During the 1970’s, I was a stay-at-home mom. As I moved toward my tenth year of babies, cooking and housecleaning, I wanted something different, something that was more mentally challenging and in some way would leave the world a better place. A man in my church worked for the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS.) He shared some of his experiences with me, without giving me any identifying information. There was a four-year-old boy who had been forced to stand in a corner for so long that the wall had an indention. That little boy was later adopted. Another child had been given nightly bottles of beer to make him sleep. My friend and his coworkers had removed that baby from the parents and placed her in a foster home. Later that infant was returned to her parents, following extensive parenting classes and other services. Hearing the changes in family situations he was able to effect, I knew I had found my place in the working world. After nine months of testing and applications, I was hired as a caseworker for Rockdale County DFCS in 1980. From that time on I never questioned my choice of careers, and I spent the next 27 years loving to go to work each day.

For the first two years each case I was assigned was different from all the others. Finally a few cases would be similar, and then more and more situations would be repeated. (I think this is why two years is the length of time needed for a caseworker to become a veteran.) And there was no time to become bored. When I thought I had seen and heard everything, I was surprised again and again. I loved my job.

Making a positive difference in thousands of lives provided such enrichment to my life. I wanted to share just a few of my experiences with others.

Evelyn has a BA in sociology from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. She is 61 years old and has been married to David Norman for 40 years. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Visit Evelyn’s website at www.evelynknorman.com