Social service professionals, those who promote the welfare of community members, are everywhere – in schools, offices, mental health clinics, and courtrooms. Some social service professionals find it most effective to provide services in homes, meeting clients in the space where life happens. | |
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“When you go in the home, you are entering a space that is familiar to clients, instead of providing services in an office environment which is unfamiliar and may cause increased stress,” said Allen Goold, Functional Family Therapy Clinical Manager. “It’s a very intimate and real environment that helps everyone to get to know each other and build trust quickly.”
From the moment he walks through the front door, Allen focuses on creating a safe environment for everyone so that healing and growth can occur.
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“People can get intimidated by going in the home, but safety is created by preparing well, building rapport, and collaborating in understanding solutions and environments." | |
October is Substance Abuse Prevention Month | | |
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In honor of Substance Abuse Prevention Month, we'd like to introduce you to Tatum Clark, a Substance Use Counselor who uses her music therapy degree to build trust and provide support to adolescents facing substance misuse.
Tatum's journey started at the juvenile detention center in Springfield, Missouri, where she met kids battling the impact of substance abuse. She witnessed their struggles and realized the urgent need for empathy and understanding.
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From one-on-one sessions with kids in the Ozanam Campus Residential Treatment program to school-based drug education, her work is making a difference in the lives of countless youth in our programs.
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“My end goal is not that kids live a life of full sobriety and never touch alcohol,” said Tatum. “I want kids to not be in prison for something bad that happened in their life and because they turned to substance use. I want them to have other ways to cope, manage, and express themselves.”
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Read the full story and check out Tatum's list of resources for Substance Abuse Prevention Month by clicking the link below.
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What is Ambiguous Loss and Why Should Workers in the Social Sector Know About It? | |
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Ambiguous loss, unlike ordinary loss, is when an individual experiences a loss that is unclear and unresolved. This could include the loss of a family member without verification of death or the slow decline of a loved one due to dementia, substance use disorder, or other mental health diagnosis.
Pauline Boss, a family therapist and the leading principalist behind the concept of ambiguous loss, guides clinicians in the task of building resilience in clients who face the trauma of loss without resolution. She has written several books on the topic, and her research has specifically focused on the ambiguous loss of immigration, addiction, divorce, and aging parents.
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Ambiguous loss is all around us all the time, but on anniversaries like National Substance Abuse Prevention Month and Día de los Muertos, celebrated November 1 and 2, the sting of ambiguous loss can feel all the more present in the lives of those we serve. Some of Boss' guidance for building resilience in the face of ambiguous loss include finding meaning, normalizing ambivalence, and discovering new hope. | |
Call for Continuing Education Course Presenters | |
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Cornerstones of Care is proud to be a leading provider of high-quality, affordable professional development courses, which are presented by experts in a variety of behavioral and mental health subject areas. Our continuing education classes afford professionals the opportunity to expand their knowledge, experience professional growth, and complete required continuing education.
As of October, we have completed our calendar of continuing education classes for the year and are already making plans for next year’s lineup. If you would like to serve as a presenter for a continuing education class or know of someone who would be a good fit, please reach out to our training team. We are always looking to partner with new people to share their knowledge with the community.
CE Courses in 2023:
- My Kids See (and Appreciate) Color
- Chronic Illness and Mental Health
- Human Development in the Post-COVID Era
- Human Trafficking and Tech Safety
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Cornerstones of Care Job Highlight: Foster Care Case Management Specialist KS | | |
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Our Foster Care Case Management Specialists work with a small caseload of youth and parents to connect with resources and supports, learn new ways to be resilient and strengthen families. They serve as the hub of the family support team to ensure good communication, that everyone is working towards the same goal, and that all identified needs are met. They have a high degree of autonomy in scheduling and completing their work, including working from home, in the office, completing home visits, and attending court hearings. | |
Partnering for safe and healthy communities.
- Youth & family support
- Foster care & adoption
- Education and training
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