By Bridget McGiffin

For a social worker in the Family Ties Treatment Foster Care and Damamli Mother/Baby program, the work and responsibilities vary on a day to day basis.  At the beginning of the week, one might find themselves reviewing a quarterly treatment plan for a young person.  By the middle of the week, the same worker could have completed three home visits, a meeting at a school for behavioral intervention, and transported a youth to their dental appointment. By the end of the week, the worker is certain to have added to their schedule a few more meetings at the main office, including supervision, and undoubtedly spent several hours updating notes and files.

In addition to the documentation of each contact that happens with all members of a youth’s team, the worker is responsible for facilitating quarterly treatment team meetings for some young people in our care, and bi-monthly meetings for others. For each treatment team meeting, the worker completes a review of the old treatment plan and a new treatment plan. The worker also attends an hour of individual supervision, and two hours of group supervision with other social workers in the agency.

As mentioned previously, the worker completes home visits. These happen twice a month for each youth, and at least once a month, the meeting has to be with the caregivers and the young person. The other time in the month, the visit can be completed independently with the youth. Often, the individual meetings with youth serve multiple purposes; for example, transporting a youth to get their cell phone turned on is a sufficient second visit.  While meeting with the foster parent(s) and the child, the social worker is often in the role of a mediator, as the three parties discuss how things are in the home, and what can be worked on to achieve the goals identified in the team meetings.

Beyond the case management that the social worker provides, the most important role that the social worker engages in is that of a clinician. The social worker has to be delicate in how they approach difficult situations that often contain high-running emotions, fatigue, and fear.  At the very basic level, at Hearts & Homes’ foster care programs, a social worker should be skilled and tactful at encouraging healthy relationships between a foster parent and young person.

Beyond the day to day tasks and responsibilities of a social worker at Hearts & Homes, the worker has professional obligations that they have to uphold.  For example, social workers are required to participate in continued education and training, so that they can engage in evidenced based practices.

Social workers at Hearths and Homes for Youth wear many hats!

Hearts & Homes is dedicated to providing the youth in our care with all of the tools, resources, and opportunities they need, to empower them to build brighter futures. We are proud to share updates about some of the kids in our care!

A 15-year old young man in our foster care program was recently hired by a barbershop to take before and after pictures. We look forward to supporting his blossoming artistic career!

A young mother in our Independent Living Program graduated from high school last month and is in the process of enrolling for community college. After earning her Associate’s, she plans to study social work!

One of our young mothers successfully completed the program and has moved into an apartment in Baltimore with her long time boyfriend and two children.

After two years in our program, a young mother was reunified with a family member. The Aunt has welcomed the young mother, her boyfriend, and their 1-year old son into her home. The couple is expecting their second child this month. This young mother received her Nursing Assistant Certification earlier this year and plans to return to school for the Patient Care Technician Certification after her baby is born.

Another young mother is progressing through our Damamli program! she recently signed her own lease and was excited to furnish her apartment. She is attending Community College and working full time with an AmeriCorps program in Baltimore County.

We are so proud of the youth in our care and for all of their achievements!

Our kids have had a great summer so far, thanks to partnerships with great groups like Most Valuable Kids and Bethesda Big Train, and to supporters in the community. The unique experiences and opportunities that one might take for granted, are a first time for many of the youth in our care!

In addition to the unique experiences, the young in our programs are keeping themselves active this summer. For example, one of the young women at Helen Smith Group Home graduated in June and has been working at a local restaurant this summer. She will begin studying in the fall at Montgomery College or Morgan State University. Her goal is to become a nurse.

Another young lady at Helen Smith Group Homes is also working at a local restaurant and taking two summer classes so that she can graduate from high school this summer.

Another youth is a rising Senior at her high school. She has been working this summer as a lifeguard at a community pool. She enjoys theatre and drama class. Her goal is to be a business owner.

One young woman is entering her Junior year and will participate in the Dual Enrollment program for high school students at Montgomery College. She has also been working at a local restaurant this summer.

Three young ladies are fairly new to the program. One is attending summer school and enjoys arts and crafts. Another enjoys animals and working with her hands; she said when she grows up she wants to be a tow truck driver, a volunteer fire fighter, or an auto mechanic. The third young woman loves animals, cooking, and trying new things; she recently helped volunteers with yard work at the group home.