Jamaica Should Consider this New Approach To Social Work

By

I’d like to introduce a new Best Practice in Social Work to Jamaica. I’ve shared this idea with the Jamaica Theological Seminary where I teach as a visiting Lecturer. It is called Family Group Decision-Making (FGDM) and Youth Transitional Conferences (YTC). These programs are now the best practice methods of doing Social work and particularly Child Welfare. They focus on empowering the family and the individuals, so that social work is now about strengthening the family and individuals in crisis. This is done by bringing the “family” (any strong ties by blood or otherwise) together, identifying the concerned individuals connections and the strengths and resources already in the family and community and build on them. This helps the family to heal by giving them the tools and resources and provide the services that connects them to these resources to realize their plan. That’s a mouthful right there. But what am I proposing here? 


I had the privilege of working with the Pennsylvania Child Welfare and Protective Services for years and was trained and even directed the FGDM program which was one program in Child Protective Services and welfare that focuses on strengthening the family so as to minimize the number of children in aggregate care. I was also a certified Social Services Case Manager and program Facilitator here in Pennsylvania with the Department of Human Services CUA. What was indispensable to the program was the philosophy that the problem individuals already have strengths, one of which is their connections, their family and friends in communities that also possess tremendous resources and opportunities to help these individuals and their families. As a result, it was important that all the links that play a significant role in the individuals life, both past and present, religious, blood, sports or otherwise, come together and develop a working plan towards a particular change. In so doing the family is empowered to work on their plan and own their plan within a supportive community that they can identify with and hold them accountable. The Social worker manages the initial groundwork of bringing the family together and provide the necessary resources and services that facilitate this method until he or she can retreat. The family then becomes more aware and can provide help to other people in their community. 


I am proposing that Jamaica explore this program and build on in the Jamaican schools curricula. Colleges must take the lead in this program in social work and child welfare that’s on the cutting edge. I plan to introduce this to the GOJ as a way to build this in their social work and child welfare policy. But it’d be great if Jamaican colleges take the lead in this and start providing courses in FGDM and YTC that focuses on strengthening the family and the individual and prepares youth in care for their transition. I’d like us to explore this and start having the conversation about what this program is and would look like. This conversation should lead to developing a program proposal that leads to an FGDM and YTC that fits the Jamaican context. But this will take time. But an initial conversation would suffice at first. 


However it would be worthwhile to consider a program like this as it is widely successful. In Pennsylvania and Philadelphia particularly, we have seen a drastic reduction in the number of children and youths in aggregate care over the last 5 years from over 23 percent to now 15 percent. Further the reputation of Social Work and Child Welfare gets a boost as it is no longer seen as family disrupters but family “strengtheners”; because it aims to find family and connections in community to help the concerned family and individuals devise their own plan to fix their own problems. Then the Social Worker helps to facilitate the bridging and linking of support and services within the family and community. This approach also aides to minimize conflicts leading to crime and violence in Community as the family and community becomes more adept at resolving conflicts through non-violent means and deepen the bond between their members. 




The article was written and sent to the Editor at the Gleaner Company for Publication. You May view this letter at the Jamaica Gleaner if published. 

Rev. Renaldo McKenzie, M.Phil, M.A
Visiting Lecturer - Jamaica Theological Seminary
renaldo.mckenzie@jts.edu.jm

President & Partner
McKenzie & McKenzie 
Manhattan N.Y. 10027

Renaldo’s Articles and blogs: 

Author of the Upcoming Book:
“NEOLIBERALISM, GLOBALIZATION, INCOME INEQUALITY, POVERTY AND RESISTANCE”

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Zelenskyy: It’s Day 18. We Hold Key Positions. Close The Skies. We’re Going Through The Worst Odeal.

