|
So recently, I stopped being a Foster Kid, and got a job most people can't get until they're 40. I currently manage 4 "youths" (even though three are older then I am!) and my assistant manager is almost 60. I'm not sure why I've been picked for this position, nor do I think I'm really qualified. The house hasn't fallen apart, and I even though I feel like I'm doing a horrible job, everyone who doesn't live with me tell me how great I'm doing. Ask me anything about my new job! Ask me about Foster Care! Ask me any question that hops into your mind! (I will update OP with answers to questions!)
|
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 02:55 |
|
|
|
| # ? May 22, 2013 00:21 |
|
|
This sounds interesting! So, what do you do? Do you live in the house and provide around-the-clock supervision, or just drop in once a day to make sure it hasn't burnt down? Are you in charge of making sure that all conflicts are resolved / everybody's getting along, or are you strictly occupied with the physical side of things - making sure there's food in the fridge and there's enough toilet paper and the garbage is being taken out, that sort of thing? What are your daily duties? How independent are the clients, and how much input do you have to have in their lives? Do you have any stories yet of things going very wrong (or very right)? And how did you get the job? You kind of make it sound like it happened accidentally. So many questions.
|
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 03:51 |
|
|
Avshalom posted:This sounds interesting! Every client is "independent," by this I mean they all live on their own and they can gently caress their lives up pretty goddamn bad and I can't get rid of them if they still follow the rules. They can sit around all day and play with their dicks, but the moment they come home wasted or loud, they're gone. On the flip side, if they are really putting in an effort, and I find a medical marijuana container, I can just report it and have them stay on my recommendation. A lot of it's a case-by-case basis, and one of the hardest things I've had to do was baby-sit the fridge because someone who didn't pitch in still wanted food. I also run girls out, as having one in your room is a big no-no. The old Case Manager got hit with a surprise sex charge, and guys were basically "selling" their "girlfriends" for a discount on the rent, "Yo you can gently caress my bitch for $100." Someone has hinted at that deal for me, and he was gone next week. My main input is pretty much reminding them of the rules, and the responsibilities they have, We have one guy who I will call CJ. CJ is 25 and on probation, not only that He has to register with the police department as a Narcotics Offender. He really doesn't want to go to the police station by himself because he doesn't feel safe. So it was my Job to walk his rear end down there and make sure he went before probation. Also, if people need car rides as the only person in the home with a license it's my job to transport people. M (another boy) needs to get his food stamps? It's my job to get him there. CJ needs to go see his PO? I need to get him there. MO needs to see immigration? (Our Chinese exchange whatever,) Boom, I'm in the van getting him there. From what I understand, I got the job because the old guy (my assistant) was too soft, and I really liked him. People were taking advantage of him, stealing from him, and treating him like poo poo. So I started the kids to knock it the gently caress out or I was going to go up the ladder and they did. One day I was tired and some kid was banging on the door yelling at B (Older gentleman) to let him in. I asked B to talk to me in the kitchen and when he moved from the door I shut it. Guy kept knocking so I called the cops. Shortly after I was asked if I wanted room / board and some pocket money? I said yes and got the job. Holy poo poo, I didn't realize what was going on until I read the MOU. I got made the "Facility Supervisor" and "Outreach Coordinator" In short I was in charge of who came in and out, getting our grants, and making sure the house was ran the way it was supposed. Doc (the head guy) has a dream, and I'm kind of sold on that dream so I'm happy to work with him. If he makes it work, everyone who works with him will be rich. I like that. Also, on top of all my responsibilities with the home, I also go up the chain for disciplinary action, and I make calls for Donations and send out forms to companies who donate for tax credits. If people donate I get a small piece of it too eat or replace something that's broken or whatever (as long as I provide receipts,) and in exchange I get a lot of experience. This answer was way longer then I thought, I think I skipped a few questions so re-ask them to remind me.
|
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 04:23 |
|
|
Turtlicious posted:everyone who doesn't live with me tell me how great I'm doing Does this mean the people who live with you tell you you suck? Did you go just straight from being a client to your current position? How un/common is that?
