Change in child welfare practice can occur in more than one way. So, let's continue our discussion from the previous blog article and look at some of those ways. Individual caseworkers and supervisors need not wait for an official memo before initiating better and more effective ways of working with families. We can not wait for nor should we accept an all or nothing solution to child welfare's inept manner of dealing with families. In fact, caseworkers themselves are in a prime position to assure that parents and children receive the humane, compassionate and carefully thought through and effective help that can achieve sought after goals. They can do this by incorporating better practice modes into their already established work with families.
First and foremost though, child welfare personnel need exposure to the new ideas and improved practice modes discussed on this website. In this article we propose some ways in which this can happen. These ideas need to be examined, refined and possibly expanded upon, and additional ideas need to be developed as well. These proposals had best be seen as portals to numerous additional possibilities.
Funding for the stipends mentioned in the following proposals can be sought from foundations, private donors and, possibly, even government agencies.
1. Caseworkers and supervisors will be offered a stipend to attend a non-degree course of study to be held on weekends, covering the issues and ideas discussed on this website. Participants who complete the first part of this course, believe that they can and wish to work with families in the manner advocated, and will commit to doing so, may proceed to the next section, for which they will receive a second stipend. They will take upon themselves to implement serious life building work with parents; to maintain a patient, compassionate and persistent mind-set; to agree to never base any decision on self-interest, but rather solely on what they believe is best for the family; to devote additional work hours beyond their salaried time when necessary; to courageously defend the nature of their work to their supervisors, if and when questioned; and to continue their independent studies and reading throughout the time they work in child welfare.
2. A child welfare track oriented toward the ideas advocated on this website can be established as part of a graduate psychology program. Participating students will receive stipends at certain intervals. Students will be asked to make the same commitments as above and also agree to at least five years of child welfare work.
3. Under private or foundation sponsorship, a proposal can be publicized calling for child welfare personnel to review a paper outlining the problems with current child welfare practice and general suggestions for change, as discussed on this website. Caseworkers, supervisors and managers will be asked to submit their ideas for ways to implement these new and progressive practice modes within the current and established system, as well as any and all ideas related to the development of new ways of working with child welfare families. Applicants whose submissions are chosen and who will also make a four-year commitment to working with families following these philosophical principles, will participate in a year-long dialectical seminar. Stipends will be awarded at four points: 1. All submissions; 2. Chosen submissions; 4. Seminar participation; and 4. Four-year commitment and actual work with families.
4. Media announcements and mailings will seek to recruit caseworkers and other child welfare personnel to in turn rally and enlist their colleagues to participate in the above efforts.
5. Independent of the child welfare system, advertisements and other efforts can recruit parents with current child welfare involvement who wish to work with highly trained personnel on what we have been referring to as life building. The advertisements will clearly describe the process and possible outcomes.
6. A media campaign will seek caseworkers who wish to participate in a conference where they will discuss and voice their ideas about change in child welfare practice. Participants will receive a stipend and will also be given the opportunity to enroll in a course of study that includes their ideas for better practice.
7. A media campaign will call for essays written by child welfare personnel outlining better practice modes, including life building. Authors of chosen essays will not only receive stipends but also will participate in a course of study as organizers and leaders.
8. A media campaign will seek nominations from the general public and from child welfare staff of child welfare personnel who have demonstrated caring and effective work with families. Chosen personnel will be afforded the opportunity to participate in a forum where their experiences and ideas will be discussed in cooperation with other child welfare workers. All participants will receive stipends and the offer to enroll in a course of study that furthers the work begun at this forum.
9. Parents and caseworkers will develop a three part program that they will present to small groups of child welfare personnel. Part one will consist of a critique of current practice implications on parents and parents' ideas for better and more relevant intervention. Part two will entail in-depth discussion among all parties to develop better practice and strategies for implementation. In part three, participants will present new practice modes based on the previous two parts. All participants will receive stipends and caseworkers who undertake to implement the better practice modes, with ongoing support, will receive additional allowances.
10. Caseworkers not yet familiar with ideas such as life building and other better practice modes will visit, together with others who already are well versed in these ideas, families who have had child welfare involvement . Through these contacts and discussions caseworkers will thereby come to understand the nature and ramifications of living in impoverished conditions and the impact on parenting.
11. A private child welfare agency will be chosen, through a bid process, to participate in a seminar followed by a yearlong course of study for its caseworkers, supervisors and managers, which will provide comprehensive training in better practice, including life building. The agency and all participants will receive stipends.
