During a recent Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting, several social service workers voiced urgent concerns regarding their working conditions and the need for increased support and compensation. The meeting highlighted the challenges faced by those in child welfare services, with speakers emphasizing the emotional and physical toll of their roles.

Daniel Ibarra, a social worker, shared his experiences of working long hours under stressful conditions, often responding to emergencies in unsafe environments. He urged the board to recognize the risks taken by workers and to adjust their pay accordingly. \"Please do not neglect your workers,\" Ibarra implored, emphasizing the importance of ensuring children's safety in precarious situations.

Laurie Newell, a career employment specialist, echoed these sentiments, pointing out that ongoing negotiations for fair compensation have stalled. She highlighted the need for inequity adjustments to address disparities in pay, which have led to difficulties in retaining staff. \"Until we start to close the gap for all 721 job classes, we can expect to keep struggling with retention, recruitment, and unmanageable workloads,\" Newell warned.

Yuri Gomez, a social services supervisor, stressed the importance of maintaining a trained and experienced workforce to fulfill the county's commitment to its residents. He noted that many workers lack the necessary experience due to high turnover rates, which compromises the quality of services provided to families in need.

Steve Hernandez, another social service worker, lamented the decline in morale and support within the department, attributing it to overwhelming workloads and inadequate compensation. He described the impact on clients, stating that many families are left waiting for essential benefits, exacerbating their struggles.

The meeting underscored a critical moment for Santa Barbara County's social services, as workers called for immediate action from the Board of Supervisors to address their concerns and ensure that they can continue to serve the community effectively.