Jessique

Okay, so my first placement in DCYF was through the Providence Center, which is where I am now. I am in ILP, like I said in my last post if you read it, but before that I was in TAP - which is a Transitional Apartment Program ... it is a semi-independent program: you have an apartment in a house, 3 apartments, two clients each, with staff that changes each shift. One of the ILP clients moved into TAP this evening, two of the case managers and I went with her to start bringing some of her personal belongings over to TAP. She was a complete wreck; didn't want to go - she was scared. Well, her first impression there was anything but supportive. We were getting her settled in and went to the first floor for a "welcome cake and ice cream" and things were looking Aaverage. Unfortunately, one of the boys girlfriends was over, and we'll call the girlfriend D and the boy P. D and one of the girl clients, who we will call G, do not get along at all. And of course, since D does not get along with G, P also does not. G was outside, and D and P were on the stairs. G came in, D did this little hip movement which was supposed to be some threat of hurting G while looking like an accident. Some little childish act. So what does G do? Everything that I told her not to. She made a comment and the two of them went at it. I don't want to say they fought, but of course it does fall under the category of fighting. They both grabbed onto each others hair, and pulled quite a bit out of each others hair. D scratched and bit G. It was the perfect "female cat fight" - nothing with fists and kicking, etc. Though, P did sent a punch or two at G, and D made a move to hit G at the beginning - a weak attempt to be a punch, and unfortunately both hits hit one of the staffs arms, so G's attempt to claim self defense, as I told her, does not flie. I felt so bad for the new client, on her first night she had to deal with a fight; and she gets so shaken up over the littlest things, the poor girl; she has Bipolar like I do, and I know her very well. This program will be great for her, sadly the first impression, I know, made her think other wise. You should have seen her face, she was filled with so many different feelings. I am so glad to be out of the TAP program, but I was always miss the "Junior Staff" feeling. I was always the Junior Staff ... the other clients thought of me as a staff half the time rather than a client. I would always step in and tell them what to do - not to be the athority, but only because I wanted what was in their best interest, and they knew that. The respected me, because I respected them. Sadly, for me, I have very little contact with the TAP clients, because I am so busy with my own life ... but the little contact I do have with them, I still tell them to shut up, to stop what they are doing because it is disrespectful, etc. They still understand that I only do and say what I think is best for them, I just wish that I could do it more. Hopefully, one day I will be a staff in a program like it. I actually want to be a staff for a DCYF or like program, that's main focus is on fitness and working out as therapy. I can only hope, pray, and work towards that goal. But it will take a while, because ... well, I know me and my situation right now. Evening all!!


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In God I Trust

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In God I Trust