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13akzente 1/15 Religion plays a far more important role in the Midwest of the United States than in Ger- many. And while she herself is a Protestant, Ingrid was surprised to see that in the rehabil- itation of offenders, attendance at church car- ries equal weight to an hour of therapy. She shrugs. ‘That’s just the way it is.’ During the preparatory workshop organised by GIZ, it was made very clear to participants that they were not on a mission to change the US. ‘That was an important message,’ says Ingrid. ‘Social work’ can mean different things in different countries – as Ingrid is constantly finding here in Kalamazoo. Long-term foster care, which is common in Germany, is un- known here: generally, a decision is taken af- ter just 12 months on whether the biological parents have managed to get their lives back on track so that their child can be returned to them. If not, the child is put up for adoption. When Ingrid heard this, she was stunned that such a momentous decision could be taken so quickly. But when she explained the German system to her US colleagues, they were shocked. ‘They couldn’t understand why we keep the children in limbo for so long. After all, a child needs stability.’ Offering a new perspective on one’s own attitudes and allowing scope to challenge and question – that is, perhaps, the greatest benefit of the programme. ‘Ingrid has a wealth of ex- perience to share,’ says Jamie Prewozniak, her mentor. ‘We talk a lot about the differences between the US and the German systems. And that helps us as much as it helps her.’ A scene in court is a good example. Every Thursday, Ingrid accompanies one of her col- leagues to child custody proceedings. She was accustomed to going through security and be- ing checked for weapons, and the video sur- veillance was nothing new to her. And the courtroom looks much as it does in the films, with the judge presiding over the proceedings from the bench – a dark wooden desk on an elevated platform, designed to inspire respect. But then the mother was finally led into the courtroom – handcuffed and in shackles. She was in detention awaiting trial for drug abuse. Ingrid’s colleague Kelly Allen from Bethany recalls the scene: ‘For me, it was nothing out of the ordinary, but Ingrid was ashen. It made grid has learned, anyone who explores new avenues challenges the others’ status quo. Every Wednesday evening, she attends a social policy seminar led by Don Cooney, a city commissioner and charismatic activist. The 77-year-old sparks heated debates among his students on issues such as police brutality, educational opportunities, and the exodus of white residents to the suburbs. She finds the unexpectedly emotional tone of the seminars profoundly unsettling. ‘Sometimes I can’t sleep at night.’ So what will she take home with her to Germany? A great many practical tips, such as checklists to simplify her routine work. More digital training material – she is impressed by Bethany’s online courses. And the intention to create a more welcoming culture for visitors to KarLa, which will also have a positive impact on donations. But she has also pinpointed the gap in family service provision in the US: what is lacking is prevention – in other words, pro- grammes which take effect before a conflict es- calates. In Germany, families actually have a legal entitlement to this type of intervention. ‘I’ll be going home with a sense of gratitude,’ says Ingrid. ‘It’s only now that I can truly ap- preciate everything that our social service sys- tem enables us to do.’ me stop and think – am I really so desensi- tised?’ On the other hand, Ingrid is also witness- ing a great deal of good practice. She is im- pressed by the standard of trauma counselling provided for abused children, who receive in- tensive therapy from specialists. She’s learning new techniques, such as ways of encouraging children to replay their family dynamics in the sandpit. She also appreciates the efficient or- ganisation of the work. And she in turn is add- ing to her colleagues’ skills portfolio by intro- ducing the concept of video-supported coun- selling for parents. Returning home with new ideas and a fresh perspective Although her internship is progressing well, it doesn’t always run smoothly. ‘Sometimes, people forget that they have arranged to meet me,’ she says, and her voice drops. But no of- fence is meant – it’s simply that in the US, commitments are not always as binding as they are in Germany. Her husband Klaus, an engineer, and her four adult children supported her venture into the unknown. But her friends in Stuten- see, a rural community halfway between Hei- delberg and Karlsruhe, found it quite unset- tling. ‘Here we are, thinking about retire- ment, and you’re going abroad!’ said one of her friends, somewhat reproachfully. As In- > At a glance On behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, GIZ and its US partner, the Council of International Programs USA, are delivering an exchange programme in the US, aimed at professionals working in social services for children and youth. This transatlantic programme aims to deepen the already di- verse relations between Germany and the US through the exchange of social workers specialising in child and youth services. It offers the participants themselves, and the profession more generally, new insights, motivating them to adopt fresh approaches to the delivery of social services for children and young people. Transatlantic pro- fessional exchange programme > Contact Barbara Vogt-Seeliger > barbara.vogt-seeliger@giz.de