It is hard to advocate for yourself when you can’t think straight. It is hard to have positive interactions when you are in crisis. Make room for the trauma and make your moves.
Read More Brain, Trauma, and HomelessnessI am not real unless you believe in me. I have no voice unless you listen for it. Much like a shadow, I can be seen but I have no power to move objects or create change. Sometimes, however, seeing a shadow will make you stop, look carefully, or even change direction. It is hard […]
Read More This is Social Work“I just had a miscarriage and I know I should snap out of it and do my thing, but I’m so sad and depressed.” Crap. I need to talk to this person and do it so she doesn’t see the obviously pregnant people I am surrounded by. And here I was, complaining that my boiled […]
Read More Well, HellOutsiders act like I am working with slime covered hardened criminals. I hear a lot of “Someone has to do it, I am glad it isn’t me” and “How do you stomach THOSE people?” The closer you are to living at or below the poverty line – the more you hate poor people in general. […]
Read More Things I’ve Learned While Working Within Poverty ProgramsI graduated from The University of La Verne, which used to be Lordsburg ; historically a Brethren institution. Brethren, Quaker, Amish. Simple and sweet and somewhat similar. Graduation was over a decade ago and I have lost sight of some of the tenants. Fortunately I’ve been listening to the Overdrive application on my phone and […]
Read More Amish Romance Novels have Colored My Case ManagementSometimes trainings are enlightening. The workshop I was at today would have been great -my first year as a social worker. .tone and inflection .listening .eye contact .staying on point .building trust This is Client Interactions 101. So to keep myself quiet, I modified name rags and renamed my classmates. The instructor was very proud […]
Read More Training Table Top DesignIf we are friends : I can answer this for you. But, do you know your own strengths and weaknesses? This challenge is a combination of my case management technique and a reaction to internet memes asking me to name any accomplishment made by ——(fill in the blank , usually Hillary Clinton)—– in the last […]
Read More Tell Me Why You Are Great.#fb I needed to be less of a butt-head and learn to case manager
Read More Homeless Case Manager or Jerk…A response to “How do you fix families (that drive you nuts)”
Read More Why homeless mothers seem manipulative
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