From tragedy to action.

No man is an island, entire of itself ... Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. --JOHN DONNE

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I think that the immortal words of the poet John Donne best articulate the reasons for the grief and sadness we often feel when we learn about the tragic loss of a person in our community whom we do not personally know. On Oct. 16, 2006, many in the human service community had such an experience. On that date, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services suffered the loss of Boni Frederick, a beloved co-worker. She was a 67-year-old child welfare aide who was murdered during a supervised child visit. She was a beautiful, caring person and was deeply committed to improving the safety and quality of life for children. The news of her death reverberated not only in the state, but throughout the nation as well. I remember my co-worker Anita Light, APHSA staff director of the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators, coming into my office fighting back tears to share the awful news. As we mourned her loss and APHSA expressed condolences to the family, the leadership of the Kentucky department of human services began to take steps to avert this type of tragedy from recurring.

The nature of human services is predicated on the principles of compassion, faith in the human condition and a presumption of goodwill. Consequently, the issue of worker safety has not generally emerged as a major national public policy concern. When there is a crisis, it is usually addressed at the local level. It is, perhaps, the proverbial elephant in the room and, in my estimation, the field of human service worker safety is seriously lacking in terms of our attention, training and data collection.

There is no national database to monitor and track incidents of violence against human service workers and therefore, information is somewhat lacking. However, the little research that has been conducted indicates that it is a pervasive issue. A National Association of Social Workers survey of 1,200 members indicated that 42 percent have experienced violent threats, 25 percent have suffered property damage, and 24 percent have been physically assaulted during their career. In Kentucky during the first 10 months of a new mandatory reporting requirement, a total of 55 assaults and 247 threats to workers were recorded. It is estimated that 48 percent of all workplace violence in the United States occurs in human service programs, with a preponderance of incidents happening in mental health facilities. Sadly, research by Eastern Kentucky University has documented a total of 22 human service workers killed in the line of duty during recent years. This evidence provides a compelling case for immediate action and leadership at all levels.

I believe the comprehensive approach undertaken by the human service agency in Kentucky can serve as a good model for state and local leaders throughout the country. In response to this tragedy, Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher signed the Boni Frederick Memorial Law in April, which, in addition to providing for hiring additional staff, is designed to improve safety for state human service workers. Some of the important steps taken by Kentucky include:

* Conducted a needs assessment through a comprehensive survey that yielded an 85 percent response rate;

* Engaged staff at all levels through focus groups to analyze and make recommendations on various aspects of worker safety;

* Developed partnerships with academia, law-enforcement officials, legislators, security and technology experts, etc., to address critical safety issues;

* Implemented a new safety training curriculum for all workers;

* Undertook a comprehensive safety review of all state offices and made physical improvements where necessary, i.e., panic alarms, new locks, security cameras, etc.;

* Adopted new technology, including wider access to cell phones and emergency computer alerts and prompts;

* Created full-time, dedicated safety officers in each region;

* Established a zero-tolerance policy against violence and threats to workers with related public relations materials;

* Negotiated protocols with law enforcement to provide immediate access to criminal records and additional protection in high-risk cases;

* Created a mandatory reporting system and developed a state database to monitor breaches in worker safety

The Kentucky human service department is to be commended not only for creating a culture of safety and shedding light on this critical issue, but also for its willingness to share. The department recently hosted the first National Worker Safety Conference designed to raise awareness and share lessons learned. It is a fitting legacy to Boni Frederick and the other human service heroes who lost their lives in service to others during the past decade.

At a memorial service noting the first anniversary of Boni Frederick's death, Gov. Fletcher stated "our loss has become the foundation of positive change. It is the basis for a new understanding and appreciation so many people now have for the responsibilities and needs of social service staff." APHSA intends to play a very active role in promoting improved worker safety. We must do everything within our power to safeguard against the bell tolling for another colleague engaged in this noble profession.