Oklahoma Legislators Attack Social Workers

“Once again Oklahoma Republicans in the house have shown their show their lack of concern for Oklahoma families,” said Ivan Holmes, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair. 

 On Thursday the Oklahoma House of Representatives heard a resolution honoring all Oklahoma social workers and the National Association of Social Workers - Oklahoma.   Representative Al McAffrey  (D) introduced the resolution but  Republican Representative Mike Reynolds  requested the resolution be tabled and not heard.  Reynolds questioned the phrase ‘community organizer’ in the resolution.

“Social workers have been working to support families since the United States of America was founded.  Jane Addams, Edith and Grace Abbott, Florence Kelly and Julia Lathrop were early social workers who practiced ‘community organizing’ in order to help the paupers and the new immigrants coming to America,” Holmes said.

“The intensity of community problems in child welfare, youth services and elderly care has inspired social workers all over Oklahoma to work with communities to find solutions to the problems facing families.  Social workers recognize that those needing help cannot be supported in a vacuum and their training drives them to address the issues facing the individual, the family and the community,” Holmes explained. 

“Social workers receive low wages and give countless hours to work to support the community.  Social work practice, regardless of the context or specialty, requires an understanding of the ties that bind the individual, the family, or the group to the larger societal network.  Reynolds displayed a total lack of understanding and appreciation for the work that social workers do in Oklahoma,” Holmes stated.

“If Reynolds is against community organizing he should have objected to the Republican Tea Parties.  He also needs to criticize churches for organizing to gather food and clothing for families who recently lost their homes in the wild fires.  The Food Bank is also a community organizing project – will Representative Reynolds call for the end to their organizing?” Holmes asked.

“It is a sad day in Oklahoma when Reynolds won’t allow a resolution to be passed honoring our social workers,” Holmes concluded.

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