Listen to thisI had the opportunity recently to spend a few days at a Child Care Conference in Carberry Scotland. And it was quite amazing.
It wasn’t just the setting, which was wonderful. And it wasn't just the people, who were great. It was the opportunity to spend time with people living in a different culture who were concerned not only with the same things as the “people back home” but also with the same approach – a Child and Youth Care Approach to helping troubled youth and their families.
Sometimes I think we forget when we are contained by the restraints of our programs, that there is a world of other people out there concerned with the same things and with the same approach to making a difference. That there is, in fact, a large, worldwide network of us all, connected.
We talked about the use of daily life events, connection and engagement, relational ways of being and so many of the other things that are familiar language for people who work in this field. Even though we worked in different programs in different countries, we shared stories about young people we had all met. We talked of families we had known, interventions that had worked (or not) and stories from the front lines that we had all visited. In so many ways, if we let it, Child and Youth Care can be a “shared experience” and we can experience ourselves in the context of that connectedness.
So, the next time I am feeling isolated, misunderstood or out of place in my work, I will remember Carberry. And in doing so I will remember how we are all connected. 48 hours that can last a lifetime – if I let it.
And don’t forget that the International Child and Youth Care Conference is coming up in October. It’s an opportunity to experience the connection with colleagues from other places.
And also, while I am on the subject of networks, don’t forget that International Child and Youth Care Day is soon approaching – the first week of May – and we here, and your colleagues in your network, would like to hear what you are doing to celebrate.
Thom
