Good evening everyone. I am making this
attempt to write an oh so interesting blog, but am very apprehensive about doing
so. Here goes nothing...
I turned 50 this year which will explain the
crown in my profile picture. I celebrated with my girlfriends and my daughters
in Calistoga and we had a great time.
I was raised by a single mom
(most of the time, tho dad would come and go). Had an older sister. Was a
leader in school. Got pregnant and married at 16, first child at 17 and divorced
at 18. Worked and went to school, but the paycheck was too tempting and didn't
finish. Remarried at 23, 2 more kids by 26. Married 27 years now. Tried school
off and on and completed my AA but could never finish the next step. Raised a
nephew, met a younger sister that had been placed for adoption when I was 5, my
mom died (tho she's still in my closet 'cuz I don't know what to do with her).
I volunteered a lot and worked part time, and 7 years ago went to work for the
county where 5 years ago I began as a Social Worker I working for Child Welfare
Services.
I chose social
work, or it chose me, I think because I was always trying to help people. When
I volunteered, it made me happy and I was passionate about helping people to
make positive changes in their lives and so it was fortuitous that I not only
was hired by the county but had a progressive Program Manager who decided to
hire from within the Department and train the social workers rather than hire
new graduate students who may have the education but do not have ties to the
community and would not end up staying.
I
received my California High School Proficiency Exam the day I got married and my
AA 15 years later. I have taken a few upper division courses online through
University of Phoenix and also Kaplan. I attempted to attend HSU twice before;
once right after I received my AA and again after all my kids had left home, but
the commute was something I didn't like. I worked in banking when I was a young
mother, then I was a stay at home mom who volunteered in my children's
classrooms, coached at the middle school then the high school, held part time
jobs at the Builder's Exchange then CASA, and worked for my husband's dental
practice. It wasn't until I was hired at the county that I felt like I had
found my niche. I enjoyed my co-workers and the structure of the duties. I
began working at Juvenile Hall but hated the 24 hour shifts so when a job opened
at Social Services, I took it. About 1 1/2 years later I transferred from
Eligibility where we help people with thier cash aid, Medi-cal, and food stamps
to Child Welfare. I work in the court unit where I help people who are either
trying to get their children back or who have them back and are trying to
maintain a safe and stable life for them. I also work with children who have
been permanently removed and are in long term foster care, guardianships, or who
are going through adoption. I am actively involved with our local tribes as the
Indian Child Welfare Act or ICWA is very important in how we do business and
what our recommendations to the court may be for an American Indian child as
there are different requirements that we must meet in order to provide services
to the family.
My goal is to complete my BSW in the 3 years of the
online program and then I would like to go on to the Advanced Standing MSW 2
year program. The reason I want to do this, especially at my age is that with a
BSW I will not receive any promotion or additional pay; however with an MSW I
will. This higher rate of pay will allow me to retire at a higher level of pay
and that I hope will make it all worth it. I also believe in continuing
education and the more I learn about what I do the better I will be at doing
it. It has also been a personal goal for me as long as I can remember. Lastly,
I would like to be a good role model for my children and grandchildren.
I would like you all to know
that I get frustrated at times, but will apologize if I say or write something
that is hurtful. The other thing is that the most important thing to me is my
children and grandchildren because they make me happy.
