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Lessons Learned #7

Child welfare leaders must recognize and mitigate intergenerational relationship challenges to promote meaningful connections between professionals and children and youth.

The Quality Improvement Center on Engaging Youth in Finding Permanency (QIC-EY) is producing a series of Lessons Learned to share fundamental insights about engagement of children and youth, especially in relation to permanency decisions. Each lesson brings to life insights and knowledge gained as the QIC-EY project progresses.

The Lesson

Child welfare leaders must recognize and mitigate intergenerational relationship challenges to promote meaningful connections between professionals and children and youth. This can be achieved by creating favorable conditions and professional development opportunities for staff that address differences in communication styles, technology use, values, and expectations.

By recognizing the different ways that adults and children interact and create connections, child welfare leaders can encourage a culture committed to bridging communication gaps, enhancing mutual understanding, and fostering more supportive relationships with children and youth.

Hear from the Expert

Hear directly from Amy Martin, a QIC-EY Site Consultant on intergenerational relationship challenges.

About Amy Martin

Amy Martin is a career child welfare professional having spent over 30 years working for the Missouri Department of Social Services/Children’s Division, ending her time with the Division as a Permanency Program Manager focusing on identifying and providing supports to youth and their families for successful permanency.  Following her retirement she joined the Spaulding for Children team as a contractor working on the National Training Development Curriculum (NTDC) project and is also currently serving as a site consultant for the Quality Improvement Center on Engaging Youth in Finding Permanency in Missouri and Michigan.

Application of the Lesson

By implementing strategies to bridge intergenerational gaps, child welfare leaders can minimize conflicts and create alignment between adult professionals and the children and youth they serve. This approach will help enhance mutual understanding and support more meaningful connections. If you are a leader in child welfare, consider these strategies to ensure the professionals you work with understand their role and have the necessary tools to forge deeper connections with children and youth

1. Communication Styles

Communication is key in building connections, and different styles can create significant barriers between generations. Younger people might favor texting, social media, or instant messaging, while older adults may prefer and expect face-to-face conversations or telephone calls. Insisting that children and youth adapt to your communication methods can lead to misunderstandings and feelings of being unheard and undervalued. To reduce communication challenges, child welfare leaders can:

    • Encourage professionals to use multiple communication channels: A combination of face-to-face meetings, phone calls, texts, and social media can make children and youth feel more comfortable and understood. Professionals may need to be introduced to specific social media platforms relevant to youth and some may wish to create work-specific accounts.
    • Enhance active listening techniques: Experiential exercises and role-playing scenarios where professionals are encouraged to do things like repeat back what they’ve heard to ensure clarity and show they are truly listening – regardless of the communication method – can help professionals adapt their communication styles and listening skills.

2. Technology Use

Advancements in technology impact all areas of society, including child welfare. Virtual therapy sessions, home visits, and streamlined case management systems are some examples. While children and youth are generally more skilled at using technology, adults may struggle. While we can’t stop the technological changes from coming, child welfare leaders can work to address these differences by:

    • Developing training programs on current technologies and social media platforms: Expose professionals to new technologies and social media platforms and create opportunities for skill building. Also, help staff resist the urge to dismiss the importance of technology and social media in young people’s lives.
    • Create opportunities for children and youth to teach professionals: Pair tech-savvy youth with adults to help them learn the latest technology. This reverse mentoring can foster mutual respect and understanding while improving technological skills for professionals.

3. Values and Societal Norms

Broadly speaking, each generation is influenced by the societal norms and values they grew up with. These differences can lead to conflicting views on important issues surrounding what individuals feel is expected and/or acceptable. Instead of letting these conflicting perspectives create friction and hinder the development important connections between professionals and children and youth, leaders can:

    • Be intentional and model self-awareness and a growth mindset: Open conversations with staff about what is important across generations can help to disrupt the cycle of professionals thinking they are the sole authority on what is appropriate or important for children and youth. Leaders that prioritize having these conversations with staff encourage more awareness of the impact of these dynamics and create the conditions for more authentic connections.
    • Tackle stereotypes and preconceived notions: Recognize that stereotypes often influence professionals’ thoughts and actions toward children and youth. Making it clear that stereotyping has no place in child welfare work is essential. Integrating these elements into professional development and fostering mutual respect and open-mindedness will mitigate negative impacts on children and youth.
    • Encourage cultural curiosity: Consider how culture impacts societal norms and values. When forging relationships with children and youth, it is particularly important to consider how culture may impact relationship building and dynamics. For example:
      • Language and Communication Styles: Some cultures may prioritize indirect communication while others are more direct.
      • The Role of Elders: Some cultures may have views on aging that impact how children and youth interact with people who are older than them.

4. Misaligned Expectations

Adults often have expectations for children that may not align with the children’s own goals and interests, creating pressure and straining relationships. This misalignment is especially pronounced in child welfare, where professionals may prioritize what they believe is best and what they believe is possible, overlooking the children’s perspectives. Leaders in child welfare must be aware of these dynamics and support their teams in embracing active listening, innovative thinking, and clear communication.

To better align expectations with children and youth, leaders should encourage workers to:

    • Create opportunities for open conversations: Find ways to engage in intentional dialogues that allow children and youth to express their goals and concerns.
    • Resist presumptive thinking: Avoid assuming they know what’s best, instead valuing the child’s or youth’s insights.
    • Engage in empathetic conversations with: Have difficult yet empathetic conversations about limitations, offering hope and understanding.

By embracing these strategies and minimizing unnecessary conflicts, child welfare leaders assume the responsibility for acknowledging and working to disrupt intergenerational challenges that can be barriers for professionals to create strong and meaningful relationships with children and youth.

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