Speaker: Elizabeth Wynter
So to drive meaningful change in the child welfare system, we have to do it holistically. We have to address all six conditions of systems change. And so that first level is what is explicit or what we typically see when we talk about the child welfare system. And so that's our policies, our practices and our resources, right? The next level of systems change is the semi explicit and that is the power dynamics and the relationships and connections that exist. And at the bottom of our systems change components sits the implicit or sometimes invisible. And that is the mental models and oftentimes these mental models are holding the problem in place. And so as we go about trying to integrate youth voice into our system of care, we have to consider all factors. And the most important factor that is really holding the issue of youth voice in place is how we as child welfare professionals see young people in child welfare. Do we see them as service recipients or do we view them as organizational assets? Do we see them as teens who are broken or do we see them as young people with the capacity to make decisions about their lives? And so as we try to make this shift, right, the first transformation is really a transformation of our view of young people. And so in order to do that, you know, as we go along, the first thing you're going to notice is, oh my gosh, young people aren't at the table and then you're going to advocate for their inclusion and you're going to ensure that they are prepared, supported and debriefed for such opportunities. But we need to also wear, put on different hats. And so one thing we're going to talk about is perceptual positions. And so there's three perceptual positions for us to consider. The first is self, right? It's viewing the situation from our own perspective to understand our own thoughts, feelings and reactions. And so, and then we have to also recognize our biases that we bring or our power influence that we bring. And so think about a 16 year old on your caseload, who you want to talk to about adoption, right? Parents rights have been terminated. And the next phase is to talk about adoption. And when you talk to this young person, you find that they are not open to consider adoption. And so from a child welfare perspective, we might find that frustrating, confusing, thinking that that is really ultimately, that's the goal, right? We want to reach permanency, we want this young person to have a family. So that's our perceptual position. That's the first, right? The second position is really the other. So we're going to adopt another person's viewpoint to really understand their thoughts, feelings and experiences. And this empathetic approach really helps us understand what our mental models are. And so in the second position, we're going to consider this experience from the eyes of a young person. And so if you're thinking about the 16 year old, they may feel like they want to be independent, they don't want another family, they have an allegiance and a loyalty to their biological family and they expect to go back home, when they age out of care. And so, for the youth, they're sitting in a very different position than we are, but it's important that we understand, where they are so that we can, discuss all of that with them. And then the last position really the third position is what's considered that of the observer. And so if you were able to remove yourself and the youth and look at this from an outside or third party perspective, you know, what would we see? You know, that it's important to value the young person if they're not open to adoption, perhaps that path is not going to be, supported and valued and sustained if the young person, isn't ready or open to that idea. Right? And so I think it's important that we're able to shift back and forth between these perspectives. I think it helps us shift our mental models. And so, just remember, it starts with us. Change begins with us so be the change.
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