Choosing Compassion to Support Families
Shrounda Selivanoff, Social Services Manager, WA State Office of Public Defense
What if, instead of focusing on risk and permanency as the primary objectives when engaging with child welfare families, we saw relationship building and connection as pivotal factors in supporting families fixed on well-being, considering this approach as one potential route to remedying parental deficiencies? This shift puts us on a path that requires an
essential partner—compassion. Compassion serves as a building block for connection and engagement for families. So, let’s talk about compassion when supporting parents in child
welfare and its impacts on us all.
Why Compassion? Why Now?
Vivek Sankaran- Director, Child Advocacy Law Clinic, University of Michigan Law School
In the demanding field of child welfare, professionals are continually faced with the suffering of the children, families, and communities they serve. This session will make the case for why now, more than ever, child welfare professionals must embrace compassion—not just as a tool for supporting others but as a necessary practice for noticing and responding to
their own suffering. By cultivating compassion, we can foster resilience, prevent burnout, and improve well-being, leading to better outcomes for ourselves and the families we serve.
Through this lens, the session will explore how recognizing and addressing both external
and internal suffering can strengthen our capacity to navigate the complex emotional and systemic challenges of child welfare work. Participants will leave with practical strategies to integrate compassion into their professional and personal lives, ultimately helping to build a healthier, more effective child welfare system. Slides
Self-Compassion and the Need to Be Kinder to Ourselves
Sheri Freemont- Managing Director, Judicial & National Engagements, Casey Family Programs
This session will offer understanding of the ways that our human selves suffer in the context
of serving others. Self-compassion concepts and practices can support human brains and experiences naturally. Applying self-compassion can cultivate a balanced perspective as to our roles in child welfare. Slides
Compassionate Action in Child Welfare: Opening the Door to Personal, Familial, and Professional Change
Dr. Jim Henry- Director of Western Michigan University’s SAMHSA National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Compassion is a presence and action that provides people safe spaces where they and their story can be heard and seen without judgment. In such a safe place a person experiences
being understood, accepted, and valued. In child welfare, compassion reduces the inherent shame of children and parents who have experienced trauma due to maltreatment.
Compassion opens the door to person – personal and professional partnerships to address and resolve familial trauma and subsequent system challenges. Child welfare professionals (i.e. caseworker, lawyer, judge, clinician) increase the opportunity for expediting familial
healing and recovery through compassion. However, cultivating such compassionate presence and action can be challenging for child welfare professionals given tremendous
system stressors and secondary traumatic stress. However, research details the health, emotional, social, and relational growth to self and others when compassionate action drives
interaction and intervention.
Slides
Narratives and Nuance: Enhancing Child Welfare Practice Through Intentional Listening
Bridgette Carr, Director, Human Trafficking Clinic, University of Michigan Law School
Rick Barinbaum, Lecturer and Field Instructor, University of Michigan School of Social Work
In this virtual program designed for child welfare professionals, including judges, lawyers, social workers, and caseworkers, we will explore the profound impact of the narratives we create and the ways in which we listen. We will concentrate on the art of deep listening as
we delve into the stories we tell ourselves, focusing on how our internal narratives and default perspectives shape our view of the world and what we hear. The program will
include didactic presentations and interactive polls to engage participants and encourage
reflection on these critical skills in an individual and collaborative team. Slides Article