The National Association of Social Workers Foundation (NASWF) is pleased to announce the NASW-Texas Chapter as the recipient of the 2003 Ruth Fizdale Program. The Ruth Fizdale Program underwrites research projects that link practice and policy issues with relevant social issues, with the goal of facilitating effective service delivery. The program provides opportunities for NASW chapters to conduct pilot research projects targeted to specific emerging issues.

The NASW Texas Chapter plans to determine the relationship between U.S. Department of Labor and Texas Workforce Commission social work job classifications, and social work salaries in the state of Texas. 

According to Vicki Hansen, LMSW-AP, executive director of the chapter, "We are very excited about receiving the Ruth Fizdale Grant.  We have been researching issues related to the Department of Labor and Texas Workforce Commission classification of social workers in Texas, and how this relates to the public perception of social workers, as well as to social work salaries."  She adds that knowing the Ruth Fizdale Program Committee values the chapter's work is very gratifying. 

"We are grateful for the assistance of our partners-the Texas Association of Social Work Deans and Directors and the Texas Workforce Commission-as we begin this next phase of our work," Hansen notes.

The chapter will develop a survey instrument to collect data from licensed social workers across the state, which would enable researchers to identify discrepancies in salaries, job classifications, and tasks performed.  The survey will be sent to social work employers, and to licensed social workers within the state.