The Georgia Professional Human Services Association’s Legislative agenda for 2025 focuses on the human services workforce’s safety, satisfaction, and stability. The members appreciate your attention and support for the following goals as they were identified by the staff who perform the work.
Goal 1: Advocate for enhanced mental health resources and support for our employees. The psychological impact of such events can be profound and long-lasting, affecting not only individual well-being but also overall workplace productivity and morale.
We have a responsibility to advocate for the health and well-being of our employees, ensuring they have the necessary resources and support to cope with the challenges they face. By enhancing mental health resources and providing administrative support following traumatic events, we can create a healthier, more effective workforce that is better equipped to serve our community. We propose:
• Increased Trauma Awareness: Employees in human services often encounter high-stress situations. Through promoting awareness of the effects of trauma and fostering a supportive environment that allows staff to process their experiences and seek support will allow them to continue their vital work with the community.
• Implementing ongoing mental health support, including counseling services, workshops, and peer support groups, will create a more resilient workforce.
• Advocacy for DHS staff to be added to the list of personnel included in HB451 that goes into effect January 2025 and pays a one-time payment of $3,000 to help cover the cost of treatment and monthly salary compensation (60%) for up to 36 months for staff who are diagnosed with PTSD as the result of employment
• Allocating up to 40 hours of administrative leave per year for employees following a traumatic event. This time can be used for:
o Self-care and Recovery: Employees can focus on their mental well-being without the added pressure of work responsibilities.
o Professional Development: This time can also be utilized for training in trauma-informed care, enhancing our collective ability to support those we serve.
o Team Debriefing: The allotted time can facilitate group discussions, allowing staff to share experiences and coping strategies, fostering a united and supportive team environment.
Goal 2: Advocate for merit-based increases based on years of service and performance reviews/evaluations to entice ALL staff to stay longer and reduce turnover.
Reducing turnover by retaining trained staff will positively impact all services to families and children as well as bolster satisfaction and stability of the front-line workers, and those who support front line staff in roles other than case management:
• Front-line employees are the face of the agency and have the most interaction with families and partners.
• Without years of service and performance-based salary increase processes in place, the only opportunity for employees to attain higher salaries, is to move up (promote) or move out (to other jobs/agencies/career paths)
• Loss of staff due to unmanageable and inequitable workloads has a direct impact on staff morale and productivity. When someone cannot successfully perform their job responsibilities/duties because there is simply too much work for them to do, staff feel as if leaving the agency is the only option they have. We must find a way to retain our newly hired staff and those veteran staff who keep the agency afloat.
• The safety and well-being of families and children are diminished because staff do not have the adequate time or resources to address the basic needs of the families they are working with. These services include food and medical assistance, intervention and prevention of child abuse, and family reunifications/adoptions.
Ongoing Priority: Advance protocols, policies, and practices that ensure staff are safe and have the resources and support needed to do their jobs.
The Georgia Professional Human Services Association (GPHSA) is a professional association comprised of over 2000 persons who work in or are affiliated with Georgia’s Department of Human Services (DHS). We are professional staff who support the agency’s work and work together to improve systems that support safety for children and vulnerable adults, strengthen families, and assure that Georgia has an effective and efficient system of service delivery that strengthen our state. Our Legislative Goals and Priorities guide our work with the Georgia General Assembly.
There is no more valuable resource than the people who do the work. Therefore, we advocate for them so they can advocate for others.
Ongoing Priority: Educate elected officials and partners (local, state, and congressional) regarding the current state of DFCS.
This education will include the practices/policies that are working well, as well as the ones that do not. We will provide recommendations for resources and supports that we feel are needed to improve the practices/policies that are currently not working well (such as, support for additional Mental Health and Substance Abuse services; improved access, quality, and availability of services to our population of youth with significant behavioral issues).