Lauren J. Silver: System Kids: Adolescent Mothers and the Politics of Regulation

Abstract

System Kids: Adolescent Mothers and the Politics of Regulation, by Lauren J. Silver, introduced new ideas to revamp the Supervised Independent Living program (SIL) by offering a clear understanding of the terror behind the scenes. She does so to reveal that the hierarchical order of government-provided services needs to be more encompassing; it essentially needs those of higher standing to become more involved in the actual provision of services and the functioning of programs. ‘‘Without adequate government support, marginalized adolescent mothers and their children are susceptible to greater hardship, and hence it is vital that the institutions and programs in place be reformed justly (not eliminated)’’ (Silver 2015, p. 20). That quote was the basis of the book, but every chapter contributed distinctive narratives in support of it. Silver explored the relationship distances between staff and clients, the neglect of better residential quarters, the stigmas and consequences that come with being an adolescent delinquent mother, while addressing the ways to cope with these problems. In the first chapter, the author started detailing the various conditions in which the caseworkers have to work, as well as the frustrations that come with that type of environment. It came across as though the SIL set their employees and caseworkers for failure. The SIL had hierarchal issues within the staff because the program managers, business administrators, and supervisors did not experience the reality of the program. Instead, they had an illusion of what they felt transpired in these residential sites. Caseworkers’ offices, in rundown areas in the inner city, made use of secondhand furniture, which did not provide the ambiance of professionalism. On the other hand, the administrators had newly furnished offices in suburban areas. Additionally, the caseworkers were not equipped with adequate technology to perform their jobs effectively. In writing this chapter, Silver highlighted the existing hierarchical and social differences, undoubtedly signifying the inferior status of caseworkers in the organization. Stating this in the beginning helps to set the tone of the book as it becomes a prominent theme throughout the chapters. The SIL program was funded by the child welfare agency, Children and Youth Services (CYS), to provide educational, residential, and social services for adolescent mothers, most of whom were delinquents. Each caseworker had an overabundance of clients, which ultimately limited their effectiveness. They were not able to provide an appropriate amount of attention to their clients on top of all the paperwork that they had to complete daily. The lack of professionalism and negligence of clients in their residential quarters caused the relationships to be unhealthy and strained. The clients failed to notice the stress caseworkers experienced and ultimately accused them of not caring, despite the leniency that extended. The thought that this provokes is very profound because one would think that these delinquent mothers came from broken homes of some sort. Yet, the government placed them in the SIL program, which does not provide adequate care and support for adolescents. The mothers were looking for some type of family in the SIL program but they did not seem to find it under the circumstances. This situation raises a compelling question: Are these types of programs actually helpful or are they enabling adolescent mothers to continue to do what they want without the needed guidance and assistance? & Mikayla Flanagan mikshelt@indiana.edu