to stay on the job are working harder than ever.