By
Image
In summary, President Zelenskyy said: It’s day 18. We hold key defensive positions. Close the Ukrainian Airspace before it gets worse; Russian bombs have already neared NATO’s borders (within 20 miles).  Negotiations are actively underway between Russia and Ukraine and this has led to the more than 10 corridors that are opened today so that  over 5550 refugees were able to securely leave Kyiv, Kharkiv, Melitopol, Donbas and other regions safely except for Mariupol which remains blocked by Russian troops. They are working on getting that reopened. He visited the wounded and handed out medals today and spoke with several European leaders who assured continued support and shared concerns about the wider implications of Putin’s goals and Russia’s invasion is closing in on their (EU’s) borders. He ended by saying: We are going through the worst ordeal in our history and in our lives to protect the most precious thing we have. We must hold on. We must fight. And we will win...
Read more

Breaking: Russian military shot dead 51-year-old US Correspondent, Brent Renaud in Irpen

By
Image
Kyiv Region Police Chief Andriy Nebytov said that the Russian military had shot dead 51-year-old The New York Times correspondent Brent Renaud in Irpen.  Another journalist was injured and is currently in Okhmatdyt Hospital.  According to open sources, Brent Renaud was a photojournalist and director, making many documentaries with his brother.  The publication itself has not yet confirmed the death of its correspondent. Очільник поліції Київщини Андрій Нєбитов повідомив, що російські військові в Ірпені розстріляли 51-річного кореспондента The New York Times Брента Рено. Ще один журналіст отримав поранення, наразі він перебуває в лікарні «Охматдит». Згідно з даними з відкритих джерел, Брент Рено був фотожурналістом та режисером, разом із братом знімав багато документальних фільмів. У самому виданні поки не підтвердили смерть свого кореспондента Update: The New York Times confirms the death of journalist Brent Renaud, but notes that he did not have accreditation. Update: Th...
Read more

Police Reform in #America Must include Rebranding the Police ...Change their “LOOK”

By
#PoliceReform Must also include rebranding the #PoliceForce; changing their anti friendly countenance, stance, color,  clothes and updating their car. Their “LOOK” needs to become more customer or #CommunityService Friendly. Moral Authority is a currency that has lost value for Law Enforcement and when a currency looses its value it must change, the state must intervene just as the Federal Reserve Bank intervenes to protect its monetary value of its currency in this case the state needs to constantly intervene in the currency of its law enforcement. But this has never been the case. #Democrats and #Republicans are all guilty of their indifference and soft approach to dealing with and restoring  the credibility of the police. States always seem to fail to act or are too slow to protect the integrity of its people and the currency of its police due to political and ideological differences that has nothing to do with building a strong #Policdforce for all people. A force that ser...
Read more

News Update: What’s Happening In The Russian-UKraine War, March 5, 2:05PM

By
Image
President Zelenskyy of Ukraine submitted an update regarding the War: The main points of his message in the video: 1. He calls for a “NO—FLY—ZONE” in the region, and stated that 74 percent of Americans support the no-fly-zone. Yet we have not approved the request, a decision that will help significantly, Ukraine’s advantage in the war.  2. The Armed forces of Ukraine hold all areas of defence and are counterattacking Russian invaders near: Kharkiv, and holding the line in Maykolaiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv region, Sumy region and Dobas.  3. We (Ukraine) inflicted damages on the Invaders; the Russian Army has not reached planned frontiers and ten thousand (10, 000) Russian Soldiers many of whom are 18 - 20 years old were killed.  4. Every Ukrainian is fighting and resisting the enemy even where they are advancing, but not for long.  5. GLORY TO UKRAINE!  Finally regarding My pro account features being blocked by Russia as the platform is Russian owned and developed; I wa...
Read more

What is the “Ultimate” of All Things? By Renaldo McKenzie

By
What is the ultimate of all things? That we become one with reality and with humanity in all of our individuality. A man said “Once you label me, you negate me” (Kierkegaard). I ndeed,  culture of categories, groups and labels minimize, mitigate and or manage change.  Change is not possible when the people are divided. This “Divide” put people against each other. So that, those in “Power” can remain... panning to their “divide” in effect forming a shield of defense that protect their resolve against those on the other side of the “divide”.  Thereby, solidifying their Power and perpetuating the issues that bind and create strife. Indeed, Power uses whatever tools available to it to get what it wants and to maintain, at the unsuspecting “laymen” who are tricked in putting their membership in a group over their membersip of humanity; and shouldn’t this be a crime to put our group over the whole. For isn’t it the ultimate of all things that we are “One” so that none is above ...
Read more