NEN's BEST OF CHILD & YOUTH CARE AWARD
Andrea Pasko is the third recipient of NEN's Best of Child and Youth Care Awards. A Senior Child Care Specialist for North Suffolk Mental Health in Chelsea, Mass., Pasko works with children between the ages of 6 and 13 years in a therapeutic afterschool program. She provides case management, facilitates psychoeducational/therapeutic groups, develops and implements behavioral interventions, and provides family support. She also does program planning and provides support to co-workers in the program.Andrea Pasko learned early on that her ability to effect change in her clients depended almost solely on one thing: the strength of her relationships with them. Because of her relationship skills, she was able to stop by one family's home on a daily basis to help them re-negotiate their behavioral contract with their child. With another family, she not only set up a critical educational assessment, but volunteered to drive the family to the appointment. Without her, they wouldn't have been able to go, and their child's treatment would have been delayed.
According to her supervisor, Sue Howland, Pasko has a tendency to go above and beyond the call of duty. "Andrea sees the needs in the family; if no one else is providing (the service), Andrea will immediately pick up the ball."
Strong relationships also enable the children in her care to explore their world and try out new behaviors. Pasko is serious about being a constructive role model for the children. One of the things they do in program is prepare snacks; Pasko confesses that she isn't great in the kitchen, and sometimes the food doesn't turn out as planned. Pasko is OK with that. Howland says, "Andrea accepts her own failure, she jokes about it. Failure, which is a huge issue for (the kids), isn't a big deal."
Relying on relationship-building with clients also has its costs. In one case, Pasko recalls being torn between wanting to maintain a positive relationship with a family, yet realizing that, even after years of services, they refused to recognize their daughter's cognitive limitations, in effect endangering her. Eventually Pasko decided to notify the state child protective services. While she wanted to remain friendly with the family, protecting the child came first.
A native of San Diego, Andrea moved to the East Coast for a short stay, more or less as a tourist. She had worked in the non-profit sector with children and families in San Diego and took a similar job (just short-term, or so she thought) in the Boston area. She has worked with North Suffolk Mental Health since October 2004 and has cancelled plans to return to California. She recently enrolled in Salem State College as a full-time student to work towards her MSW.
The importance of relationships is the number one thing she wants to pass along to future child care and youth workers. "A lot of people get into this field because they want to see change and impact people's lives. Stay focused on doing that – be aggressive, see what needs to be done and take action where you can to invoke change." At the same time, it is important to celebrate the everyday achievements along the way. Pasko and her colleagues point out the artwork created by children in the program. It is a step towards a happy and healthy life; it is lighthearted and fun. Childcare workers need to be the same way, Pasko says. "You must choose your own attitude. It's important to choose a good one."