Caring for the Child Welfare Client: Am I Good Enough?

ABSTRACT

Given the demographics of youth served by the child welfare system, culturally responsive approaches are critical to effective social work practice and desperately needed. Like many adolescents who grow up in the child welfare system, Paul, a White adolescent male in foster care, was beset by a lack of adequate environmental resources and multiple stressors and had little hope or motivation to work on improving his situation. This article highlights the author's “use of self” as an African American male therapist who worked with Paul, using a Winnicottian and caring framework. Because child welfare workers are often overburdened by the demands of work, including large caseloads and clients with few to no resources, they find it difficult to consistently provide empathic and caring behaviors for their clients. The author highlights his therapeutic work and struggles with Paul and offers cultural insights and Winnicottian strategies when working with adolescents in the child welfare system who are ultimately in need of permanency and stability.

KEYWORDS:

• Caring
• child welfare
• culture
• Winnicott

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Steven J. Hoffler

Steven J. Hoffler, PhD, LCSW, is an assistant professor and BSW coordinator at Southern Connecticut State University. He is also a consultant for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families and has a part-time private practice. He specializes in child welfare and juvenile justice.