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Plea to social workers:'Think beyond protection' of children in foster care
Northeast Florida social workers got some praise and advice Wednesday from a prominent clinical psychologist who amassed a long list of academic accomplishments -- after being abandoned at age 4 and raised in foster care until he was 18.
Eugene Emory, director of clinical training at Emory University, who began his professional career as a social worker, was keynote speaker at the 20th annual Child Abuse Prevention Luncheon and Conference held by the Exchange Club Family Center of Northeast Florida.
His topic was overcoming adverse childhood experiences. He had many.
He talked about how he somehow overcame the trauma of abandonment, a "horrific" first foster home and subsequent foster parents who were loving but ill-prepared for all the challenges that foster children face.
The lack of security, control and self-esteem of being in foster care can lead to health issues -- Emory said he had high blood pressure at age 8 -- and problems concentrating at school, among other things.
Emory commended the dedication and caring of social workers. And he acknowledged that the primary focus for social workers who work with foster children is their safety.
But he urged them to also pay close attention to "what is going on" in the daily lives of the children.
"Caring, protection and safety are necessary, but simply not sufficient," he said.
Emory remembered being an eighth grader, who was a A student one semester then did so badly the next semester that he was held back a grade. His foster parents and social workers failed to investigate why.
Being held back at that age, going from a high-achieving academic track in school to a trade school track, was "devastating," he said.
"The biggest disappointment in my life. I was invested in being a good student," he said. "Why didn't somebody come to my rescue?"
He overcame, he's not sure why. But foster parents and social workers failing to heed such warning signs in other children's lives can lead to "so much potential lost," Emory said. "These children may have the potential to do great things.
"I appreciate what you do, but think beyond simply protection. For every one [foster child] who succeeds there are hundreds who have fallen by the wayside," he said.
Also at the event, three area social workers were honored for their positive impact on children, families and the community.
The honorees were Daniel Jenkins, a case manager for the Children's Home Society; Maria Difato, a licensed clinical supervisor for the Child Guidance Center; and Inderjit Vicky Basra, director of family preservation for Family Support Services of North Florida.
The conference is for local organizations that work with
children and families to discuss best practices in preventing child abuse.
"This conference gives our community's child abuse prevention organizations
the opportunity to share experiences and swap notes that will help all of us
serve our families more effectively," said Prudence Williams, Exchange Club
Family Center program director.
"By empowering parents to learn nonviolent, nurturing parenting skills, we can strengthen families and put a stop to child abuse before it ever begins," she said.
This year's panel of speakers discussed human trafficking, stress management, fetal alcohol syndrome and, Emory's topic, overcoming adverse childhood experiences.
Beth Cravey
24 April 2013
