Social Stars: One on One Support for a Social Worker

Child Protection Professionals are on the front lines of seeking permanency and safety for vulnerable families, children, and communities. This often means they are right in the middle of the chaos and heartache of broken lives. Their work is demanding, stressful, and they are often under-resourced and over-burdened. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, annual turnover rates below 10–12 percent are considered optimal or healthy. For the past 15 years, Child Protection Professionals turnover rates have been estimated at 20–40 percent. The Social Stars program was created and is currently implemented with another child welfare supporting organization in Northern Virginia, called Project Belong Virginia. The Social Stars project connects community members (volunteers) to a child protection professional to provide simple monthly words of encouragement, gestures of support, and recognition as they work on behalf of vulnerable children in our region. Child Protection Professionals are busy, so these forms of encouragement need to look like: Thoughtful emails Letters Flowers from your yard A candy bar A$5 coffee card Your role is to simply remind them they are seen, doing a good job, and they are important. This opportunity requires a 30 minute training and is an ongoing, long term opportunity to check in twice a week for 1 year, at least.