Current Events > AMA I'm a social worker

(+) Yeah! (+)

I've been at it 6 months now. Basically I interview people in prisons and mental institutions and decide if they're ready to be released into one of our hab homes for people with mental illness and/or substance abuse. 4-5 people share a house and as long as they're taking their meds, working on goals, and not causing problems they can stay as long as they need.
Problem is a lot of their caseworkers just want them off their plate, so obviously they aren't always truthful about their behaviors etc. If I don't think we can keep them safe or they're a danger to the community, I won't accept them. By and far they're good people, but sadly a lot of them never should have been released/re-teired and it just becomes a cluster fuck.

Favorite philosopher?

What free shit can I get from the government?

can EBT be used to buy dog food?

Why your name thud

Which brings me to Spider-Man. He believes that there are spiders living in his body and the house and furniture etc. He thinks people put spider eggs in his food and on his clothes to attract them. Last night his house lead reported that he had cut holes in the couch and walls convinced there were spider nests there. And the next step was to burn the house down.
Needless to say, none of that was shared with us prior to accepting him. Super nice guy otherwise though.

Why is the Social Worker qualification accepted worldwide, despite Social work in most countries being as different as can be -- whereas for a Teaching qualification you often need to do a conversion course in almost all countries?

Surely Teaching in every country would be more similar than Social Work?

I have an MSW that I haven't used. I wish I hadn't gone to college at all.

I get the motivation to want them off the caseload, but I would think the "safest" course would be to always deny them. But I'm sure you get pressure from your bosses, who probably work for the county, to get them out of jail and out from that budget.

Why do you do this work? Is it for the money?

MedeaLysistrata posted...

Favorite philosopher?

Sun Tzu or KRS-ONE

VeggetaX posted...

What free shit can I get from the government?

Quite a bit, but you're also limited on your earnings and holdings. Any time my folks come into money they literally have to spend it (usually on frivolous shit they don't need) or they lose their benefits. It is fun helping them spend it though, I suggested one of my clients get a Realpet of their cat since animals aren't allowed on site and she had $3000 to blow in 7 days.

VampireCoyote posted...

can EBT be used to buy dog food?

Idk, I would hope so though.

TeaMilk posted...

Why your name thud

Because rock go thud

Thud posted...

Quite a bit, but you're also limited on your earnings and holdings. Any time my folks come into money they literally have to spend it (usually on frivolous shit they don't need) or they lose their benefits. It is fun helping them spend it though, I suggested one of my clients get a Realpet of their cat since animals aren't allowed on site and she had $3000 to blow in 7 days.

I make too much to prolly get any kinda free benefits from the government. Still, what legal shit can I still get?

How do you stand it? The human suffering that just can't be fixed by medical science, the dangerous clients...the reality that you too could be "spider-man" if you get a brain tumor, experience brain trauma, or get a neurological disorder later in life.

On a scale of 1-10, how confident do you feel in your ability to talk someone down who's armed and going through a psychotic break?

DrewAllar posted...

Do prisoners ever seem intimidating?

Yes. More often than not its a front (I work with a lot of youth fresh out of juvie) because they've never felt safe or felt genuinely cared about. I just establish right off the bat that I'm on their side and they're free to make their own choices...but end of the day I will discharge them if I have to. Treat them like adults trying to do better or learn to manage their symptoms and they typically get that.

Do they seem disheveled from incarceration?

Some yeah. One of my girls will literally ask permission to do anything, even go outside to smoke or use the bathroom or go to her room. I finally gave up telling her "iof course, it's your house and I couldn't stop you if I wanted you dont need to ask", she's super sweet though she's not a bitch about it or anything.

coolguyjimmy posted...

Why is the Social Worker qualification accepted worldwide, despite Social work in most countries being as different as can be -- whereas for a Teaching qualification you often need to do a conversion course in almost all countries?

Surely Teaching in every country would be more similar than Social Work?

I think because the administrative aspect is pretty standard and not too hard to learn. But you have to have a genuine desire to help and to serve, and I don't think that's something that is as easily taught.

Relient_K posted...

I have an MSW that I haven't used. I wish I hadn't gone to college at all.

Considering DSP's typically make more, I feel that on a spiritual level lol

Cagey posted...

I get the motivation to want them off the caseload, but I would think the "safest" course would be to always deny them. But I'm sure you get pressure from your bosses, who probably work for the county, to get them out of jail and out from that budget.

That's just it though, I don't know what they're truly like until they get into the home. Plus I guarantee the IHH worker has the client on all kinds of stabilizers etc for the meeting lol. We usually get very detailed social histories etc but sometimes I literally get 3 pages of info on someone. I have a literal John Doe who was found wandering the highway with no ID, no memory, and no records. Felt bad and wanted to help, he hadnt shown any sifns of aggression or delusion, so i took a chance and he's been delightful, not an issue.
Other times we accept someone who's genuinely never been problematic, and their illness changes or worsens.
And yeah, my upper bosses are douchebags who see the clients as cash flow first.

Adyingod posted...

Why do you do this work? Is it for the money?

LMAO anyone who goes into social work for money is a fool and doing it for the wrong reasons. I actually took a $15,000 pay cut to take this job.
I do it because I generally hate most people, but I can empathize with someone who literally can't control or help who/how they are. It's a challenge and I truly enjoy the people I work with (for). Seeing them realize we really do care about them and want them to succeed and come out of their shell is priceless.
It's also interesting AF.

darkmaian23 posted...

How do you stand it? The human suffering that just can't be fixed by medical science, the dangerous clients...the reality that you too could be "spider-man" if you get a brain tumor, experience brain trauma, or get a neurological disorder later in life.

Honestly you just do what you can. People who think they're going to be some miracle worker and "fix" someone's mental illness are on a fools errand. The ones that do have a realistic chance of a "normal" life again really helps, we do have success stories. For our "lifers" it's harder. Especially during their more lucid moments when they realize they're going to be in habit homes their entire lives. For them I just do my best to make sure they're safe, cared for, and not being taken advantage of and whatever else we can do to bring them joy. As far as how I personally deal with it, therapy and anti depressants. It helps just to talk.

COVxy posted...

On a scale of 1-10, how confident do you feel in your ability to talk someone down who's armed and going through a psychotic break?

If it's one of my people? I'd say a 9, most really are more of a danger to themselves than anyone else. There's a lot of factors there though, biggest being how symptomatic/delusional are they (will they even recognize me as part of their team or think I'm a "Fed" etc) and are they high.

Someone I have never met before? Idk, a 5?