For 40 years Nancy Lange has been involved with decisions affecting families, sometimes resulting in children being removed from their homes.
Friday was her last day as a social worker in Luverne, and she said she looks forward to more tranquil days ahead.
“Now maybe I’ll have more energy to do some volunteer work,” Lange said.
“I would come home at the end of the day mentally and emotionally exhausted.”
Lange worked primarily in child protective services, which gets involved in cases of child neglect and abuse.
But it was the sort of the work she thrived on, especially when it resulted in better outcomes for local families and children.
“I’m going to miss the rush of getting a new case,” she said about reports of suspected child neglect or abuse.
Life-altering decisions
When a report comes in, it generates a flurry of activity to determine if the child is safe short term, or if immediate action needs to be taken to remove a child from a situation.
A screening team is mobilized (not just one person makes these decisions) and if it’s determined no immediate action is required, then decisions are made about the next course of action — does a case need to be opened? Or can the problem be addressed with simple solutions?
If a case is opened, then decisions need to be made about needs and goals.
“I’m going to miss that initial rush,” Lange said.
“These are serious decisions; you’re making recommendations that affect families, and you’re having to decide, ‘Will this kid be OK tonight, or should we do something right away?’”
Sometimes, it’s a matter of showing parents what makes a healthy home.
A state-funded parent mentoring program teaches families how to manage stress, provide three meals a day and establish proper bedtime routines to improve mental health of children.
“It’s a wonderful program,” Lange said. “We could definitely use more parent mentors. You don’t need to have a college degree - just good life skills.”
Sometimes it's a matter of keeping children in school.
“We still see educational neglect and truancy,” Lange said. “We try to help parents realize that just a high school diploma is so important.”
Stress has its rewards
After nearly four decades, she said she’s now seeing the fourth generation of children in the same families come through her office. “I started seeing their grandparents years ago,” she said.
So why did she stay in this career for 40 years?
“A lot of people have asked me that, and I always say that I wanted to have a challenging career — and I sure did,” Lange said.
“I wanted to feel like I could make a difference.”
She looks back and said she may have helped some families.
“I have had some kids come back to me after they grew up and tell me that they were better off after we intervened,” Lange said. “That makes it all worthwhile.”
In many ways Lange said children are better off today because of state-mandated reporting laws.
“In my first five years, there were no reports of child sex abuse,” she said. “In the 1970s it was hid within families and no one ever discussed it.”
Today medical personnel, school staff, day care providers, law enforcement, ministers, social services agencies and others are “mandatory reporters,” meaning they’re required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
“Children are better off for that reason,” Lange said. “And children themselves are more educated and more aware when someone makes them uncomfortable. They’ve learned about ‘good touch, bad touch,’ and more kids are speaking out.”
And there were other rewards.
“Some have been removed from the home and gone on to be adopted — we have some wonderful stories of adoption,” she said.
“And there are success stories of resilient people who have overcome their addictions and turned their lives around. … That’s what keeps you going. You always have hope.”
Significant career contributions
Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed by her peers, who nominated her last year for Minnesota State University Mankato’s Social Work Alumna of the Year award.
It’s bestowed on distinguished alumni who have significantly contributed to their careers.
Luverne native David Beimers, PhD, is an associate professor in social work and is chair of the Department of Social Work at MSU.
He presented the award to Lange and said he enjoyed the opportunity to recognize a fellow Rock County professional. “She is very deserving,” said the 1988 LHS graduate.
Beimers, son of Bill and Esther Beimers, Luverne, shared with the Star Herald information about Lange that was read at the awards ceremony.
“Nancy has accomplished a lot over her professional career, but what I find just as compelling is what her colleagues have to say about her commitment to the social work profession and the field of child welfare,” Beimers said in Lange’s introduction.
He said her colleagues spoke of her commitment to the well-being of social work staff, mentoring, training and modeling professional behavior.
“They also spoke of her commitment to children and her passion to improve how child protection and law enforcement work together to investigate cases,” Beimers said.
Lange said her office couldn’t accomplish the work on its own.
She often teamed up with Southwestern Mental Health, the courts, schools, guardians ad litem, the Crisis Center and others.
“I feel so fortunate to have worked with so many dedicated professionals in our community,” she said.
“It’s not going to happen if we don’t support each other and are not committed to the welfare of the kids. … There are so many people on board who want kids to be healthy, safe and educated.”
Lange said she doesn’t have reservations about leaving her responsibilities to someone else.
“I feel there are quality people to carry on,” she said. “I feel like everything’s going to be OK.”
Her co-workers honored her with retirement party on July 26 to celebrate her 38 years in Rock County. Prior to that she spent two years in South Dakota social work.
Lange and her husband, Jeff, live near Beaver Creek, and they have three grown children, Sarah Landin in Edgerton, Josh Lange in Jasper, and Abby Lange in Fergus Falls.