SECRETS OF A SOCIAL WORKER

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Tag: Social Work (Page 14 of 14)

You Know You’re A Social Worker When…

December 1, 2015 / / 0 Comments

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  • You often hear people say “I do not know how you do your job”.
  • You do not hesitate to discuss child abuse during supper time.
  • You spend more than half your days doing paperwork.
  • Daily you use the words ‘assessment’, ‘appropriate’, and ‘intervention’.
  • You have to explain  over and over again that social workers do not just take kids from their home.
  • You have had more than 1 job to pay the bills.
  • You often use the statement “so what I hear you saying is…”
  • You know the latest jargon for drugs, how to get them, and their cost.
  • You rarely work with men.
  • You know many social workers who change career paths.
  • Staying at a job for 2 years is a long time.
  • Your phone number may be unlisted for legitimate reasons.
  • Having lunch uninterrupted is practically a miracle.
  • The term ‘budget cut’ is familiar to you.
  • You cannot imagine working with numbers.
  • You have had clients that like you a little too much.
  • You’ve been cursed at and/or threatened on many occasions and it doesn’t scare you.
  • Your job orientation includes self defense.
  • You have the most interesting stories to tell your friends.
  • Your parents do not know half of what you have dealt with at work each day.
  • You know all the excuses clients use for a failed drug test.
  • You are familiar with the term ‘positive reinforcement’.
  • You are on edge and busiest around the holidays because of the increase in client behaviors.
  • You focus on relationships in every aspect of your life.
  • You are on high alert when you hear parents yelling at their kids in the grocery store.
  • You can’t imagine leaving your career because of the rewards that come with helping others.
  • You love what you do because of the relationships you form with people.
  • You are more self aware and have become a better person.
  • You have formed many great memories and know that what you do makes a difference in people’s lives.

 

 

I Am Thankful

November 25, 2015 / / 0 Comments

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Happy Thanksgiving week everyone! Of course, since it’s the season of giving and thanks, a blog focused on these wonderful topics feels necessary. There is nothing better in this world than the holiday season, am I right?!

I’ll be honest with you and admit that a small part of me feels so guilty around this time of year. I am fortunate to have a happy, healthy, and loving family to spend the holidays with.  I am always looking forward to the holidays because of how much I enjoy being with my family. The reason I feel guilty is because in my daily work as a social worker I spend time with children who have never celebrated a holiday. Never celebrated a holiday… Can you imagine that? Daily, I spend time with children who have never been given a gift, and do not know how to unwrap a present. I spend time with children who do not know who their family is and have no one to celebrate with. I spend the holidays explaining to children who Santa Claus is because they have never heard of him. I have seen children celebrate holidays in residential facilities and do not have any family come to visit them. I have seen children who do not know where their siblings are during the holidays and are worried about them. I have seen children’s behaviors escalate over the holidays because they do not know how to process the emotions that they are feeling during the holiday season. These children listen to other peers in school talk about their holiday festivities and their families, their new gifts…Can you imagine how that must feel? It is difficult for me to take time off of work to enjoy this special time of year without wanting to take all of my clients home with me! For me, this time of year makes it hard to separate work from home life.

I think it is SO important this time of year to truly think about what it is we are thankful for, no matter how big or small. There is always something to be thankful for. I would challenge all of you to physically write down a list of all that you are thankful for this year. Hopefully you are overwhelmed with positive feelings when you can look at that list and think of how fortunate you are to have countless amounts of wonderful things and wonderful people in your lives! Be mindful of the positive aspects of your life and be thankful for them.

Focus on the beauty of this earth. The sky, the changing of the seasons, the sounds of nature… Be thankful for the beauty that surrounds us every single day, and that we so easily overlook.Think about all the obvious wonders in our lives that we overlook. Focus on those ‘things’ that we forget that we have the luxury to enjoy…Every.Single.Day.

I would also challenge you to do one good deed this holiday season revolved around helping others. It feels SO good to give back and to help those less fortunate than ourselves. If you have children, I would encourage you to get them involved in the season of giving as this time of year can be such a fabulous learning experience for children.
Why is it so important to give back and be thankful this holiday season, you ask? Just remember those children I mentioned above and try putting yourselves in their shoes.

As a social worker we try to make the holidays such an exciting time for the individuals we serve. We try making it special, unique, memorable. This can seem impossible at times, and sometimes I feel defeated… There is truly nothing I can do to make this person feel loved around the holidays. But, I can be there for them and I can give back somehow to make their holiday experiences just a little bit better, a little more meaningful, and help them create moments worth remembering.

I want people to know that lending a helping hand during the holidays does not go unnoticed. It does not matter how big or small your contribution is, you can make a difference. You can help in making the holiday season be positive for those who have never experienced the warm, loving feeling this season provides to most of us. And please, enjoy the holiday season you are fortunate to spend with your friends and family, making memories and eating all those comfort foods…After all, calories don’t count during the holidays, right?!

It feels good to do good for others.

-keep shining, and have a safe and memorable Thanksgiving.

There’s Always A Beginning

May 5, 2015 / / 0 Comments

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Me…. Write a blog?! Who ever would of guessed that? I can assure you I never would have. But that is the beauty of life, isn’t it? The unpredictability of it all.
Unpredictable doesn’t even begin to explain my life. Well, more so my career. I am a social worker after all, and I would argue it is one of the most unpredictable fields today. That is why I fell in love with the idea of social work; the idea that every day is different. I definitely got what I was asking for and I wouldn’t change it for anything! How I got around to the idea of starting a blog is a story I’ll tell another day. For right now I want to explain to you what my goal in all of this is….
I want to help. I want to change lives and feel I can make a difference. But most importantly, I want to help all of you realize that you too are capable of these things- whether for yourself or others. My goal is to share with you my experiences and stories, my opinions, my advice, my positive and uplifting thoughts, and my encouragement. So much of these things sit and swirl in my brain all day long, so why not put them to good use and help motivate others?! How wonderful that I can do that 🙂
When attempting to decide what to write about first my mind would not turn off. Ever have those nights when you’re exhausted and keep dreaming about the moment when you can lay your head on your pillow and glide effortlessly into your sleep? But the second the opportunity presents itself every possible thought and memory goes through your mind like a hurricane? I know you have, we all do. And that is what happened when I began to start this blog.
So, I’ll leave you with this first thought….
You are the only you in this world. Sounds simple, but really think about that. Whenever you have a moment of self doubt, lack of confidence, or lack of respect for yourself, please remember that you are the only you in this world. That is really incredible! Not one other person is exactly like you, which makes you very important to society. Own it! Use that to your advantage and know that the people you interact with, work for, spend time with, etc. are so lucky to have you present in their lives because you are unique. You are special.

Some of you are probably thinking “well duh, I obviously know I’m the only me”. Yes, true, it does feel like common sense. However, in moments where a boost of confidence is needed try telling yourself this thought. It really helps me in times of self doubt (interviews, important meetings, times in the past when I’ve been dumped).

I challenge you to see if it makes a difference for you as it has for me. You are the only you, and you bring something special to this world.

So, here it is. My beginning as a “blogger”. Beginnings are fun! And I’m excited to spend this journey with you.

-keep shining

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