Welcome to Care Enough

Every Child Needs A Hero

By Kenneth F. Joe Sr.                        

Every child needs a hero. Every leader in Child Welfare is challenged to ensure that every child has a hero.  A hero to a child means that they have a champion, that they have someone who is invested in making sure that the things that are important to the child occur.

If a child has an opportunity to be reunited with their family, their champion will do the work or ensure that the work is done so that it can happen.  Ensuring that the child has visits with their parents, not if it’s convenient, not if it can be arranged but, to ensure that the visit takes place, to ensure that the bond is maintained.

A champion can ensure that.  A champion can be a case worker; a champion can be a supervisor.    But the person, who can make sure that every child has a champion, is leadership from the executive director to the board president.  Leadership can ensure that children have champions. 

A child being successful in school has everything to do with the support and nurturing that the child feels, sees and believes in.   If we are serious about children and their education we must make sure that when a child is in care, that on report card day.  We are there like any other parent to pick up their report card.  Preferably, if the parent is involved in the child’s life in any way, we should facilitate a trip to the school with the parent to talk to the teacher to pick up the report card.  It’s important.  Think of how a child would feel.  If they saw their parent, even though they may have been in care for a while, even though the parent may have some issues  that they still need to work on but the parent is their with the case worker to pick up the report card.  If we have to make sure that the parent is reminded, making sure that the parent is presentable.   Whatever we have to do, we should be that champion, to give that child that image.   Their is no manual; their is no book that says that these things should happen, or how to do them.  It comes from an expectation of excellence, that is taken seriously by leadership and nurtured throughout the organization so that it is felt by the children and families. 

I challenge all leaders, will you be the champion. Will you ensure that every child has a champion, will you ensure that every child can believe in someone. Will you extend yourself to ensure that the feeling of a champion of someone who when the child goes to sleep believes that that person is thinking about them in someway.   Will you ensure that every child in your agency has a champion?  How do you ensure this, you talk about these things,  its important that leaders talk to their staff, not through a  memo, but through actual voice.   Preferably through video or a staff meeting.  I challenge you.  Be a champion.   Ensure that a child has a champion.   This is my message to you for our children and our families.   

Blessings to you and your families.