By Sarah Thompson

One of the Iraq war’s many consequences is funding cuts for domestic social services. The U.S. government spends $12.5 million an hour to fund the war, shortchanging our home communities.

In some of the most vulnerable neighborhoods, violence is increasing. I work in a social service agency that addresses domestic violence, a most intimate and mortifying type of violence.

Domestic violence cannot be blamed on the economy, militarization or war. However, desperate economic conditions aggravate already vulnerable situations.

Indiana, where I live, has some helpful laws that support victims of violence by a spouse or partner. Women’s shelters work together to provide the best service possible to clients. But all are suffering massive cutbacks.

The first client I worked with desperately needed affordable counseling to help her leave her abuser. But the agency had just lost its entire counseling department due to lack of funding, so we couldn’t really help her.

I interviewed a number of young adults who recently entered the field of human services. Though their outlook was not hopeful, they were slightly encouraged by some of the recent campaign dialogue. They know real change is much harder to bring about than speak about.

Many felt overwhelmed by starting new jobs that involve responding to societal injustices on a daily basis. Young adults who bring energy, gifts and ideas are often surprised and frustrated at their employers’ lack of creativity, when creativity is precisely what’s needed for social service agencies to survive during this time.

They find themselves adrift trying to navigate advocacy networks and negotiate agency dynamics in an environment where there is not enough money to meet the needs.

It is important to encourage young people to become social service workers or to plan careers that participate in the positive transformation of society.

With decreasing economic security, fewer young people may be attracted to social services. It is demanding work for less pay than a corporate job.

It takes more than a “bleeding heart” argument to inspire a young person to work in human services. It requires conviction and a strong social conscience.

Young adults interviewed gave suggestions for communities and agencies looking to attract them:

• Mentorship opportunities.
  
• Explicit connection of daily activities to what is happening on the larger scale — movements for peace, justice, equality and international cooperation.
  
• Placing the work in a theological context. Explain how your faith motivates you to do the work you do every day.
  
• Encouragement to integrate what we have learned — in college, cross-cultural exchanges and other settings — into the work environment.