Celebrating People with a Purpose |
Welcome to our first issue of Caring Connection, celebrating Social Work Appreciation Month in March. In this issue, we will profile some of our team members in their work with children and families, provide insight into how to get your first (or next) job, offer advice on self-care, and highlight an innovative program and our work in child welfare. In issues of Caring Connection, we hope to provide answers to the questions we had when we started our careers.
Cornerstones of Care is launching this newsletter to provide advice and tips to people in social services, particularly those early in their careers. In 2023, we are defining our purpose through the rallying cry “Courageous Action Requires Everyone” (CARE), and we are publishing this free, quarterly newsletter to help you be at your best as you strive to serve others and make your community stronger.
Our work in trauma-informed care, including foster care and adoption, touches significant parts of public society. As case managers and specialists, we lean on our knowledge of law enforcement, public education, and social services, such as food stamps, as we serve families. Often, our work requires developing a level of understanding not taught in schools, and we want to share some of that knowledge with you.
In future issues, we will make suggestions for ongoing education and ways to grow in your career. If you have questions or story ideas, send them here. If you’ve received the newsletter from a colleague and want to subscribe for free, you can do so here.
Who are we?
Cornerstones of Care provides trauma-informed care to children and families in Missouri, Kansas, and beyond. We live out our mission of helping build safe, healthy communities through youth and family support, foster care and adoption, and education and training. You can learn more at cornerstonesofcare.org.
– Meredith Rose, President and CEO
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Getting Your First Job in the Social Sector |
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With graduation day approaching, now is a good time to share a few tips on getting your first – or next – job in the social sector.
Social services positions have a unique mix of required and preferred skills. Showcasing your knowledge and experience in your resume and cover letter can get you an interview, and your interview expertise will get you possibly more interviews or skill tests, which will hopefully lead to a job offer.
Don’t let a common interview question such as, “What do you know about us?” trip you up. It’s a chance to discuss how you might fit in with the organization and its culture. It also gives your prospective employer a chance to see if you’ve done your homework. Take the time to, at minimum, do a Google search of the organization you are interviewing with to understand their work.
Shelia Rancatore, Cornerstones of Care’s Executive Director of Missouri Programs and Services, encourages prospective employees to make a list of questions to ask in the interview.
“Interviewing is a two-way street, and you need to make sure the company and position are a good fit for you, too,” Shelia said.
Another common request in an interview is “tell us about yourself,” which is another good reason to research the organization you are interviewing with ahead of time. It’s also a good reason to make sure your resume is current and includes relevant volunteer experiences. At Cornerstones of Care, new team members typically are trained for specific job skills, and interviewers are interested in your “soft skills.”
“We look for enthusiasm for the work we do and an ability to communicate well during the interview,” said Shelia. “We want to see the candidate’s ability to engage with others, and that person shows openness to working with diverse populations and situations.”
Another common question is, “Where do you want to be in five years?” Interviewers don’t expect you to have a crystal ball but want candidates to show an understanding of their career trajectory and, more importantly, that they have the desire to learn and grow. This question can often lead to how well you have mastered fundamental skills, such as communication and time management.
“We write documents such as court reports and home studies, which are very different from writing a text or email,” said Shelia. “And organization and time management often aren’t fully developed until you’re working in this field. Our team members juggle multiple tasks, due dates, and planning to accomplish everything in their workload.”
Social service agencies that work with state contracts have background requirements for candidates or new hires that are time-consuming and non-negotiable. At Cornerstones of Care, candidates who move forward in the interview process will be asked to do a drug screening, take a tuberculosis test, and submit to fingerprinting for a background check.
“The process can be accomplished in less than two weeks or take much longer depending on a few factors,” said Susanne Turner, Cornerstones of Care’s Human Resources Manager.
Susanne spent more than a decade helping foster families manage state licensing requirements before moving to human resources. She says the process can go smoothly if candidates stay focused.
“Young people who have moved frequently need to have addresses for their past five years as part of the background check,” said Susanne.
