Background
Beginning in 1940, a group of social work executives began meeting informally and discussed among themselves the need for
an employment service which would bring unemployed social workers and available jobs together. Further exploration of the
topic disclosed that many agencies and workers would welcome such an employment service. An informal committee to explore
setting up such a service, and establish standards began in late 1940. Educational training and job experience were seen as
essential requirements for social workers. An official Advisory Committee to the Social Workers Placement Service was appointed
on January 28, 1941, by the Director of California Department of Employment, R. G. Wagenet. Original Advisory Committee members
were Aleta Brounlee, chairman, Dr. H. M. Cassidy, Lexie Cotton, Eva Hance, Alma Holzschuh, Esther Hutson, Elizabeth B. Mac
Latchie, Louis Miniclier, and Emily Minton. The Advisory Committee's duties were to advise the Department of Employment on
matters of policy interviewing applicants, promoting public relations and conducting studies. The Advisory Committee set up
subcommittees which prepared a questionnaire and explored the job classification system in social work.
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