Social workers in Santa Clara County protest due to “dangerously low” staffing levels

Social workers in Santa Clara County have expressed concern that current staffing levels are dangerously low, putting local families and children at risk.
On Tuesday, workers held a rally outside the county office, demanding increased staffing.
“We are facing a high vacancy rate and staffing shortages,” said Pa Chang, a social work supervisor with the Santa Clara County Department of Family and Children’s Services (DFCS). “We are unable to meet the demands and needs of the families and children in our county.”
The workers referenced the case of Phoenix, a 3-month-old girl found in a South Bay apartment filled with opioids in May 2023. She died from a fentanyl overdose.
While the county stated that officers and social workers had visited the home multiple times before the tragedy, the baby was never removed from her parents’ care. Although the issue has been addressed, the workers warned that the current staff shortage could lead to further similar tragedies.
The baby’s father was later charged with child neglect.
The workers argue that increasing staffing would reduce the likelihood of such situations happening again. Phoenix’s great uncle, Edward Morillo, attended the rally to show support.
“We need to reassess what hasn’t worked and make the necessary changes so that no one else has to experience this,” said Morillo.
At the rally, DFCS workers placed children’s shoes outside the county building to symbolize the children they help.
“When social workers are working 150 hours above their case load standards and community crises go unaddressed, children and families are left at risk,” said Karlie Eacock, a social worker with DFCS.
Although the social worker shortage is a problem in many states, county leaders have stated that efforts are underway to recruit more staff, including the hiring of 20 new social workers.
Here is the full statement from DFCS:
“Hiring additional social workers and support staff to serve children and families remains a top priority for DFCS leadership. Like other child welfare agencies in the state, we are facing a critical shortage of qualified applicants for open positions. Recently, DFCS successfully onboarded 20 new social workers, all of whom were assigned to either Emergency Response or Dependency Investigations, where there is the greatest need. DFCS is committed to recruiting qualified staff as quickly as possible and collaborating with staff to develop solutions that address the community’s needs.”