Starting this month, the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services (DCFAS) is launching a video campaign to empower our workers while also educating the community about what the department does for children, families and older adults.
Join us for our video series “Beyond the Call: Chronicles of Compassion in Child, Family and Adult Services.” For the first video of this year-long series, we would like to introduce Aquibi Davis. Aquibi has worked for the County as an Emergency Response Social Worker for over two years. He has over ten years total of social work experience.
“I had always wanted to get into working with the County, specifically in the lower socially economically disadvantaged communities because that’s where I come from,” said Aquibi.
Aquibi recognizes that his job can be challenging but he enjoys being able to help families and being the first point of contact when they engage with Child Protective Services.
“When that person comes to the door and they find out that you’re with child protective services, instantly they’re putting up a wall,” said Aquibi.
Aquibi believes there are a lot of misconceptions about what the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services does, especially when it comes to the role of social workers in Child Protective Services. He hopes that by sharing his story, he can educate people about not only his job but what his coworkers do as well. When Aquibi first meets a family on a call, his goal is to ensure the child is safe while also making sure the family gets whatever help they may need.
“We’re going to provide services helping victims of domestic violence, providing parenting classes, illicit drug intervention, and housing referrals if needed, whatever they are going through at that moment,” said Aquibi.
Aquibi is also committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. He acknowledges that data shows that Black and Native American families are oftentimes at least twice as likely to come into contact with Child Protective Services.
“So, I’m a special skills employee, that means that I am specifically skilled at working with the African American population as well as special skills working with the Native American population,” Aquibi said.
Aquibi uses a culturally competent approach when he is working, addressing that families from disadvantaged communities can already be dealing with trauma and hardships when they start working with a social worker.
“It’s easy for me to relate to them and understand that sometimes your family is going to be broke, sometimes your family is going to have a hard time,” said Aquibi.
Aquibi is passionate about making sure parents have the tools they need to provide a safe and stable environment for their children. Sometimes, that means Aquibi educates families on different parenting techniques.
Aquibi says it’s important to remember that people will realize whether you are genuine or not. That’s why he stays true to himself and always approaches people in a way that feels safe for them.
“I find that it’s how you approach people, you treat them as people,” he said.
Being an Emergency Response Social Worker often means being the first point of contact for families facing difficult situations. Aquibi sometimes works with people who are severely impacted by trauma. He admits that the job is not always easy, but there is no work he’d rather be doing. He puts everything into his work.
“I lead with my heart.”
Aquibi certainly goes Beyond the Call, and that is why we are proud to feature him in our first video of the “Beyond the Call: Chronicles of Compassion in Child, Family and Adult Services.”
This year, the video series will explore what it means to put your heart into your work at DCFAS, we’ll hear workers address stereotypes about the department’s role, how they are actively working to provide stable and supportive environments for parents and children, and the videos will teach people about the ongoing efforts of the department to help vulnerable populations.