To many, the child welfare system with its entrenched and bureaucratic ways seems impenetrable to change. They are correct in that achieving change would be a difficult and extensive undertaking, but they are incorrect to think that this is an impossibility. This mind-set should also not be an excuse to not pursue change in other ways. Some of those ways are outlined above. Now, let's get started .
First and foremost though, child welfare personnel need exposure to the new ideas and improved practice modes discussed on this website. In this article we propose some ways in which this can happen. These ideas need to be examined, refined and possibly expanded upon, and additional ideas need to be developed as well. These proposals had best be seen as portals to numerous additional possibilities.
Funding for the stipends mentioned in the following proposals can be sought from foundations, private donors and, possibly, even government agencies.
1. Caseworkers and supervisors will be offered a stipend to attend a non-degree course of study to be held on weekends, covering the issues and ideas discussed on this website. Participants who complete the first part of this course, believe that they can and wish to work with families in the manner advocated, and will commit to doing so, may proceed to the next section, for which they will receive a second stipend. They will take upon themselves to implement serious life building work with parents; to maintain a patient, compassionate and persistent mind-set; to agree to never base any decision on self-interest, but rather solely on what they believe is best for the family; to devote additional work hours beyond their salaried time when necessary; to courageously defend the nature of their work to their supervisors, if and when questioned; and to continue their independent studies and reading throughout the time they work in child welfare.
2. A child welfare track oriented toward the ideas advocated on this website can be established as part of a graduate psychology program. Participating students will receive stipends at certain intervals. Students will be asked to make the same commitments as above and also agree to at least five years of child welfare work.
3. Under private or foundation sponsorship, a proposal can be publicized calling for child welfare personnel to review a paper outlining the problems with current child welfare practice and general suggestions for change, as discussed on this website. Caseworkers, supervisors and managers will be asked to submit their ideas for ways to implement these new and progressive practice modes within the current and established system, as well as any and all ideas related to the development of new ways of working with child welfare families. Applicants whose submissions are chosen and who will also make a four-year commitment to working with families following these philosophical principles, will participate in a year-long dialectical seminar. Stipends will be awarded at four points: 1. All submissions; 2. Chosen submissions; 4. Seminar participation; and 4. Four-year commitment and actual work with families.
4. Media announcements and mailings will seek to recruit caseworkers and other child welfare personnel to in turn rally and enlist their colleagues to participate in the above efforts.
5. Independent of the child welfare system, advertisements and other efforts can recruit parents with current child welfare involvement who wish to work with highly trained personnel on what we have been referring to as life building. The advertisements will clearly describe the process and possible outcomes.
6. A media campaign will seek caseworkers who wish to participate in a conference where they will discuss and voice their ideas about change in child welfare practice. Participants will receive a stipend and will also be given the opportunity to enroll in a course of study that includes their ideas for better practice.
7. A media campaign will call for essays written by child welfare personnel outlining better practice modes, including life building. Authors of chosen essays will not only receive stipends but also will participate in a course of study as organizers and leaders.
8. A media campaign will seek nominations from the general public and from child welfare staff of child welfare personnel who have demonstrated caring and effective work with families. Chosen personnel will be afforded the opportunity to participate in a forum where their experiences and ideas will be discussed in cooperation with other child welfare workers. All participants will receive stipends and the offer to enroll in a course of study that furthers the work begun at this forum.
9. Parents and caseworkers will develop a three part program that they will present to small groups of child welfare personnel. Part one will consist of a critique of current practice implications on parents and parents' ideas for better and more relevant intervention. Part two will entail in-depth discussion among all parties to develop better practice and strategies for implementation. In part three, participants will present new practice modes based on the previous two parts. All participants will receive stipends and caseworkers who undertake to implement the better practice modes, with ongoing support, will receive additional allowances.
10. Caseworkers not yet familiar with ideas such as life building and other better practice modes will visit, together with others who already are well versed in these ideas, families who have had child welfare involvement . Through these contacts and discussions caseworkers will thereby come to understand the nature and ramifications of living in impoverished conditions and the impact on parenting.
11. A private child welfare agency will be chosen, through a bid process, to participate in a seminar followed by a yearlong course of study for its caseworkers, supervisors and managers, which will provide comprehensive training in better practice, including life building. The agency and all participants will receive stipends.
To many, the child welfare system with its entrenched and bureaucratic ways seems impenetrable to change. They are correct in that achieving change would be a difficult and extensive undertaking, but they are incorrect to think that this is an impossibility. This mind-set should also not be an excuse to not pursue change in other ways. Some of those ways are outlined above. Now, let's get started .