Special recognition for social worker's commitment within the field of child welfare
Anne Loewen: Colleague & Friend
Ms. Helena Kot, a social worker working as a Foster Care Coordinator in the North Area, Child & Family Services of Central Manitoba, writes with much pride about her colleague in child welfare, Anne Loewen. Anne’s continued commitment and practice within the field of child welfare makes her an example of success in social work practice.
Anne Loewen is most deserving of special recognition for her life’s work within social work and the field of child welfare.
Anne has experienced child welfare from almost every possible aspect during her 29 years in the field. She has been a social worker in a group home, a foster mother, an adoptive mother, a single parent, a parent of a child in care, a grandmother, a social worker in foster care, a supervisor in the foster care program, a trainer of other foster parents, a trainer of staff, an advocate for foster parents and children-in-care, and a representative on a variety of committees in the Child & Family Services of Eastern Manitoba, Northeast Child & Family Services, Winnipeg Child & Family Services, in the Manitoba child welfare system, and in other community systems.
Anne began her social work career as a Community Development Resource Worker for Child & Family Services of Eastern Manitoba in July 1976, and she started providing foster parent training in 1977. In 1981 she became a Foster Care Worker in the foster care program. That year Anne also became a foster parent and fostered many children until 2004. Anne worked exclusively in foster care from 1981 to April 1997, when she became a Foster Care Supervisor at Northwest Child & Family Services. With the re-amalgamation of Winnipeg Child & Family Services in 1989, Anne moved to the Provencher office as a Foster Home Development/ Place of Safety Supervisor, in which position she remained until her recent retirement.
Anne is a friend and colleague and a credit to the profession of social work, in which field she holds a master’s degree. I first met Anne when I came to Manitoba to work as a foster care coordinator in early 1982. In an effort to get a good picture of foster care in this province, I called many agencies to get information and make some professional connections in the field. No one I called wanted to talk to me, to give me anything that might help me to understand the system in which I was now working, or to share resource information about the field of foster care in this province. Then I reached Anne Loewen at Child & Family Services of Eastern Manitoba. She was not only happy to spend time talking to me about foster care in the province and that agency, but was enthusiastic in her willingness to share information and resources. I don’t remember when we first actually met, but I do know that I was impressed from my very first contact with her. I must admit being somewhat intimidated by her great knowledge about the field of child welfare and, in particular, foster care. However, her warmth, her sense of humour, her ability to share, and her support and encouragement drew me to her.
Anne facilitated many courses for the foster parents of many agencies. At Child & Family Services of Central Manitoba, where I worked, these courses included: Why Am I Doing This To Myself; Sensible Discipline; Managing Family Contact and Visiting; Family Dynamics; Working With Sexualized Children; Separation, Loss, Grief and Mourning; Understanding and Handling Lying and Stealing; and numerous orientation sessions for new foster parents.
The foster parents at our agency have a great deal of respect for Anne. She is able to speak from her own experience as a foster parent and an adoptive parent, and foster parents acknowledge that she understands their issues and difficulties, as well as their joys and successes, and is able to offer practical suggestions. They feel she also understands the children and their issues and is able to help foster parents get a better understanding and perspective of children-in-care and their families. Anne has been able to teach foster parents about a variety of subjects and leave them energized and encouraged to keep going forward, with a positive attitude about their children and themselves. Throughout, Anne manages to keep a terrific sense of humour that is infectious to those around her.
Anne has also been very involved in the Competency Based Training for Staff throughout the province, specifically in the area of foster care. The same qualities that made her a hit with foster parents were also well received by staff members, who leave her courses with a well-rounded perspective on the needs of foster children and foster parents.
Over the years I have served on several committees with Anne, and she has always had the ability to focus on the human issues as well as on the overall standards and expectations of governments and agencies. She has worked hard to advance the cause of foster parenting and, in particular, to educate people about the needs of foster parents in their challenges of caring for children with every manner of problem and family history. She has advocated on behalf of both foster parents and the children-in-care at every possible opportunity to ensure that the best possible service, care, and support is provided.
I was often amazed at the issues with which Anne had to deal as a foster parent, some of which she shared in conversation and in groups she was facilitating. I learned, from her examples, about the effects of neglect and abuse on children, the long road to healing, and the importance of nurturing, committed foster parents. As an adoptive mother of two children, she faced issues I could never have imagined and, in spite of the times of crisis and distress, continued to advocate on behalf of her child to ensure that the very best service was available and provided. She speaks lovingly of her daughter and son and of former foster children and readily shows off pictures of her grandchildren and foster grandchildren, with whom she loves to spend time. When I decided to become a foster parent, Anne was one of the first people I talked to. She has continued to be a strong support for me as a friend and fellow foster parent when I really needed her.
In preparing this story, I found a note that Anne included with her course descriptions. Her closing salutation was: “Yours in action – Anne Loewen”. That statement typifies Anne. She is a woman of action, always looking for how she can make a difference, either one on one, in a family setting, in a group training situation, on a management level, or at a committee meeting. Her primary motivation has always been to ensure that the best care is provided to children who need it and to support the people who provide that care. She has demonstrated excellence in sharing her knowledge and experience to assist others in their work with children.