From a stranger to a partner, let’s have a glimpse into the journey of a caseworker.

This article was written as part of a social campaign in collaboration with Safe Place.

Located in the heart of Singapore is a safe haven where anxious mothers can call home. Safe Place welcomes all women with unsupported pregnancies and aims to empower life-giving choices. Behind this mission are caseworkers who strive to provide all forms of support for the mothers.

“Safe Place is a physical and emotional place of safety for any mother with an unsupported pregnancy, regardless of the different circumstances they are facing,” said Wenshan, Assistant Director at Safe Place. “Whether they need shelter, a listening ear, encouragement, a place to cry, or brainstorming together for solutions, they can find it (here).”

Apart from casework, her dedication also extends to supporting pregnant women who are in prison. Safe Place aims to empower these mothers through Project Baby, a programme which includes educational workshops about pre- and post-natal topics such as different options of caregiving (e.g. kinship care, adoption, fostering). This programme is in partnership with Fei Yue Family Resource Centre.

Challenges from relationships forged

It is every caseworker’s desire to become a partner in this intimate journey of motherhood. At Safe Place, she encounters all forms of unsupported pregnancies, which are often a result of complex family backgrounds. There are also mothers in relatively stable relationships but face a crossroad due to unforeseen circumstances. Despite coming from difficult backgrounds, most of them have a strong desire to make good decisions for their child. Therefore, It is especially heartbreaking for Wenshan to witness the difficult circumstances these mothers are facing, despite their progress. She still struggles to balance the responsibility of empowering these mothers and assessing their ability to keep their child safe.

She finds the ability to navigate these challenges through motivations with each mother. Witnessing them putting their past behind and forgiving regardless, it reminds her to embrace life and live in the present.

Why a caseworker?

Wenshan aims to be a pillar of support for mothers with unsupported pregnancies, regardless of how tough their circumstances may be, because “each mother and child’s life is precious”.

Jennifer Heng, Director of Safe Place, once said that the true heroes of Safe Place are the mothers and the caseworkers are tools to sharpen their destiny. Since every case is an opportunity, every story is a precious memory, and every battle is a chance at happiness. ∎