I tend to write formal rather than informal and so when one reads it, it does not read with a conversational tone.  This is what is expected in child welfare with the numerous court reports that must be written in a professional manner. 

                                                  

I don’t usually free write, rather I edit as I type; however the exercises we have done this semester have shown me how helpful free writing can be and I have used the technique a few times.  I enjoy free writing, it is kind of fun and allows my mind to just go and not worry about syntax or grammar or spelling and that frees my mind to just write the words as they come.  This is not how I would turn a paper in but it does provide a space to develop my thoughts.

In regards to sharing my writing with those of a different culture, I am more cautious with my words to make sure it is written in a way that is clear and does not contain subtle meanings.  I acknowledge that I do not know everything about other cultures and I do not wish to offend anyone so I am careful to say what I mean and mean what I say. 

                                                                            

In reading Patterns of Thinking pdf it is interesting how different cultures organize and write in different ways.  With that information, even my careful, diligent writing can be taken as offensive, simplistic, blunt, rude, and aggressive.  I am not sure how to avoid this interpretation of my words because if I attempt to write the way another culture may prefer then I offend my own.  It is a quandary and may not be preventable.  I think the best I can do at this point is to be aware of the differences and write honestly.     

I am more of a left brain person who strives to get things done correct in the allotted time and with supporting evidence.  I doubt myself often which is something I am working on overcoming, but until I have the proof I need to back myself up I am not completely sure I have written or done the right thing.  I consider myself an uncreative person; however I do like to look at obstacles I face in my work in child welfare and come up with creative ways to provide a service.  I dream about being a creative person; to be able to write a novel, perform in a play, sing a karaoke song, draw, paint, do ceramics, or play the piano…but I cannot do any of those things well.  

“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.”

Erich Fromm

I am shy and insecure and I think that has something to do with my lack of creativity and also the need for support and evidence so that I am not the only one that believes the way I do, because what if someone challenged me, what would I say?  Because I work in a field where I am looked at as a professional and although I am basically acting as one, there are many times I feel like a fraud.  I never claim to have a degree, but without saying I don’t I think most people I encounter in my work assume I do.  I think that is one of my main motivators for completing my degree is that finally I will feel legitimate and not a fake.  I know I am not phony and I do everything in my power to act professional and to make decisions that are fully thought through, but yet I still feel like I'm pretending to be something I'm not.  I discuss my concerns with my co-workers and supervisor whom I respect very much and ask for feedback which I take seriously and often make changes as a result.

One of the last questions was how might I create more balance?  I don’t know, maybe I need to eat better, exercise more, and meditate.  Would that allow me the ability to think clearer and maybe trust myself enough to challenge my fears and do something creative?  There is probably more to it but those things couldn’t hurt, could they?          

While doing the pre-writing exercise, I realized that I am my toughest obstacle.  The biggest obstacle for me is getting started.

  I tend to think about what I’m going to write and how I can organize it for quite some time before I actually put pen to paper and even then I rethink and rewrite until I find my direction.  One of the techniques I have learned is to free write which allows me to write what comes to mind and then pick and choose what works for the point I’m trying to make.  I also procrastinate and spend too much time doing research.  I don’t like to write what I think; I’m more comfortable writing what I know and supporting it with good citations.

   This type of writing takes a whole lot of time and sometimes I would just like to be able to write.  Maybe I should become a professional free-writer.  Anyone know of job opportunities in that? 

The reading this week was about storytelling as a way to explain historical events.  I think it is interesting how a writer or reporter is able to retell history by telling a story and it is only according to the writer’s perspective as to how history may be retold.  To add to this, it is also the reader’s perspective as to how they perceive the story being told.  They may have an opinion already and so when they read this story they are already looking at it with a jaded eye.  

I find this interesting because this is similar to how our clients perceive situations they are faced with.  Some look at it one way and others in another way.  This can make it difficult when as a social worker you want to help a client understand they need to work with a service provider even though they have decided that person had judged them or doesn't like them and so your client decides they can’t work with this person.  It is your job to help them realize their biases and mediate between them and the service provider so that your client is able to receive the services necessary to help them overcome whatever problem they are facing.  

Men are disturbed not by the things that happen,

But by their opinion of the things that happen. 

~ Epictetus ~

Group Work

I have been working with a family to help motivate them to make positive changes in their life that would enable them to safely parent their children again.  This is hard as they’re in denial and resistant to advice, encouragement, and even bribery (yes, I’ve offered them a gift card if they would participate).  I invited them to participate in SOP (Safety Organized Practice) meetings.  This is a structured group format that is based around the client being the expert of their life.  It is client driven as they invite the participants and I am there to help them identify their additional support network, and their goals in this process.  UC Davis trains our Department in SOP and they refer to this process as holistic (UC Davis, 2012).  I’m not sure I agree with that definition; however, I do agree the results are good when the family participates.  It’s getting the family to participate that is the problem which leads me into my question. 

In the readings this week there is so much positive, productive group work examples and it’s exciting to read and to imagine being able to facilitate such a group.  There’s even some egocentric selfishness I’m recognizing in me to be “the one” that helps a family have that “ah ha” moment so that they become aware that change is within their power and they can control so much of the outcome of their case.     

What I would love to know is how to encourage and motivate a client who is still in denial, still making excuses, and has a partner who is doing the same thing to at least take baby steps towards change.  I am frustrated because if they stay where they’re at and don’t do anything they’ve been ordered by the court to do, they will lose their children, and they know this.     

I finally was able to read the Circle book (it had been on backorder) and was so inspired to try to put one together for this couple and their family.  I don’t think I have the ability or knowledge to do this; but maybe someone else could.  So what I thought I would do is talk to a service provider who might know about this or be able to identify someone who does and then approach the family with it and see what they think.  It’s yet another idea, but I’ve got to keep trying and I think the equality of the circle may be a key as they’ve been told what to do so far without results so this might give them the opportunity to develop their own plan and to realize not only why they live their life a certain way but what experiences in their lives have resulted in those choices being made and with that awareness, maybe then they could make the changes necessary to safely parent their children again.       

http://humanservices.ucdavis.edu/Academy/pdf/121-171-Safety-organized-practice.pdf  

I think what I am learning from my classes now is to be open to change and to try to encourage and engage my clients to do the same.  It may be a difficult task as I have my own ideas on how to meet with my clients and yet I am being exposed to different ways to do this.  One of the current challenges I am facing is working with ICWA; their goal is to maintain the Indian child with their family; however it is not always so easy as often the child’s parent is no longer connected to their family who are no longer connected to the tribe so in effect, we skip the parents and move on to the extended family for that connection.  The difficulty I face is that staying or introducing a child to their extended family may not always be healthy because that family may be living the same life as their parents who would be dysfunctional or unhealthy otherwise the Department wouldn’t have gotten involved.  So what do we do; do we work at keeping the child connected to the tribe and introducing them to a family member they may not know or supporting them in their current placement which is probably their permanent placement choice and the child may not have any connection to their tribe.  My dilemma is whose interest is most important?  Do we consider the tribe because they want to keep their young tribal members connected because in all cultures it is our youth that will be able to make changes and strengthen our culture or is it the youth’s best interest.  Often they may be more connected to a non-tribal member family; i.e. their foster family and we don’t want to disturb that connection either as that is their strongest connection.  What do we do?  Best interest of child or best interest of tribe?       

This is a test anyone who is looking.  Thanks Crystal!