新媒网 · 跨境数据社区

"Before the closure of my foster care case, there wasn’t a lot I was certain of—but there was one thing: I wanted to work in the field. During my 18-month case, I could see the need. Not just because of the high turnover rate these positions experience, but because no matter how much heart workers have for the job, no amount of education can provide the level of understanding that lived experience brings to the table. During my case, I saw workers who wanted to help. But they didn’t understand what it was like to be in my shoes, which created a natural divide between us. Fast forward one year, and I was offered a position by the agency that had overseen my case. I walked in on my first day not with the degree that my peers held, but with a perspective unique to the field, shaped by what I had experienced. It isn’t easy to work in this field. Naturally, foster care workers experience secondhand trauma through their work. I’m not exempt from that, but I also carry the additional weight of my own firsthand trauma. I’ve had to make a conscious effort to work through it and not project it onto my clients. However, I believe my experience has given me the gift of a widened ability to empathize. I don’t judge the parents I work with based on their petitions. I seek to understand their stories. My favorite part of this job is what I get to learn from my clients. I believe it is a privilege to work with them and to hear their stories. I take those stories to heart and apply the lessons to my own life. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work in foster care. The reason I came into this work is the reason I keep coming back: because lived experience is needed." -Brenna Hunter (@hunter_brenna), social worker & reunified parent This #WorldSocialWorkDay, we recognize all of the amazing and important social workers. Thank you for your heart 💙 If you are interested in learning more about fostering + adoption, visit the link in our bio 🔗 #SocialWorkDay #FosterCare #SocialWorkMonth #NationalSocialWorkMonth