You will also need to fill out background documents using the name on your driver’s license and birth certificate, even if you go by a different name. Occasionally, background checks are significantly slowed down because names don’t match. Most importantly, it would be best if you shared anything in your history that may come up in a background check.
“If there’s anything we should know about, you should disclose it up front,” said Susanne.
You’ve made it through the hiring process and start your new job. Shelia says the best way to onboard for a new job is to come prepared to spend time reading, completing training, and observing others. The job search is a big hurdle, and now the real work begins.
“Ask lots of questions to make sure you understand things fully,” said Shelia. “And, look for ways to develop relationships with your co-workers and others by grabbing coffee, eating lunch together, or joining work-related activities.”
Good luck on the job hunt!
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Foster Care Case Management Specialist on our Gillis Campus |
We are looking for someone who is committed to helping families create lasting change so they can be safe and healthy. Our Foster Care Case Management Specialists work with a small caseload of youth and parents to connect with resources and supports, learn new ways to be resilient, and strengthen families. Specialists serve as the hub of the professional family support team to ensure good communication, everyone is working towards the same goal, and all identified needs are met.
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Human Trafficking and Tech Safety |
Take advantage of Cornerstones of Care’s Continuing Education training for professionals working in child welfare. Join us for Human Trafficking and Tech Safety, from 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. on May 25 at our Kansas City, Kansas, location.
The Human Trafficking and Tech Safety course will explore what human trafficking looks like and what is currently being done to combat it. Participants will learn how they can empower and advocate for victims through a multi-disciplinary, trauma-informed approach. The course will highlight the impact of trafficking on victims, and trauma-informed responses to meet the needs of those who have been victimized. Instructors will also cover safety tips and tricks for staying safe online and keeping youth safe while they are online.
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Social Work Month Highlights
the Work of Child Advocates
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These stories of some our team members demonstrate the commitment and skills that are common in social services. |
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Kaitlyn McLaughlin, LMSW
PMTO Therapist
From Burger King to Cornerstones of Care, Kaitlyn McLaughlin has been breaking barriers, going against the norm, and impacting the lives of those around her.
At age 15, Kaitlyn’s first job was at Burger King in Olathe, Kansas. While at work, she learned that one of the other employees got injured on the job. Because this team member was from a different country, they weren’t eligible to receive workman’s comp. Kaitlyn was outraged by the system’s unfairness and how she would be treated differently in the same situation just because she was a U.S. citizen.
“I kinda threw a tantrum,” said Kaitlyn.
In the end, Kaitlyn was able to help the injured employee get medical care and paid time off to ensure she was okay. Even at a young age, the situation sparked an interest in advocacy and helping others, leading Kaitlyn to pursue a career in social work.
In 2019, Kaitlyn was among the first to be hired on the foster care case management team when Cornerstones of Care began their contract in Kansas. Like other foster care providers in the state, Kaitlyn uses Parent Management Training – Oregon (PMTO) in therapy sessions with her clients.
“It’s a therapeutic parenting modality that partners with the parents to utilize their strengths to build a closer attachment with the child,” explained Kaitlyn, the only Cornerstones of Care team member fully certified in the modality. Much of her work is done in client’s homes.
“I really like PMTO because it’s a good balance – I work with adults and my little kiddos.”
Over time, Kaitlyn noticed that some kids in the foster care system bounce from placement to placement, sometimes without a place to stay at night. In January, Cornerstones of Care opened an emergency shelter at our Ozanam Campus.
“To me, the need is that these kids aren’t in a stable placement, so they’re not receiving stable services, and they might not have anyone to talk to,” said Kaitlyn.
To respond to this need, Kaitlyn started what she calls “The Therapy Clinic” at our Ozanam Campus to provide therapy and emotional support to temporarily housed kids at the shelter. Since February, she has spent four hours each Wednesday hanging out with the kids and meeting with them one-on-one as needed.
