I don't know if anyone saw the article in the Waterbury Republican Sunday but this was very disturbing. The article was about a mother who dealt with her daughters mental illness since a very young age. The child, Alexandria Desmond was 9 years old when she first tried to kill herself. Because of the difficulties she was having with her child she was given help by the Dept of Mental Health and DCF. The story proceeds to say because of her running away and constant fighting she was shuffled through the DCF treatment system while officials ignored that her problems were getting worse. At the age of 18, this child is found murdered and stuffed in a box in an apartment run through DMHAS.In the end, the system failed to save her because officials did not recognize how sick she was and never kept her in a facility secure enough and suitable to treat her problems. I don't understand how well educated social workers could let something like this happen.
I read about this in The Hartford Courant because I don't support the editorial policy of the Waterbury paper. It is distressing, distressing as hell, but having talked with a Hartford Courant reporter who routinely covers DCF, there are many cases that are not reported at all. The well-intending social workers are put in the position of always being "reactors" to problems. They therefore are rarely in the position to take action to fix or at least lessen the intensity of the problem, or to engage in prevention based initiatives. Pro-active leadership is needed with support from the community voice that says, "enough is enough."
I have to say that when I first started out doing on line classes I was told that all my classes would be available on line. I was very upset when I was told I had to go on campus to take my Human Service classes since I work on Saturdays that would take some hours away from me weekly pay. But now that I have been going on campus I really enjoy being in class with h.f.s. and all fellow students, it is a much better way to learn when you interact with others in person rather than online. thanks all for making my experience on campus a great one...
It is really sad. Speaking from first hand knowledge & experience of simliar stuff with my own daughter; I can truly say that dealing with the system was like having heart surgery without anesthesia! I had to fight, scratch, pray, moan, complain, work myself almost into a stroke to get my daughter the help she needed. I had to fight for residential for her so that she would 24-hour monitoring. We have been for the most part blessed. Other than having 1 or 2 screw-up workers, we had basically pretty good DCF & DMR workers. They were severely over-worked but compassionate, sometimes working on the weekends to ensure that my daugter's needs were met. But, I had to stay consistently involved, educate myself, and have the resilency and tenacity of 3 bulls! The system is so screwed-up and does not always work in the clients favor. My daughter is now 22 and living in a contracted DMR group home setting. She completed her academic requiremnts ahead of schedule and graduated from high school last year. She is in a work training program. She still has major issues that we are working with and I still have to remain active and advocate for her needs. But, I would rather do that than go visit her at the cemetary. My heart goes out to the family. It is very sad!
Hi Kim, You are so right. Everything is a struggle trying to get a loved one the help they need. It's very frustrating and stressful. The system has let me down so many times and still is. I have been an advocate for my son for almost 3 years now and have had very few possitive results. It's wearing me down. I thought getting an agency involved would make things easier, but I'm constantly having to stay on top of them. I feel sorry for the mentally challenged who don't have people like us in their corner.
Hey Kim & Dawn Sorry for the late response.It seems that your dedication to the care of your loved ones is relentless, I applaud your efforts.Could you imagine all the children who don't have a support system with the resiliency that it takes to deal with the screwed up system.They are probably overlooked and the chances of them falling through the cracks must be higher.
Miguel makes the key point. Most children in crisis do not have parent(s) or other advocates with the savvy to navigate the system. I believe a majority of adults in crisis don't have the ability to navigate the sytem either, to ask the right questions, to become just outraged enough to get needs met, but not too outraged to be blacklisted. Systems are not "user friendly," and many individuals in charge of systems have the social graces of a garden slug (on a rainy, muddy day). And many are more judgemental than empathic. Systems don't work for a reason. If systems are successful, they put themselves out of business. If systems raise clients up to a dignity that allows them to "get ahead," then the entire class structure is shaken.
This class is very instructional because I learn a lot about society and higher, middle,and middle class. The class allows me to broaden my view of the way life. Not many people are able to live the American dream and this class allows us to see that it is hard to live up to the idea of the American dream.