|
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 05:32 |
|
|
Missouri Fever posted:Does this mean the people who live with you tell you you suck? Yeah, pretty much, "You can't come in, it's an hour past curfew" "God you're the worst loving Manager, Henry never did this poo poo!" "To be fair, I also didn't gently caress your girlfriend. Most people would be happy about that." I have never heard anyone my age being in the industry working with the kinds of people I'm working with at all. In fact, most people don't become staff until they are 25 and that's still a 2-10 kind of job.
|
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 06:21 |
|
|
What do you and the kids in your care think of the CPS or whatever government arm your state has for child abuse? Is there any belief that separation from parents could've done more harm than good even if the parent was abusive? I'm guessing that's what happened though, so I'd be curious of the usual background your kids hail from.
|
| # ? Mar 9, 2013 21:20 |
|
|
That job sounds horrific and you're saying you don't even have a real room?  So if someone comes in past curfew you say they can't come in...does that mean they're just kicked out onto the street for the night? You mention these people are independent, i.e. it sounds like they have girlfriends, jobs. etc. Why are they in this facility? Is it a court ordered thing or is a mental health situation? Previa_fun fucked around with this message at Mar 10, 2013 around 08:02 |
| # ? Mar 10, 2013 07:54 |
|
|
|
| # ? May 22, 2013 00:21 |
|
|
Previa_fun posted:That job sounds horrific and you're saying you don't even have a real room? Neither, living situations are poo poo in LA, and honestly it's better for them to follow very strict rules and have a chance to get their lives back together, (especially when their rent, utilities, and even college is paid for,) then actually try to be independent. It's... Testing me. I get that to some it's "Oh my god, you sleep in a laundry and could totally get stabbed for doing your job?" But I have my own room, and I'm happy. I get to work and help people, and while some of these kids can be total poo poo heads, they still are at least trying. I think that's the best part of this job is that I can deal with the people who are still trying. If they give up or stop, then I don't have to keep them I just get rid of them. When I and subsequently anyone else says, "Facility" it makes people imagine something a bit different then reality. I live in a small house with small rooms, but many of them. We have neighbors who go to USC, and I'm pretty sure the people across the street are drug dealers. Andpie1 posted:What do you and the kids in your care think of the CPS or whatever government arm your state has for child abuse? Is there any belief that separation from parents could've done more harm than good even if the parent was abusive? I'm guessing that's what happened though, so I'd be curious of the usual background your kids hail from. The ones who understand their situation, as it's kept from the kids to avoid trauma normally, no-one wants to hear at 13 that their mother was a crack-whore, and when they're 18 it really doesn't matter at that point because moms has already walked out. I personally believe that the system needs to be completely re-done from the bottom up, but no-one will do that because it would seriously gently caress over not only the employees, but the people they were trying to help. For like, 20 years. What the general story is generally something (though not always just one,) of the following: Mum / Kid got knocked around a lot. Mum / Dad / Caretaker got into drugs real bad. Dad was loving in the gene pool. Dad / Mum / Older Relative were selling their kids. Doorstep Baby Lost Immigrant - Yeah this one caught me by surprise too. I'm not really sure what the laws are, or why, but we have a LOT of people from other countries, green cards, visa's, and the whole shebang. Mo Is from... Okinawa? I forget, and I try not to bring it up because it's really hard for him to speak English and I'm not going to be the rear end in a top hat who has to constantly ask him where he's from. He's not the first either, basically the story I'm told is that some kid from over seas gets lost here. No-one can find the parents, and conditions in their home country are worse for Foster Kids then they are here. So that kid gets adopted by the system under a Visa, and they became Dual-Citizens. They follow the same laws and rules, but they hae a little fire in them that tells them somewhere, someplace there is a family waiting for them. And gently caress that hurts when I have to hear it. Even if it's not true, I'd much rather no my family is a piece of poo poo but could contact them, then never know at all.
|
| # ? Mar 10, 2013 08:32 |
|
