Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/am-i-really-qualified-guest-editorial/5013983/
"How old are you, Alison?" is often one of the first questions asked of me when I arrive for a visit in my role as home visitor for the Early Head Start program in central Chicago. Like many young single women who work with children as teachers and social workers, my credibility is often challenged. I used to answer quickly and change the subject, or even lie and make myself older. But I am no longer embarrassed or uncomfortable to be a 24-year-old Caucasian female without children, working as a family support worker with mothers between the ages of 15 and 33.I am confident in my abilities as a support worker, not because of the knowledge I possess or the advice I have to give, but because of what I have learned about my role. Even though I do not know what it means to be a parent, I can be a listener, a partner in problem solving, a resource, and a positive influence in their lives. I can help them see their strengths as women and families.
A few months ago, I was in a discussion at a conference on early care and education where the topic of staff training ...