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Social Welfare Leaders Must Face

Social Change, Says Crowley Judge

A city court judge warned must never forget our profes- success by pulling the project that the field of social welfare sion is one of dedication to ser- together and providing sound, must attract the caliber of lead- vice to the people." He said it is solid methods; suggesting pol ership which is required to meet only through this motto that so- icies and helping with the selec-

the need of social change Fri- cial work can succeed.   tion of clients; determining the

day.   Other panelists at Friday type of service and how often it

Judge Edmund M. Reggie, morning's session were Jack should be rendered, and helping Crowley, told delegates to the Stretch, director of research for to formulate a formal method of 52nd annual Louisiana Confer- the Social Welfare Planning record keeping. ence of Social Welfare that "jus- Council, New Orleans, and Miss   Promote Leadership tice delayed is justice denied. Kate Shephard, associate pro- Miss She p h a r d followed We are living in a very special fessor, LSU School of Social Stretch's remarks with suggesmoment in the history oftions for staff development in

Pee- Welfare.

ple. Never before have people Stretch addressed his re- promoting leadership.

cared so much for the dignity marks to the need of con- Noting that "everyone needs

of others."   sultation in planning and devel- help in just the business of liv-

Reggie stressed the need for oping new projects. ing," she said it is toward help-leadership to meet the demands He said a consultant should ing people wisely that staff de-for social change are great andvelopment is directed.

be used in three phases of any
social workers "must" throughMiss Shrephard stressed the

project: when the project is in
new techniques make known to the designing stages; when it is need for continuous training for
the public and to those involvedprofessionally trained personnel

becoming operational, and when
in social work they are not fear-   as well as in-service trained

it is about to be evaluated.

ful of the application of untried Stressing that consultants are approaches to the problems of called on for their expert knowlthe 1960's.   edge, Stretch said the con-

Noting the great changes that sultant's responsibility is in have taken place since 1934 warning leaders in any project when social welfare was just of the undesirable consequences coming into being, Reggie point- of any set of decisions. He said ed to the year 2000 and said so- the final decision should always Mal workers must be prepared be left in the hands of the lead-to meet the demands of the ers.

Imes.   Stretch told the gathering the

"We must make known the increasing criticism of welfare highest calling of the profes- programs is not due to their sion," he said, and added it can goals or purposes, but is caused be accomplished only through a by the methods by which they thorough understanding of the are carried out and why they' goals of social welfare.   fail to meet with success.

In the selection of leaders in He said the consultant can be social welfare, Reggie said "we helpful in the achievement of

neople. She added social welfare has reached a point where all positions cannot be manned with professionals, and must make use of in-service training.

Turning to the subject of how to promote job satisfaction, she said leaders within the program should indicate their dependence on the rest of the staff and make them aware of the job they are doing rather than merely handing them meaningless tasks to carry out.

Miss Shepherd also stressed the need for in-service training as a means of developing leadership at all levels.

Noting that in many cases the receptionist or telephone operator can have considerable effect on the appearance of the agency and its operation, she said a well-organized program allowing the entire staff necessary time to Learn is important in every profession, but especially in social welfare.