The National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter (NASW-CA) stands in solidarity with Jane Doe and Mary Roe, plaintiffs from the case of Jane Doe and Mary Roe v. County of Los Angeles. Jane Doe and Mary Roe attended the University of Southern California’s School of Social Work. Their second-year internship with the County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) subjected them to a “pre-employment” psychological evaluation process to identify and screen out applicants with PTSD, anxiety, depression and other mental health symptoms or diagnoses. Afterward, the county promptly rejected the two social work students and failed to consider alternative accommodations on the basis of their mental health disabilities.
On November 4, 2022, the Los Angeles Superior Court found that Los Angeles County discriminated against the two social work interns. NASW-CA opposes the ableist practices displayed by LA County. The social work Code of Ethics demands the equitable treatment of marginalized community members, including social work students and social workers in the field with disabilities. Social work students with disabilities are essential to the field of social work; their contributions and ability to equitably engage in their social work education must not be deterred by ableist, discriminatory practices.
