Child abuse prevention is her daily focus

"I wanted to do some kind of mission work or work with people, but I didn't know what it was called," Stephanie Janson recalled one afternoon last week. She continued her story from her high school days in Kokomo. There was a job shadow experience and she described her dilemma to a teacher. "It's called social work," replied the teacher.

Thus, Stephanie had a name for her life's work.

Today, Stephanie is one of four case managers for Children's Bureau/Exchange Club Family Resource Center's Any Child program, with a caseload of 14 families that she visits one to two hours each week. Some families are referred to the program by the Department of Child Services (DCS); others are self-referred, assisted by funding from United Way and from community support, including this weekend's Bids for Kids television auction.

Stephanie describes her first experience with the center, as an Anderson University intern, her subsequent work as an employee of DCS, and a calling to spend 18 months in Mississippi helping the victims of Katrina. During that time, she kept in touch with center director Jama Donovan and was ready to go to work upon her return.

Her daily tasks may include supervising a visit between a child and parent who has lost custody, or helping a client navigate forms to rent an apartment, or advocating on the client's behalf with the apartment management, of joining a team meeting with a family and DCS to discuss issues, needs and goals. Of course there are always reports to complete. Stephanie has the unique advantage of having worked for both DCS and Children's Bureau. "I see DCS as the overseer and my work here as implementation," she said.

Although she enjoys both roles, the work schedule of the non profit is more appealing to her at this point in her life. She began as part time staff, but moved to full time recently. Keeping busy will help her through her husband's deployment next month to Iraq, where he will serve as a medic with the U.S. Army.

Her first task with any assignment is to work with the family to set goals. Most of her work is done in client homes. "I'm on their turf and most of the time, they're not sure they want me there," she noted, but added that she has never been fearful. "I feel if you're open and honest and meet people where they're at, you don't have to be afraid." Her attitude is key to building rapport with families. The other bonus - for everyone - is her wholehearted love for the children. In fact, Stephanie spends a lot of time away from her job with children as the children's minister for her church. She is also an enthusiastic babysitter for family and friends. "Kids are so fun and care-free," she exclaimed.

Of course, the work is not always fun and games. "The hardest part is seeing parents who aren't driven to better themselves because I see that the kids want to be with them." Poor choices - frequently compounded by substance abuse - and lack of a support structure are the most common contributors to situations requiring intervention on behalf of children. Stephanie sees a lot of people who feel hopeless. She recalled a conversation with a client who made the painful decision to give up her child for adoption. "I really encouraged her because she had done what was best for her child, and she said I was the only person who was at all encouraging."

Throughout the month of April, events call attention to the issue of child abuse and neglect in our communities. The Bids for Kids auction, broadcast Friday evening and all day Saturday on cable channel 3, calls attention to the issue and raises funds to help support programs such as Any Child, that bring a ray of hope to children in the form of a loving advocate such as Stephanie.