“It’s a place to vent or practice mindfulness or whatever they need it to be like.”
Kaitlyn is pleased so far with the response to the clinic and hopes that it will grow to include more therapists, more daytime meeting options, and more services for the youth.
“I see so much potential with it,” said Kaitlyn.
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Ikeshia Miller, BSW
Lead Foster Care Case Manager
While studying to become a social worker, Ikeshia Miller learned that a close friend was planning to take her life by jumping off the Kingshighway Bridge in St. Louis, Missouri.
At the time, Ikeshia was taking an introductory social work class and was six hours from her friend in distress.
“I read something that said, ‘If someone is trying to do that, ‘keep them on the phone,’” said Ikeshia.
So, she stayed on the phone, and Ikeshia and several others drove to that spot on the bridge to be with their friend. They surrounded and hugged her, and the girl decided not to jump off the bridge that day.
“After that, I dove into social justice,” said Ikeshia.
A Wyandotte County native, Ikeshia has worked with kids in various settings since she was 16. From a Girl Scouts Troop Leader to a Case Coordinator at KVC, Ikeshia has kept her roots in the Kansas City area and has little intention of leaving.
“The Wyandotte community is so special,” she said. “I chose WyCo because I was a child here that DCF (Department of Children and Families) was coming to get.” At a young age, Ikeshia was taken in by her aunt and uncle, who supported her through college and beyond.
In 2016, she accepted a job as a Youth Behavioral Specialist at Cornerstones of Care. By January 2023, she had been promoted twice to Lead Foster Care Case Manager.
“In my role, I assist my supervisor to make sure my team feels supported,” said Ikeshia. “I also help him create permanency for the kids through the case managers and lead lots of training.”
Just one month ago, Ikeshia achieved her first permanency and helped two girls in western Kansas get adopted.
“Their adoption was handled by the person that got their mother adopted,” said Ikeshia. “This was the first in-person adoption in Olathe since COVID, and it was awesome to participate in.”
Throughout the year, the Kansas foster care team works with many high-need cases involving kids who have been in the system for a long time.
When not working or caring for her two-year-old daughter, Cenovia, Ikeshia likes to spend time with her sorority and motorcycle club.
“The biker group satisfies my need to party,” said Ikeshia, with a laugh.
“The work-life balance is hard. But I always tell myself, ‘If I don’t do it, who else is going to do it?’”
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Ben Feuer, LMSW
Therapist I, Eastern Missouri
When Ben Feuer was an undergraduate at the University of Cleveland, he had trouble deciding between a degree in journalism or social work.
“I had an interest in people and people’s stories and where people come from and an interest in social justice issues,” said Ben.
Once he took an introductory social work course, the decision became more apparent. He learned how diverse the field of social work was and all that was possible with one degree. He also met an influential professor, Xan Boone, who worked with Child Protective Services in Ohio as a trainer.
“She introduced me to the child welfare field, and that’s where I got my passion for doing it. She was an expert in her craft and was able to help me develop a lot of skills.”
Directly out of college, Ben joined the Cornerstones of Care team as a Family Preservation Specialist, providing short-term case management to families in St. Louis. His long-term goal was to become a therapist, but he first wanted to gain valuable experience in the field.
In 2022, following a short hiatus from Cornerstones of Care, Ben saw a job opening as a therapist and decided that now was the time to jump in.
For Ben, one of the personal hurdles he had to overcome was doing his own personal work so that he could fully show up in the therapy room and relate to his clients.
“There’s a lot of stigma around going to therapy for males, and anyone really,” said Ben. “Being vulnerable in my personal life has really helped me as a therapist.”
On a professional level, Ben had to learn how to rely on his team for support during tough times.
“Since I work with younger kids and many difficult cases, I depend on collaboration with other professionals,” said Ben. “That’s why social work is so important. We have case management skills and can get other people involved – counselors, parents, teachers, and other professionals.”
In addition to case management, Ben also believes that social work plays a vital role in advocating for clients’ needs.
