As a social worker in our family foster care services, Nick’s overarching responsibility is to create safer and more stable environments for children and their families. This requires him, like his colleagues, to wear many hats. So on a typical day, Nick finds himself balancing the duties equal to that of a journalist and a firefighter.

During home visits, he observes and notes areas where a family can benefit from support, a requirement to track the well-being of the child. Then there are the unexpected emergencies that require “putting out four fires at a time,” that leave very little room for drawn out decision-making.

“I love being in the field,” Nick said. “I love having to use my wits and mind to think on the spot to come up with solutions.”

These tasks all lend to Nick’s most prominent role as a social worker—being an advocate for children in care and their families, whether they are birth or foster parents. It is a difficult job, especially when trying to assess and meet the needs of each case. “Every kid has their own story,” he said. “Every family has their own story.”

Embracing this helps him keep the end goal in mind. He said, “It’s all for the safety of the children.”

Nick’s big picture goal when he takes a case is to leave the family stronger and healthier when they leave his care. That in itself would be enough for his job satisfaction. But Nick shoots higher, focusing on leaving a lasting impression on his clients.

“You are going to have to say things your clients do not want to hear, but it’s not about engaging in battles. It’s about gaining their respect and their trust.”