Report to committee urges training, infrastructure and grants to reduce violence against social‑service providers

Lynn Greer Stanley, executive director of the Vermont chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW‑VT), presented a task‑force report on workplace safety for social‑service providers under Act 115.

Stanley told the Senate Health & Welfare Committee that poverty, homelessness and limited access to behavioral‑health services raise the risk of violent incidents affecting social‑service staff. She cited state data on poverty, food insecurity and homelessness to frame the need for concurrent investments in services and worker safety. “When people don’t have their basic needs met — shelter, nutritious food, physical and mental health care — they’re at increased risk for a variety of individual and societal challenges,” she said.

The report, compiled by a multi‑agency and stakeholder group convened after a high‑profile client‑related killing, finds that transitions in care are high‑risk moments. The Department for Children and Families noted that over half of violent incidents occurred within the first week after a child removal, the presenters said. The task force recommended increased planning during transitions, scheduled check‑ins, panic‑button or self‑service capacity where appropriate, and strengthened supervision.

The group emphasized that safety training should be tailored by setting and client population rather than one‑size‑fits‑all. Stanley told the committee that training should include de‑escalation, supervision support and contextual knowledge for new workers. “Supervisors and leadership need training to support their direct care workers,” she said, adding that volunteers and support staff should be included in training plans.

Barriers to improved safety include training costs, the need for customization, and limited infrastructure in small agencies. The task force urged grants to help small organizations conduct needs assessments, buy equipment and pay for staff training, and suggested partnerships with larger institutions (such as hospitals or the Department for Children and Families) to share training resources.

Why this matters: witnesses argued that staff safety, workforce retention and quality of client care are interlinked. Committee members noted the evidence that workplace violence harms staff morale and limits service capacity in areas with already thin provider networks.

Committee next steps: the presenters asked the Legislature to consider funding pilot grants and to support interagency coordination on transition plans and shared training resources. No formal motion or vote was taken during the hearing.

Ending: The task force will submit written materials and cost estimates to the committee for consideration in any budget or statutory proposals.