Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic Policy Paper

Current Salaries

The former Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Audrey Horne, has stated, "One need I have identified since coming to DHR is our lack of competitiveness in salaries for child protective services staff. Currently the starting salary is below market value for the salary required to hire quality employees."²

The entry-level position for a CPS caseworker is known by the job title "Social Services Case Management Associate" (SSCM Associate). The entry-level salary for a SSCM Associate is $22,044.00 per year. The experience and education requirements for this position are "four years of human service delivery experience related to child and/or adult welfare in DFCS or equivalent organization or completion of an undergraduate major."³ The job duties include twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week availability for emergencies in many counties. Although this position is intended to encompass only closely supervised training, there is substantial anecdotal evidence that SSCM Associates actually perform the duties of caseworkers under general supervision only.

The primary responsibility for CPS case management is officially given to "Social Services Case Managers." The starting salary for a SSCM is $26,646.00 per year. The current minimum qualifications for this position are "one year experience as a SSCM Associate or completion of an undergraduate major at a four year institution of higher learning in any of the behavioral sciences plus either a DFCS internship involving a caseload or one year related experience or a Masters degree in any behavioral science."⁴ There is no salary incentive for workers to pursue further education or obtain advanced degrees. In some instances DHR pays the costs of caseworkers obtaining an MSW degree at a state institution.⁵

Comparative Salaries

Many entry level salaries for other state government occupations exceed the starting salaries for Case Management Associates as well as Case Managers, including the Governor's Banquet Chef (minimum starting salary $32,328.00 per year); the Department of Corrections Construction Supervisor (oversees inmate construction projects for a minimum salary of $29,3882.00 per year); the Assistant Manager for Pavement Marking (assists in supervising installation of traffic markings for a starting salary of $32,238.00 per year); Highway Patrol Corporal (patrols highways and roads to enforce traffic laws for an entry level salary of $32,238.00 per year); Assistant Supervisor of Meat Inspection (minimum salary $32,238.00 per year). The duties of these occupations are not, of course, comparable to those of CPS workers. They are presented merely to demonstrate the higher 'value' given to certain positions that are not involved in protecting neglected or abused children.

The occupation most analogous to CPS caseworkers, in terms of the level of education, training, and experience that should be expected, is the teaching profession. Recently, the public, legislators, and the Governor have addressed the issue of teachers' compensation. Salary levels for teachers were increased as a result of widespread recognition that higher salaries are essential to raise educational standards and meet hiring requirements. Teachers possessing the minimum qualifications of a Bachelor's degree and professional certification now receive a starting salary of $27,118.00. Those with Masters degrees and certification start with a salary of $31,186.00. These salaries are based on a school year of 190 workdays. When compared to the 'normal' number of workdays for most occupations, 260 days per year, the salary equivalent is much higher, $37,107.00 per year for Bachelor's degree and certification. In addition to working a full calendar year, entry-level CPS caseworkers are often required to be available for emergencies 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.⁶