It’s no secret that the child welfare system can be frustrating for children, their biological families, and foster families alike. More often than not, agency workers are the people who have to carry the brunt of this frustration.
Yet, if we were to take a look behind the scenes, we would see individuals who care deeply about children and families and are doing their best to secure positive outcomes for the people they serve—but they are overworked, overwhelmed, and often trying to keep up with ever-changing policies.
My guest for this conversation is deeply familiar with nearly every part of the child welfare system, from investigations and licensing to prevention and support.
Abraham Choate has spent years serving children and families through the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families. He’s also a licensed social worker who provides counseling part-time. Abe’s story and perspective offer us a unique look into the realities of child welfare, helping us understand how we can better support and partner with our local workers.
In this episode, Abraham shares some of the inner workings on the agency side of child welfare, the stressful environment agency workers are thrust into, the importance of everyone having healthy boundaries, and much more.
TAKEAWAYS FROM TODAY’S CONVERSATION:
1. Offer up compassion.
Agency workers can’t fully understand a biological parent’s story from the snapshot report they receive. Foster parents can’t either—from the few interactions they have, they only see a small piece of the picture. It’s easy to jump to conclusions, but the truth is, many parents come from difficult circumstances that set them back long before their child entered foster care. What they need most is not judgment, but compassion. When we take time to see the person behind the report, we open the door to true understanding and healing.
“There is a tendency to start to judge and paint a picture of this person because of what has been reported about them. Our role is to step into those moments and figure out what they need.”
2. Agency workers need our support.
The role of an agency worker is complex with varying workloads. Often, the first case they’re assigned is an agency worker’s first real look into this world. It can be jarring and heartbreaking. These workers often have to deal with the emotions of knowing that a child’s future is in the balance while also upholding the polices of the system. A great way to support these workers is to consider becoming a TFI Advocate in your area.
“For the vast majority of frontline workers, this is their first experience in child welfare. It can be a very high-stress job for sure.”
3. Enact healthy boundaries.
It can be challenging to “leave work at work” as an agency worker. When so much of your day-to-day deeply impacts the lives of so many, taking some time away can feel like you are letting them down. As an agency worker, it’s important to establish your support system and identify how you get recharged. Agency workers are burning out at an alarming rate. We cannot be everything to everyone.
“The agency will not roll to a stop if you can’t do something.”
Meet Our Guest
Abraham Choate has spent years serving children and families through the Washington Department of Children, Youth, and Families. His work has touched nearly every part of the child welfare spectrum, from investigations and licensing to prevention and support. He’s also a licensed social worker who provides counseling part-time. Beyond his professional role, Abe is a husband to his wife, Mandy, and dad to twin daughters.
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