Social Workers Association Speaks Out
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Posted: 12:40 AM Aug 3, 2008
Social Workers Association Speaks Out
The National Association of Social Workers is speaking out after the murder of a social worker from Hamlin.
Reporter: Jeremy Edwards
Email Address: Jeremy.Edwards@wsaz.com
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The National Association of Social Workers is speaking out after the murder of a social worker from Hamlin.

Brenda Yeager was murdered while doing a house visit Wednesday in Cabell County. She was 51 years old.

Sam Hickman with the National Association of Social Workers says this tragedy highlights a need for change in the system.

He believes social workers should be equipped with self-defense skills and the technology to ensure their personal safety.

According to Hickman, The West Virginia Legislature considered but did not pass a bill designed to improve social worker safety.

Last year, Kentucky lawmakers passed similar legislation after a tragedy similar to Brenda Yeager's.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Angie on Aug 23, 2008 at 08:37 PM

I am a state social worker in Ky, and want to set the record straight. Ky lawmakers may have passed legislation, but they dropped the ball in ensuring the KY social workers had any safety measures in place. We only got cell phones issued to us that won't work outside of the city limits as I work in a very rural area where it could take police up to two hours or longer to get to you. Just wanted WV to know that KY workers did not have any self defense training, no self defense devices issues, and not other safety measures other than a pathetic cell phone that won't pick up even if you tried to call for help. My advice is to not visit any home alone, always have two workers, no matter what. The government is not going to protect you, and KY has already forgotten about what happened to Bonnie Frederick. Don't quit fighting for safer work conditions though, because it is only going to get worse. There is no money, yeah right, correction, there is no money for social workers.....
Posted by: Linda on Aug 12, 2008 at 04:06 AM

This sort of situation is why I will no longer work for any organization that makes me go into anyones home. I did it 25 years ago and it was getting too bad then at times.
Posted by: cindy on Aug 11, 2008 at 06:13 PM

The Social Worker's association needs to be questioning the licensure of DHHR that put an innocent baby in the home of the the parent's family... social workers will always be put in dangerous situations to change this you need money which the state does not have....but DHHR can save a baby this baby... I am outraged that the baby in this case is with "family" of the baby's parents.. These people raised the people that committed this crime.. think people...
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