What Youth Want from their Workers

In “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,” p. 30, Charlene Carter describes the turmoil she and her fellow group home residents experience when a caring, respected social worker leaves the agency. And in “If I Were a Social Worker,” pps. 32-33, foster youth offer a variety of suggestions on how social workers can better relate to their clients.

Prompts for discussion and/or writing:

—Why is Mrs. Heyward such a good social worker? Describe three qualities she has that cause youth to respect her.
—How does Mrs. Heyward handle problems in the group home differently from the other social workers? Why do you think this method works so well?
—When Mrs. Heyward leaves the agency, Charlene’s entire group home is affected. Have you had a similar experience in the system?
—Charlene says that when kids in the system feel uncared for, they act out. What could be done to make kids feel more cared for?
—A fact of life is that people change jobs. What could be done to help foster youth deal with the painful feelings they experience when an adult they like leaves the agency?

Activity: Youth can work in pairs or in small groups. Have the groups read the suggestions for social workers on pps. 32-33. The groups should then try to agree on the three most important suggestions made by the teens. Then have them make a second list of new suggestions they would make, to improve relations with social workers. Go around the room, list the suggestions on the board, and discuss.