Social worker, Grace Abbott, a tireless advocate for child welfare, Library of Congress, Div. of Prints and Photographs (Digital ID cph.3c11723) (PD-US, No Known Restrictions on Publication)
“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall…” (Ezek. 22: 30 NLT).
Social workers are among the most dedicated and selfless people on earth. They stand in the gap when parenting and other institutions that should serve our children fail.
The tragedy is that we have our priorities skewed, as a society. We shower sports figures and others with countless millions, but expect those charged with protecting our children to subsist on a pittance, and carry impossible workloads.
This is a heartrending post by a dedicated social worker dealing with burn-out. It speaks volumes about the broken foster care system.
“I love my job. Really, I do. I love some of the foster parents and some of the kids and some of the bio parents. I love working with the courts and knowing that I have a good reputation with them. I love the flexibility and the ability to work from home. I love returning kids home or helping them gain independence. There are some biological families that I still talk to and I love them as well.
What I don’t love: turning kids into numbers, meeting dashboards instead of needs, looking out for the best interest of DCF instead of the child. I can’t keep up with the changing policies and new requirements; the updated trainings, changes to our computer system, and the daily threat that I could really get hurt by someone.”
TO READ MORE, go to Social Work(er)ing at: https://threecatsandababy.wordpress.com/2017/11/15/why-i-am-leaving/
FOR MORE OF MY ARTICLES ON POVERTY, POLITICS, AND MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE CHECK OUT MY BLOG A LAWYER’S PRAYERS AT: https://alawyersprayers.com
ANNA WALDHERR A Voice Reclaimed, Surviving Child Abuse 
Heartbreaking to read this. This, like more and more things these days, gives me cause to think to a day when there will never again be a need for a social worker, or children’s advocate. Just heartbreaking.
Yes. That the foster care system is losing people of this quality is tragic.
How regrettable and a tragedy. A person who actually cares is burnt on the ceremony of paperwork and the autocrats of the system. I concur with her the system is broken. A system established to care for the innocence of
children and their abuses from whoever parent’s them. Children. Shameful. This person and people who actually love their job. They’re trained professionals shouldn’t they know and have the resource needed, that THEY see. Every case is different, to lumped them altogether says ‘there is no regards for the individual child’, and this is the sad reality, a failure of the system and of their oath to care.
I wish her well, and everyone who takes this challenging career to help CHILDREN in dire situations.
Dear Lord, I pray for these children’s healing and strength for their councilors. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you, for bringing up issues to the surface that need our support, in whatever form God directs us. Let’s keep praying that change does happen and we find solutions that actually address the issues. In the season of ‘Good Will’ I pray people’s attitude change. God bless us all.
I join in your prayer for abused children everywhere and for those who strive to protect and heal them.
Reblogged this on Madison Elizabeth Baylis.
I had a social worker, she loved me, and I did regret when I let her down, so that tells you as a young age how I am. Actually I remember her putting alot of her on me trying to help me and me the idiot went and screwed it up, I again, remember her face, voice, reactions, when I f…cked up, she was more concern than me. But I’m really trying to make ammend to all those people that believed in my potential, because I do know I do have it, the other thing is to “do it!!!”, so try to make them proud….and also try to show the other idiots that think I’m a loose end (when they are the ones stealing and dealing drugs) ;but I was the “drunk” so in their minds that was far worse, and I went off road…..I think you got me anyways
I know what you mean, Charly. When we’re young, we sometimes make foolish choices.
Also, though when we think little of ourselves, it can be difficult to live up to the expectations of a teacher or social worker. Instead, we live “down” to the expectations we have already absorbed — often from significant people in our lives. We believe the labels applied to us define us.
You sound as if you are at a place in your life where you’re ready to let go of those low expectations. I hope so, Charly. Because you’re a wonderful man. That social worker from your early years could see it, and everyone who cares about you can, too.
I can, I know at age 35….Jesus I’m old for this crap to happen to me until now, butI know I can do much better and one thing of it is writing.
Charly, it takes some people a lifetime to let go of the damage others inflicted. Don’t be hard on yourself for that. Remember, living well is the best revenge! As a matter of fact, I think it was another poet — George Herbert — who said that. 🙂