Youth Voice on Shared Practice Model

Shared Practice Model breakout session, facilitated by Scott Britton of PCSAO and foster care alumna Jaye Turner

During the recent statewide OHIO YAB meeting, youth suggested ways to better transition from one worker to another, to better support youth.

They asked if there could be any notice that their caseworker was going on extended leave, vacation or quitting. And suggested proactive ways to make this transition smoother such as an introduction, and an transition if possible – similar to how Bridges was designed to provide a “warm hand-off.”

Communication with Caseworker

• Need personal relationship with caseworker 
• Caseworkers please build a relationship with youth and get to know them and let them get to know you. Take the time to build that connection.
• Tell youth before change occurs
• Be timely!  Don’t leave youth waiting for info
• Urgency! (i.e. travel letters, Prom, expunge record)

Please Advocate on Youth’s Behalf

• Taking initiative
• Take action, speak up, even with supervisor
   

Listening to Youth

• “It might not seem big to you or the agency, but it’s big to us”
• Best interest of child/youth
• Respect that youth may not want to talk with bio parents
• “Just because we’re blood that doesn’t mean we are family” 
• Respect and ask about a youth’s chosen family, and the family members they feel safe with
• Honesty, don’t sugarcoat, youth are mature: “I would rather have the truth and be hurt by that” than the alternative
• Trust the youth, give them choice
• “We know our family” 
• Let youth have a choice about talking to family members, staying at a particular foster home, whether or not they want to be adopted
• Make it youth choice re: adoption; stop trying to force them
  
  

Need for Youth Voice on Shared Practice Model

• We need Shared Practice Model: better training, right motivation
• What is the worker’s “why?”
• Instead of saying families can heal, say that families can heal with the right support
• Families need concrete and economic supports
• Prevention is tied in with mental health and economics
  
  

Need for Agencies to Value Caseworkers

• Caseworker shortage, burnout is becoming the status quo
• 20 youth to one caseworker is a recipe for failure
• One youth shared concerns about overwhelming caseworkers with unrealistic deadlines.