In communities across the United States, human services workers create and maintain the social safety net that supports people’s economic security. But too often, these essential frontline workers encounter high stress, low pay, and limited support and recognition for their work—making their jobs increasingly hard to fill.
Join WorkRise for a virtual event that will offer a snapshot of what local research tells us about human service worker wage equity, discuss job quality trends at the national level, and share frontline leaders’ perspectives about what must be done to meet immediate needs and ensure the industry remains sustainable in the future.
During the session, we will unpack findings from the University of Washington’s Wage Equity for Non-Profit Human Services Workers: A study of work and pay in Seattle and King County. Participants will hear from Tracy Wareing-Evans, President and CEO of the American Public Human Services Association, who will share a national perspective on challenges and opportunities in the human services workforce, along with Terri P. Ricks, Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services for the state of Louisiana, who will reflect on what their workforce is experiencing in their state and what they are hoping to do to address it.
Speakers:
- Terri P. Ricks, Secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services, Louisiana
- Jennie Romich, Director, West Coast Poverty Center, University of Washington
- Megan Tackney, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement, WorkRise
- Tracy Wareing-Evans, President and CEO, American Public Human Services Association
Event materials:
Support for this event is provided by the funders of WorkRise. For more information on the Urban Institute’s funding principles, go to urban.org/fundingprinciples.
We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. Please email events@urban.org if you require any accommodations or have any questions about this event.