I just got back from Texas where I was the motivational speaker for a group of social workers for the Child Protection Services. These are the good people who look out for kids who need it most: kids in physical danger. They oversee way too many cases of abused and neglected kids, and do their best to get them into safe situations.
This group was especially fun for me because right now I’m a foster parent. I’m one of the families these people — ok, actually their peers in Colorado — work with on a day to day basis.
Check out this video I made about them:
My familiarity — in such an intimate way — with foster care made this event special for two reasons. First, the audience knew I wasn’t bluffing when I said, “I understand.” Audiences crave authenticity in their motivational speakers, and because I have two foster kids myself, it was easy for me to be direct and honest. Second, because of my familiarity with “The System” it made for some REALLY funny jokes. I could joke in VERY specific ways about their jobs, their stresses, and their joys.
Thanks Texas Foster Care System (Children and Family Services!) It was my absolute pleasure.
Mobile Post: Posted on-the-go by Brad Montgomery from his iPhone.
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For those who prefer to read, here is a transcript of the video:
This is Brad Montgomery from BradMontgomery.com. What a really cool afternoon we had. So I’m still in Texas, but today we worked for Child Protective Service of Texas.
This is a government agency entrusted with dealing with kids who need help, kiddos in foster care and protecting kids who are in danger. I love doing this for a million reasons, but one of the things I love most is, some of you might know, I’m a foster dad right now. We’ve got two little foster girls and it’s a lot of work.
One of the things we’ve learned is the social workers involved, the peers of the people I just spoke with, are really, really hardworking people working in a system that doesn’t get enough support, is under-funded, is under-trained, and if it wasn’t for these people, these kids would be suffering. So it was my delight, I was totally flattered to deliver not just a motivational speech, which we did, and not just an inspirational speech, which we did, but also a message of appreciation because these social workers work hard and rarely get a thank you. So we made them laugh and we made them laugh hard and we did all the things we were supposed to do as a motivational speaker, but the best part for me was as a foster dad, is to be able to look them in the eye and say it and mean it; thanks for all you do for foster children as Child Protection Service social workers.
So we were in Wichita Falls, Texas for about 160 people, absolute total blast. Folks, keep up the good work, you’re doing amazing things. It’s a pleasure to be your motivational speaker, and keep your eyes out for those kiddos; they need your help and you’re making a difference. Thanks!
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Fun to see you talk while driving! Foster kids need as many advocates as they can get. Nice job.