George Junior Republic recently welcomed Dr. Yvonne “Eevie” Smith, director of social work at Syracuse University, to its campus as part of an ethnographic observation focused on understanding the everyday experiences of our staff and persons served. Dr. Smith studies the youth care workforce in therapeutic residential care, focusing on the challenges and opportunities involved in hiring, training, and retaining skilled staff in these complex settings. Her research highlights how everyday realities such as conflicts, oversight, and vicarious trauma affect the workforce and reinforces the importance of a support system for those who care for vulnerable youth. Along with her research, she brings clinical experience in youth residential treatment, harm reduction outreach, supportive and transitional housing, and therapeutic foster care. Dr. Smith also teaches social work courses at Syracuse University.

For those unfamiliar with the term, ethnography is a research method that focuses on observing and understanding everyday life within a specific setting. Rather than relying solely on formal interviews or written reports, ethnographic observation examines how people interact, communicate, and move through their daily routines in real time. In a residential environment, this approach can offer meaningful insight into the experiences of both staff and persons served, helping organizations recognize strengths, better understand challenges, and support continued capacity growth.

During her visit, Smith met with several units to learn more about the nature of daily processes, interactions, and routines across our environment. Her study seeks to gather insights from those in daily contact with the clients (i.e., direct-care staff members) to construct an objective picture of the residential care environment.

Expert observation reflects an important part of CARE in practice. Meaningful growth begins with paying attention, listening closely, and taking the time to understand the people and motions that shape each day. By examining these everyday experiences, CARE helps GJR better identify strengths, recognize challenges, and support more thoughtful, developmentally responsive treatments.

Smith will return to campus following the completion of a Developmental Interactions Workshop Series facilitated by Cornell University for residential managers and behavioral health technicians. Her continued observations will provide a fresh perspective on how interactions and relationships influence the experiences of both staff and persons served.