A silent scream...

Do you remember those "oh-so-boring-classes" in college? Or the seemingly never-ending, highly boring work meetings?? Yeah, those. The ones where as the instructor, or your boss, or the guest-speaker was talking you had this silent scream going on in your brain that went something like this:

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, nobody ask a question puh-leeeeese. Everyone, just be quiet and we can get out of here ASAP. (and) Good Lord, can this person be any more boring?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?! Please let there be a fire alarm, anything so we can leave!!!! Let me outta here!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Understand? Okay, all you lawyers (and families of such) stop reading here...

Today at my CPS training, we had a lawyer present the "Laws Pertaining to Child Abuse and Maltreatment". I thought this would be a great primer on everything I wanted to know about the laws of my new job (but were afraid to ask). But NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, the lawyer they had was just so dry and well, boring.

She basically just read her 'PowerPoint' presentation to us. Yeah, for SIX freakin' hours! OY. I mean really, I have my Master's Degree, I can read the damn 'PowerPoint' - she did hand it out of course. Uggggg. She read it in a mono-tone voice and had a hard time making eye-contact. I'm sorry, but she wasn't just boring, she was damn boring! AND, to make matters worse, we have some of "THOSE PEOPLE" in the class (which by the way has 23 people in it) who INSIST on asking questions - yeah, like 5 minutes before we are supposed to leave, they ask a 10 minute question. Well, it wouldn't be so bad if the instructor didn't have to consult her 500 page book on all the codes because she thought we should know the exact code (and paragraph) she was talking about - but good grief lady, it's all in the 'PowerPoint' hand-out!

Oh, and don't you dare promise a room full of social workers that we're going to get out early if you don't really mean it. EARLY means an hour early or at least 45 minutes early. NOT, I repeat, NOT 25 minutes early when we never did have our 15 minute break (so therefore we were "supposed" to include that 15 minutes in our 25 minute "early leave time"). Is that "Lawyer-talk" for "early"? Did you all feel the "woosh" of air as we all sped out of there at approximately 4:35pm this evening? Sorry to all you lawyers and friends and families of ones, I know "your" family member is totally not like this lady, no, it's not possible. But then again, you aren't reading this part are you?

Can you tell I didn't have a wonderful day? Is it obvious? Sorry. Tomorrow should be much more interesting and relevant - it's the start of "CMI" (Child Maltreatment Indicators) - or what I need to be looking for when I go out on an investigation. Seriously, I really am looking forward to this - because this is the stuff I need to know to do a good job.

Oh, and to answer the "What new thing did I learn today?" - I learned that if you threaten a CPS worker with bodily harm - that will earn you up to THREE years in jail. So don't do it okay?

Okay.

First week DONE!

Whew! I made it thru the first week of my EIGHT week training for my new job as a CPS worker. I found out a few things:

First - I'll be stationed within the IS/IRS unit. AKA: the Immediate Services/Immediate Response Services unit. This is the unit of social workers that are the "first responders" or the front-end workers. After the hotline receives a report (or abuse, neglect, etc.) of a child, the report comes to us and depending on the severity of the report, we have to respond within either 2 hours, 2 days, 3 days or 10 days. I will be called a "Child Abuse Investigator". I will have the authority to remove children from the home immediately (or from school if need be).

Lots of my cases will involve law enforcement who will either meet me at the home or I will call once I get there.

Second: I have now (hopefully if the DMV is working quickly) had my vehicle's license plate blocked. So, if for instance, I'm stopped by the Highway Patrol or police and they run my plates, they will come back as "Sensitive/Confidential". Now, this doesn't mean I'm off the hook for speeding on the freeway or making illegal u-turns but it clues the police/sheriff that perhaps they can just give me a "warning" vs. a ticket. They will probably ask if I'm off-duty police or "married" to one or if I happen to work for CPS (currently the only classification of social worker "allowed" to have a "license block"). I don't have to answer but it's good to know that not only will I have somewhat of a "get out of jail free card" but MORE importantly, the parents of the kids I'm removing from the home will not be able to find out anything from my vehicles license plate info. That is after all the primary reason for the # to be blocked. AND, I'm also allowed to have Laura's license plate blocked as well, in case I'm driving her car for work one day.

