AN APPEAL TO SOCIAL WORKERS
Here is my entreaty to social workers
engaged in child protection. When you reflect upon the cases in which
you are now or have been involved, and if within that list you
readily identify families which would benefit from being together
rather than apart and you have the means to affect that
reconciliation, do all that you can to insure that this happens. So
much rests with you. You control destinies. That seems a frightening
responsibility.
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Anyone occupying a role which owns the
weight and the power of the child protection worker within our
society, has to have the right stuff if he or she is confidently and
effectively to protect the rights of children, safeguard the rights
of families and parents and live with a deep contentment at the end
of the day. If you see many cases where harm has been inflicted upon
innocents, it is understandable that a callousness develops toward
the responsible caregivers. How discriminating you must be to
preserve your own authentic objectivity. How discerning you must be so that can separate fact and evidence from story and assumption.
You are a member of the public and the
public depends upon you front line people to be so careful with your
invested power for our sakes, the children among us, children who may
require food, opportunity, protection. And by referring to “our
sakes” I also intend our families, parents of children, parents who
require understanding, a listening ear, parents who require advice &
counsel and encouragement, grandparents whose grandchildren are their
joy and for whom they hope. Make all of your action choices wisely
and be gentle with us please.
