The month of March brings an abundance of things to celebrate, including National Social Work Month! The National Association of Social Workers dedicates March as a time to celebrate the incredible social work profession and to educate others on the many contributions made by social workers in our communities. This year’s theme “Social Workers are Essential” calls our attention to the indelible role of the social worker in responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Indeed, for social workers involved in Benchmarks’ Partnering for Excellence and Standardized Assessment Protocol projects the cause continues to maintain safety, permanency and well-being for child welfare involved families. Katrina McMasters, Child Protective Services Program Administrator in Davidson County, NC took a few moments to share how the pandemic has shaped their work and what has continued to drive staff during this time.
Katrina received her bachelor’s degree in social work in 1994 and began her career as a Teen Pregnancy Prevention Counselor and In Home Family Preservation Worker with Family Services of the Piedmont. After receiving her master’s degree in social work in 1998 she held several positions within child welfare, including her current role as a Child Protective Services Program Administrator. When asked “what does this profession mean to you,” Katrina replied “working in child welfare is an opportunity to empower families to become stronger and to improve their skills to become more successful in breaking cycles of violence, untreated mental illness and social injustice. Not just for the current family unit but for future generations to come.”
The past year has been a challenge for all but especially for essential workers. Across the country many child welfare agencies have experienced a decrease in referrals due to children being out of school and isolated at home; away from the adults who act as the eyes and ears of the child welfare system. This places an even heavier responsibility for an already strained system. Katrina shared that “working through the pandemic has been difficult and rewarding at the same time. I am overwhelmed sometimes by what we must do, but I am proud and appreciative that I get to do this work. All the perils that make social work a needed profession in the first place have exponentially increased because of the pandemic. If we did not exist, I could only imagine how much worse things could be right now.”
So, how has child welfare evolved to ensure the principles of safety, permanency and well-being can be met while keeping families and staff safe in the face of COVID-19? Katrina stated that in Davidson County “we have had to modify some of the things that we do. We have provided Personal Protective Equipment, allowed staff to work from home a few days per week and for Permanency Planning or Foster Care, we have been able to conduct virtual visits. However, for In Home Family Services there are times when we are still required to perform walk-throughs of families’ homes; and we have done so as safely as possible. Much like trauma can sometimes linger as a silent stressor, so does COVID-19. We have to proactively address COVID-19 the same way we proactively help our families impacted by trauma.”
You may be wondering, what keeps social workers motivated during this time? Katrina shared that “It all boils down to having good staff who work here for the good of the people and making sure families are successful. It is an overall commitment and calling that drives our staff to continue to provide these services to families. Because they know if they are not doing it, the families do not receive what they need. If I walk away, it ultimately makes it harder on another person.”
In conclusion Katrina sums up what she would want others to know about child welfare and child welfare social workers. “I would want people to know that it is a calling. Child welfare workers are a group of people who are not in this work lightly; we knew what we were getting ourselves into to effect change in our communities. You could not ask for a better group of individuals who see the good in the world and the opportunity for change. There is always an opportunity for change; no matter how bad the situation may seem.” From Benchmarks to all the phenomenal Social Workers we work with every day and those around the world; THANK YOU! Our gratitude runs deep for your commitment to children, families and communities. Happy National Social Work Month!
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