Happy National Professional Social Work Month! This month we will be shining a spotlight on some of the dedicated social workers at Family & Children’s Agency. Today, we highlight James Gilliard, FFT Senior Family Support Specialist.
Why did you decide to become a social worker?
I decided to become a social worker, not only because I like to help others, but because I noticed how there are very few men who work in this field. Being a man of Afro-Latino culture, it is even more rare to find someone who looks like me in the social work world. Since I find it rather easy to connect with others, I feel that it’s important to give those people who look similar to me, somebody they can talk to and perhaps look up to. Coming from where I’m from, there weren’t many role models that looked like my friends and I, nor the youth and/or families we serve. I aim to change this narrative.
Why do you think FCA’s work is integral for the community?
I think FCA’s work is integral for the community because we tend to handle the tasks that nobody else can. Working in Foster Care specifically, I’ve seen many instances where FCA was the last saving grace to house a child when no other agencies could. I also believe that FCA addresses things that constantly need to be addressed, such as housing issues amongst struggling families, and the mental health factor behind it. FCA can be a safe space for many kinds of people in the community.
What about your work for FCA are you most proud of and why?
I am mostly proud of the connections that I’ve built with most of my clients and families I work with. There are many times where families or kids do not know who they can trust, since they have been let down by others in the past. To be able to gain the trust of those who I work with is a heartwarming feeling because it tells me that I am impacting their lives in a positive way. If my clients understand that I am doing all that I can to support them, I will feel like I am doing right by them.
What’s one tip you’ve found helpful for your client?
One tip that I’ve found helpful for my clients is the way that I communicate with them. I don’t try to use big words or sound extra sophisticated when I engage. Sometimes you just have to speak like them, using certain slang terms that they use, just to present things in a more casual way that they’ll understand and be receptive to. I also make sure that I always tell them the truth about life, so that they do not have a false sense of security nor an unrealistic outlook of the “real world.” I often see people talk to their clients in a dry tone, using big words with little to no emotion, or just with a lack of passion. Clients, especially kids, pick up on the way you speak to them, and will not want to engage if they feel like they are talking to another “pawn” in the system. I make sure that my clients know that I am not here to make their lives harder, and that I truly want them to succeed in their lives. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders, so we need to show them that we genuinely care.
