Failure must be embraced. Failure creates growth. Failure teaches us much more than success.
Yet, we implement programs in the field of helping where failure is not a norm, but the exception. Programs promote success rates that reach the sky. Eighty percent of this population is successful, ninety percent of this one is successful. Cases are closed early, or kept open not because of client performance or need, but in order to ensure a successful outcome. Cases are closed on the first day of the month, instead of a last day of a month to prove that program capacity is met. We work so hard as a system to prove success, to manipulate, to ensure funding or to gain political points.
Back to success of failure. How can a helping program who is supposed to serve the highest risk populations in our communities talk of success rates of over eighty percent, or ninety or even one hundred percent? As our President indicated a couple of weeks ago regarding the economy, it is math. Humans are not perfect, especially those of in greatest need. It is quite arrogant to believe that our helping systems and society has reached the level of efficacy to meet the needs of the entire population.
Bottom line. A program is supposed to serve the clients in our community that have the greatest need. National success rates for this population might top out at forty percent. A local program indicates their success rates are double the national rate. Forgive me, but one of three options exist: First, we have one of those best practices that must be marketed on a national level for great financial income…Two, agencies are cooking their data.
Three, those clients being provided the highest level of service, really are not the highest risk. Number three actually doesn’t hold water either, since we know that if we provide services that are too intense to low risk clients…we actually encourage maladaptive behavior at a higher clip.
Anything that seems to be to good, generally is.
The answer, accept failure as gracefully as success. Provide a high quality service that is congruent with the needs of the client. Believe in the services and let the chips fall. Accept the reality that some clients will not be successful, yet some will. Humanity is not a zero sum game. Funding sources must stop asking for perfection. Instead ask for a quality service. Those of us who have played this shell game must stop.
Looking in the rearview mirror, how can we as a helping system encourage personal growth when we ourselves are afraid of reality?
We need to fail more and accept it. Success will then be much more meaningful and powerful.
This post was first made 13 years ago on Tumblr. – CJE