C. J. F. W. F. Reports Difficulties in Finding Jewish Social Workers

It is becoming increasingly difficult to find qualified social work personnel to fill existing vacancies in community agencies, Herbert R. Abeles of Newark, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, declared today.

There was a 10 percent increase in the past year in the number of positions waiting to be filled and the continuing shortage of personnel has kept many of these positions unfilled, Mr. Abeles reported. This has begun to cut into vital services, and has delayed development of needed new programs, he said.

Tackling the problem at its source, the personnel department of the CJFWF has concentrated increasingly on recruitment of social work trainees. The program is under the guidance of a national committee headed by Alan Lowenstein of Newark as chairman, and Mrs. John Maisel of Buffalo and Henry L. Zucker of Cleveland as vice chairman.

The Council has undertaken short range and long range plans for meeting current requirements and assuring future needs. Gilbert Kahn, director of the Council’s Personnel Department, has visited several cities, among them Boston, Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Buffalo, to consult with local agencies on setting up or implementing community-wide personnel recruitment programs under Federation leadership.

In addition, the Council’s personnel department has joined with the Bureau of Personnel and Training of the National Jewish Welfare Board and the national office of Hillel Foundations to organize a series of campus recruiting programs. Initial meetings have already taken place in Buffalo, University of Boston, Harvard, Columbia University, Brooklyn College, and the College of the City of New York and others are scheduled.

Since the personnel shortage is part of an overall shortage of social workers, the Council has joined with other welfare organizations and government agencies in joint efforts to solve the problem. Among these are: The National Social Welfare Assembly, Council of Social Work Education, Advisory Committee of the New York State Employment Service, and the National Conference of Jewish Communal Service. In addition, the CJFWF has established the Harry L. Lurie Fellowship for training and research in Jewish communal service.