University UMC adopts child caseworkers


San Antonio church
shows appreciation
for those aiding kids


By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
They look into the eyes of starving children every day. These Bexar County caseworkers brush away the tears of those children who—even though their parents may have hurt them—would rather face the pain of abuse than the fear of foster care.
The job is difficult and thankless. It requires long hours of clear judgment and tough decisions.
The work provides few rewards—except the inner knowledge that one more child has been saved from premature death.
A group from University UMC, San Antonio, believes caseworkers rarely hear how much the community appreciates them. As a result, these United Methodists joined Bexar County’s Adopt-A-Caseworker program in hopes of reminding the social service agents that their job is highly valued.
“This (outreach effort) lets caseworkers know that people do care about what they’re doing,” said Coleen Young, who organizes the program for University UMC. “It is such an overwhelming job for very underwhelming pay.
They basically work 24/7. If anything happens, they’re there.
“This lets them know there are people in the community who appreciate what they’re doing. It lets them know they are not alone.”
Adopt-A-Caseworker began in 2006 through Child Protective Services, though the idea had been around for two or three years before that, said Kathy Hill, community initiatives specialist for Child Protective Services’ Region 8.
The program is a volunteer project. It connects caseworkers with individuals or community groups to help meet the needs of neglected and abused children, Hill said.
When caseworkers are adopted, they usually meet their sponsor and trade contact information, Hill said. When the caseworker has a need for the children under his or her care that can’t be met by a child resource organization like the Rainbow Room, the county agent approaches the adopting group.
Groups may meet the need or refuse it.
“Needs are as varied as the cases,” Hill said. “Lots of times, families need help. Some of these families get their relatives’ children, and they have absolutely nothing but the clothes on their backs.”
Caseworkers get lots of requests for twin beds because children are placed with relatives or families who
don’t have extra beds, she added.
Twenty-five Child Protective Services caseworkers currently have been adopted, Hill said—13 by groups and individuals within University UMC.
The three caseworkers in San Antonio from Waco-based Methodist Children’s Home have been adopted by University UMC as well, Young said. The Waco home places children facing bad home situations into foster care or provides adoptions.
The San Antonio congregation opted to get involved, Young said, because it has an interest in child abuse in Bexar County.
Members organized a task force that discussed what they could do to prevent child abuse. A group meets every month to make scrapbooks for foster children.
The church plays host to a “heart gallery,” a collection of 50 portraits of children difficult to adopt because of disabilities or their family grouping.
When a group within the church expresses interest in adopting a caseworker, Young said she provides information about the program. She recommends that groups contact caseworkers at least once a month.
Young said she has seen much success with the program.
One University member, a teacher at a San Antonio elementary school, adopted two caseworkers with her class.
“They have done so much for (the caseworkers),” Young said. “They’ve collected diapers and gifts for the caseworkers and raised enough money to give all the kids in (the caseworkers’) care gifts for Christmas. That’s been a neat thing.”
Another group from University played host to a Christmas party at the church for all the children under another caseworker’s care.
While the primary purpose of the program is to provide for emergency needs, the program also has its emotional benefits.
Young said those involved at University send caseworkers encouragement cards and provide small gift baskets every now and then.
And they pray for them.
“It’s a really hard job getting out there and seeing the abuse and poverty in the community,” said Rhonda Dyer, director of the San Antonio office for Methodist Children’s Home. “But to know that a group of people is behind you and supporting you emotionally and spiritually, it’s really encouraging.
“This is really a great relationship.”
Hill said, “This program lets caseworkers know that someone appreciates what they’re doing. It boosts morale. They know that somebody cares and knows that they work hard.”
If Bexar County churches would like to take part in the Adopt-A-Caseworker program, contact Hill at (210) 337-3425. Young said she would share University’s presentation about how a church group can get involved. Call her at (210) 279-4257.