---
title: Whose Job Was It?
description: "***Resource from NTI Curriculum*** **Whose Job Was It?** This is a structured interview tool for helping older children and youth identify who met their needs across different family or placement experiences. - **Purpose:** It maps the people a child experienced…"
url: "https://bridges4mentalhealth.org/hub/adoption-competence/whose-job-was-it/"
updated: "2026-10-14"
category: Adoption Competent Mental Health
tags:
  - Child welfare professionals
  - Families
  - Mental health professionals
---

# Whose Job Was It?

***Resource from NTI Curriculum***

**Whose Job Was It?**

This is a structured interview tool for helping older children and youth identify who met their needs across different family or placement experiences.

- **Purpose:** It maps the people a child experienced as responsible or available for care, guidance, and support.
- **How it is used:** For each need, the child selects who fulfilled it during their **family of origin** and each subsequent **placement**. Additional columns or topics can be added as needed.
- **Response options:** The child may identify a mother, father, both parents, relatives, siblings, neighbors/other adults, staff, themselves, or nobody.
- **Needs assessed:** The worksheet covers basic care (food, clothing, shelter), safety and supervision, medical care, school help, discipline and moral guidance, problem solving and social skills, honesty, role models, and affection.
- **Value of the tool:** Comparing responses across settings can reveal continuity or gaps in caregiving, protection, practical support, and emotional connection, while centering the child’s own perspective.

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