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!