Social workers are at the very heart of family services getting the work done. They are hardworking, are committed to children, youth and families – often working long hours with huge caseloads. They search, struggle, push, cajole and love youth, children, babies, families, birth parents and help ask resource foster parents to step up and be the best they can be. Despite such commitment towards the work, these workers are often seen in a less favorable light by the general populous.
Consortium Media designed a program to honor and bring social workers stories to light – a light that shines on their humor, their grace under pressure and the tremendous difficulties that they face in working with this youth population so in need of help and love. We brought the social workers front and forward, where they deserved to be, with videos and great pictures to Foster VC Kids social platforms (now Homes with Heart) FB, Instagram, website and more.
To have a more focused and impactful effect, CM partnered with Michael Sanders; an influencer and expert on teenagers to create a film for Ventura County’s CFS, to bring social workers, foster kids, and resource families front and forward. Consortium Media worked with Indigenous Pictures, one of LA’s top film companies, and Andrew Brown, Editor. CM+PR’s cultural strategist, Denise Bean-White directed and produced the project. Shanna Malone supported scripting and editing. The short film highlights over 350 social workers who attended the two-part social worker day of inspiration with Michael Sanders.
Social workers were able to engage with the panelists and hear from their individual perspectives what they could do better to serve the youth in Ventura County. As a training film, this project will help many social workers know they are supported and sustained in this work with children in need.