Humans can do anything when we know we’re not alone. At Alia, every aspect of our work to keep families safely together is grounded in this belief—from creating a connected and resilient child welfare workforce to co-creating new ways of work in trusted relationships with those most impacted by the system, to getting youth back home for good.
We learned this lesson early on through a partnership with a Wisconsin school district that set out to create a sense of belonging for every child within their school community. They filled a gym wall with the names of every student, and staff placed dots by the students with whom they had a genuine connection. After stepping back and identifying those with no trusted adult connections, they divided those names amongst the staff with direction to build new relationships. The research tells us that the experience of disconnection within a group or community leads to a lack of safety and increased risk for poor outcomes. It was their hope–and responsibility–to create those connections.
Mirrored in our work with child welfare, we witness the diminishing capacity for change for those (staff, leaders, families, youth) who feel disconnected and alone. Belonging is experienced through deep, authentic connection, and fuels our capacity to build and sustain change. Alia Director of Learning, Bree Bussey, works with system partners every day experiencing shared pain points and desire for change. She describes belonging as the catalyst for hope and expansive dreaming. In the complex work of systems change, belonging unlocks our potential to chart new ways forward. “When we know we belong somewhere and have a sense of connection, we then start to feel joy because we feel safe. And when we feel joy, that’s when we get creative and can find new, better solutions.”
So where are your dots and how do you create more for yourself and others to enhance safety for kids and keep them with their families? Join us in creating an atmosphere where everyone feels they are exactly where they should be.