This week has been long and hard. Only 7 more weeks to go! I'm glad I'll be working the Immediate Response Unit. I've heard it's really hard and draining but exciting and rewarding as well. I look forward to it. And of course, the good news is that I won't be keeping any cases longer than 30 days - once I'm done with them, off they go - either closed or onto the next worker.

That could be a good thing!

I'm still here...

Just making sure Blogger didn't "off" me in the process. It seems like I can still post and all, but we'll see.

Okay, new job training=sitting for 8 hours=one tired mama

But it's all good. Can't tell you all the "goodies" (yet) I get to have as a CPS worker, but they are GOOD. I did get my calendar for the next 8 weeks and it looks very comprehensive and quite interesting once we get thru the "intro." dry stuff. I even get to train with the CHPD (CA Highway Police Dept.) on proper car-seat installation - guess I need to know that if I'm - for example - removing a child from a home.

Okay, that's it for now. I'm off to bed!

Well, it's not February 8th anymore, now is it?

Funny how that "time" thing sneaks up on you - excuse me for a moment, I have to go cover up a boy...

...okay, where was I...oh yeah, the time thing.

What is it with time?? I mean I can barely sit thru some meetings at work, and they are only an hour long (but feel like a week) - and then at home, a week goes by in what seems like an hour!

Anyhoo, tomorrow is the BIG day. I start my new job, well, kinda. I meet my new supervisor and I get to see where I'll be stationed, and meet some co-workers but that's it for Friday. Starting next Tuesday (Monday is a holiday) I begin an 8-week training!!! Then we're off for a week to New York, that is of course, if my "new" supervisor approves my already approved request for time off (it was approved by my old supervisor WAY before I got my new job). OY.

Well, I'm going to make this short as Laura is at a book club meeting and all the kids are in bed, and it's not even 7:30pm! I need to take advantage of this time to watch one of the movies I rented before I need to return them!

OH - and dear old Blogger threatened me with NO MORE ACCESS to my blog unless I "conform" and move my blog to the "new and improved" Blogger. So I shall do that - soon. I really don't feel like messing with it now. So, if some cosmic event happens when I switch to the "new and improved" Blogger and I disappear somehow - well, it's been fun - take care and try to find me - same blog name.

Over and OUT!

Yes, it IS February 8th isn't it?

No, I'm not pregnant.
No, we didn't buy another house.
No, we didn't win the lottery.
No, we didn't win in "another" class-action lawsuit.


I did however get a promotion.
To a job I wanted when I graduated from graduate school in 1995.
Finally.


I start my new position next Friday as a Protective Services Worker, yes, more commonly known as CPS (Child Protective Services). It's still in the county so all my bene's and such stay the same. I've been in my current position (more or less a "desk job") for 6 years and I've been itching to change. I got my chance!


Not sure if I'm jumping from the frying pan into the fire or if this is really going to be good, but I am really, REALLY looking forward to this change. I'll be doing investigations (not sure of the exact unit yet) of suspected child abuse. It will be hard, very hard, but I'm ready. I need to hone my clinical skills more and get busy in the community - I want, no NEED, to work with other social workers. My current position is more medical social work and I work with like 25 other nurses - I'm the only social worker and I have felt really lost. Now the tables will be turned and I'll be working only with social workers. I'm looking forward to it. Apparently I also got the geographical location I wanted, in fact, they told me today I was their #1 pick (highest scoring on the interview) for that location - so that was really nice to hear.


It is a promotion with lots of room for advancement. In my current job, I'm "topped out", meaning I can't get any more promotions, so this is a step forward.


So there you have the big mystery. Not all that exciting for you folks out there in blog-land but it's a great big, exciting jump for me/us.


Wish me luck!

We're OUTSpoken - and Proud of it!

Turn your speakers *UP*please (it's a copy from my camera of the tv coverage, not the best quality but you get the idea) This is a TV coverage snippet of the training Laura and I went to yesterday at The Center here in San Diego. Yeah, we're in there, towards the right on the "big, comfy couch". We are now registered and available speakers to represent OUTSpoken Families - a very important group dedicated to "Our message of equality is one that resonates with every parent - we want our children to have great lives." - Jennifer Chrisler, Exec. Dir. Family PridePlease take a look and support us in our mission.Thanks!