Retired caseworkers helping parents

In her years as a caseworker for Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Jean Switzer had the chance to become a hardened bureaucrat. She knows the "system" inside and out. She knows its strengths and she knows its weaknesses.

Instead of distancing herself from the system in her retirement, she and two colleagues are spending personal time helping the system to work better for the children's sake. Jean Switzer, Susie Yates and Sharon Jackson have formed "Families Are Forever."

FAF is a brand new organization whose goal is to help motivated parents of children placed in foster care earn back custody of their children.

"Children do best with their birth parents if the birth parents are ready to be parents," said Switzer.

"We are helping parents get ready and helping them work with the system."

Switzer had a client of DCFS with her for the interview. We will call him Gage.

Gage said he only met with Switzer recently and that she has been a tremendous help to him already.

"I lost my kids about a year ago. It was something I have now come to accept full responsibility for," he said. "That is the turning point for anyone in counseling or therapy, they have to own up to their part in things. If you go into this system blaming everyone but yourself, well, you won't get your kids back. And that is a good thing. Until you accept responsibility and start living a decent organized life you have nothing to offer the kids."

Switzer agrees.

"At DCFS most of the parents saw us as the enemy. We took their kids. We caused their problems. Why don't you just keep out of our business? That is very common. At Lutheran Social Services we didn't get that so much. It was 'How can you help me get my kids back?'" Switzer said.

"For that reason I think we are going to be able to do parents and children a lot of good with our organization. We are outside the system. We won't be seen as the enemy. We will be positioned to help the parents make the changes that will earn back their right to custody."

Much of what the parents need to learn is organization. Getting a calendar so they can keep appointments. Being concerned enough to complete treatment programs, classes and be in court when required. Without the skill to accomplish those goals, the parents will not achieve custody.

Gage agrees wholeheartedly.

"Once I started to take responsibility things started to change for me. I kept my appointments, completed my programs and classes. I showed up for my visitations on time," he said.

These things matter to the courts. And they matter to the children.

Picture a child looking forward to a visit with his or her mother or father. At the last minute, the social worker has to tell the child that mommy or daddy is not coming. Rips your heart out doesn't it?

Switzer is hoping to save some children that kind of heartache. She and her friends are hoping to bring the motivated parents back to the children by teaching them the skills necessary to be good parents.

DCFS gives the parents pamphlets that explain the whole procedure of earning back custody. Switzer plans to take her new clients through these materials step by step. This is something that overloaded caseworkers just do not have the time to do.

"The system is swamped. All caseworkers are overloaded. We think we can help," she said.

Families Are Forever holds regular meetings at First Christian Church located at 20 South Webster St. in Harrisburg. Switzer said anyone wanting more information should simply call her at 618-201-6470.