Governor Andy Beshear announces pay increases and additional steps to recruit and retain social workers.

This plan includes an immediate 10% pay increase for social workers, a pilot program that expedites hiring and a proposed student loan forgiveness program.

Governor Beshear said the announcement would not have happened without the advocacy efforts of social workers and that the plan will be more effective because these ideas have come directly from Kentucky’s social workers.

Beginning December 16th, all social workers and family support staff across state government agencies will receive a 10% raise funded through approximately $15 million in the existing budget.

Beshear brought another issue up, being the requirement to attend school and earn multiple degrees throughout their career. He said degrees are expensive, especially when you take into consideration what they have been earning. In the upcoming budget proposal, Governor Beshear will propose a loan forgiveness for the state’s social workers.

Social workers play a huge role in breaking cycles of neglect and abuse. They see the best and the worst of our Kentucky families and know better than anyone that there are far too many Kentuckians, young and old, who struggle to succeed, with hunger, domestic violence, substance abuse, physical and mental illness and countless other issues hurting their chances at a life they deserve.