“There’s a lot of marginalized groups that are under attack right now,” said Ben. “And the job of social workers is to advocate and give people a voice who don’t have a voice.”
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Develop a Safety Plan to Reduce Stress |
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Have you heard the phrase “Plan the work and work the plan?” That’s true in self-care as well.
Working with children and families in trauma-informed care can take its toll on case managers, therapists, and others in the field. Cornerstones of Care is certified by the Sanctuary Institute, which provides a model and toolkit to help the families we serve and to ensure our team members don’t become physically or mentally overwhelmed by the work.
A safety plan is part of an overall self-care plan that provides an in-the-moment non-harmful response to elevated emotions. During New Employee Orientation, Cornerstones of Care teaches new team members about the Sanctuary Model framework and guides them through the steps of developing a safety plan. At its core, the safety plan consists of three important steps:
- Identify emotions that are difficult for you to manage.
- Pinpoint activities that trigger those emotions.
- Brainstorm five or six activities that will help you through those emotional challenges.
It will require a certain amount of introspection to identify your emotional triggers and what brings them on. You will be surprised how quickly you will start to notice these emotions when you’ve tuned your radar to them. The activities can bring you joy, physical movement, or anything that interrupts the downward spiral of your emotions and helps to reduce stress.
At Cornerstones of Care, we ask team members to write down their safety plan and store it with their name badge. That way, the safety plan is accessible when it is needed.
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Quick Stress Reduction Tip: Try Box Breathing |
Box breathing is a simple, effective way to relieve stress and gain focus that can be done anywhere.
- To begin, expel breath from your lungs.
- Inhale through your nose to the count of four.
- Hold that breath for a count of four.
- Exhale through your mouth for a four count.
- Hold your breath with your lungs empty for a four count.
After a series of three or more box breaths, people often feel their shoulders and other parts of their body relax, along with a growing sense of calm and focus.
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Let’s Talk About It: SELF-HARM |
March 1 was Self-Injury Awareness Day, a global awareness event meant to bring attention to the reality of self-harm in hopes of helping those who engage in it. This is one of those topics that we tend to avoid, as inflicting physical harm on oneself can seem illogical and frightening. Understanding why someone self-harms and how to respond to it can be difficult.
FACT: Talking about self-harm or suicide with someone does not increase the likelihood that someone will engage in it.
In fact, research suggests the opposite. By talking about self-harm or suicidal thoughts and behaviors while gently supporting those who may be struggling, we offer them valuable love and care that can help them significantly during their time of struggle.
Avoiding topics around mental health, like self-harm, just increases the stigma and shame around it – which sometimes can worsen the behaviors. Let’s choose a different path and talk about self-harm: what is it, how we recognize it, and what we do when someone we love engages in it.
Let’s start with a simple definition. Self-harm, also called non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), is a coping mechanism, usually in response to trauma.
When someone experiences trauma, they can develop a dissociative response to protect themselves from experiencing more pain. Dissociation, as the word suggests, typically involves disconnecting from one’s sense of self – physically, emotionally, or otherwise. Self-harm behaviors release a rush of endorphins which help to self-regulate strong negative emotions or engage physical awareness when feeling emotionally numb.
Side note: It’s important to distinguish between self-harm and suicide. In the case of self-harm, the intention of the act is not to take one’s life. However, this does not mean that self-harm is not dangerous. Those who engage in self-harm are putting their physical health at risk and are more likely to attempt suicide in the future.
According to a study by the American Journal of Public Health, over 17% of teens report engaging in some type of self-injury. The risk is even higher for college students. For some individuals, self-harm can involve cutting, burning, head-banging, or interfering with healing wounds. These behaviors look different for everyone and range in severity and frequency.
So, what do we do about it?
Start with empathy and compassion. If you suspect someone is engaging in self-harm, ask them gently about it.
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Partnering for safe and healthy communities.
- Youth & family support
- Foster care & adoption
- Education and training
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