All In A Day's Work

At work, I manage a group home for disabled children. Not too long ago at this same employer, I worked as a nursing assistant (LNA) for almost 20 years. I grew bored with that backbreaking thankless role. I decided to transfer over to another department of work and see if my skills would help a different population of children.



I went from working with people who were brain injured and immobile, to kids who could not only ambulate, but could RUN. And fast! I went from 2 or 3 patients needing modest tube feedings to planning, cooking and serving 20 dinner meals each night. I went from an occasional outdoor activity with a patient, to almost nonstop outdoor activities with my students- who need vigorous exercise for 2-3 hours in order to sleep at night. I went from almost no behavior incidents from patients, to multiple events each evening, taking lots of hits and kicks and bites and bolts. I quickly became an expert at the safe use of physical restraints!

The economy has drained school districts of money to send their most disabled cases to private schools. Districts are keeping all but the most severe cases. State child protective services departments are having trouble placing the behaviorally challenged kids in foster families.
Who gets these "severe" kids? My work. We have contracted with several states and we accept, without question, the most behavioral, dangerous AND medically fragile children. While these kids can have appalling behavior, they also have life threatening seizure disorders that call for quick action when seizures start. Medical protocols are in place that includes special medicine administration as well as calling for a Life Flight. It’s the hands on direct care staff that make these calls, not nurses.

We also have kids with life threatening allergies to many foods- not just peanuts- but milk, corn, wheat, soy, eggs, food additives; one boy in my group home can only eat 15 foods. It’s difficult to keep busy little kids safe from the very food they so want to eat. But we have to- and we do it every day.

This work, or as we're called, Direct Care Staff, is not easy. Compared to LNA work it's difficult. It's physically taxing on people. Direct care professionals have to be educated and trained and certified before they can begin working with people with disabilities.

From time to time I will write about my experiences at work; some of the stories will be funny and others will people’s blood boil. It is what it is- human services work is full of ups and downs.  Managing a program, with 20 staff and 8 young boys, is super challenging and even more fun. The supervisor part of the job can really stink. Setting up systems for success is well worth some of the aggravation.