I have great respect for people who fight for their loved ones and specially for those who can't fight for themselves. I worked with people with disabilities (we all have some kind of disability, isn't?) I met parents who show such resilient and obtained the quality of care that their children or relatives need. I applause you and encourage you to continue the good fight. One day we will no longer have to deal with that system. Mr schissler, I enjoy your class.
Thank you Dawn & Miguel for saying so. I have to also totally agree with Professor HFS, most people (children & teens alike) do not have the advocates. My first reason for fighting for my child is because "she is my God-given gift" and I feel responsible for her well-being. The second reason, is b/c I grew up in the foster care system of the 60's, 70's, & early 80's. Some things may have changed, but not much. I needed advocacy from the day I entered the system but didn't get much help until I learned how to fight for myself. Knowing the system is one piece and navigating is total different thing. It is an uphill climb everyday-sometimes all day and alot of sleepless tearful nights. Dawn, hang on in there-the fight does have times when referee rings the bell!
I would like to say that I have had a great week. I received a letter for Judge Hackett in New York. They want me to be on their show. I purchased a brussel Grifon from All Pets Club in Wallingford. I brought him for my daughter it was her birthday in July. However, I had him only 3 days and he had blood in his stool and he had a cough. So after I paid all this money for this puppy he was very sick and to make matters worst the pet store wanted to give me a store credit. So to make a long story short I did not argue with them I took them to small claims court. After they received a letter from the Judge to be on her show they paid the money I requested in full. So should I accept the money or go to court? After talking to other dog owners they had the same trouble with All Pets Club in Wallingford selling sick puppies.
Beverly, I say take the money and run...run to another reputable Pet store and buy your daughter that puppy. What will going to court solve or prove? Will All Pets change their ways? Probably not...so I say take the $$$!!!
19 comments:
Nice Pics--especially the cofee and muffins!
Thank you. I felt that they captured the "essence" of our learning experience.
Really nice pictures, almost made me feel like I was class for a moment this afternoon!
Testing
I don't know if anyone saw the article in the Waterbury Republican Sunday but this was very disturbing. The article was about a mother who dealt with her daughters mental illness since a very young age. The child, Alexandria Desmond was 9 years old when she first tried to kill herself. Because of the difficulties she was having with her child she was given help by the Dept of Mental Health and DCF. The story proceeds to say because of her running away and constant fighting she was shuffled through the DCF treatment system while officials ignored that her problems were getting worse. At the age of 18, this child is found murdered and stuffed in a box in an apartment run through DMHAS.In the end, the system failed to save her because officials did not recognize how sick she was and never kept her in a facility secure enough and suitable to treat her problems. I don't understand how well educated social workers could let something like this happen.
I read about this in The Hartford Courant because I don't support the editorial policy of the Waterbury paper. It is distressing, distressing as hell, but having talked with a Hartford Courant reporter who routinely covers DCF, there are many cases that are not reported at all. The well-intending social workers are put in the position of always being "reactors" to problems. They therefore are rarely in the position to take action to fix or at least lessen the intensity of the problem, or to engage in prevention based initiatives. Pro-active leadership is needed with support from the community voice that says, "enough is enough."
I have to say that when I first started out doing on line classes I was told that all my classes would be available on line. I was very upset when I was told I had to go on campus to take my Human Service classes since I work on Saturdays that would take some hours away from me weekly pay. But now that I have been going on campus I really enjoy being in class with h.f.s. and all fellow students, it is a much better way to learn when you interact with others in person rather than online. thanks all for making my experience on campus a great one...
It is really sad. Speaking from first hand knowledge & experience of simliar stuff with my own daughter; I can truly say that dealing with the system was like having heart surgery without anesthesia! I had to fight, scratch, pray, moan, complain, work myself almost into a stroke to get my daughter the help she needed. I had to fight for residential for her so that she would 24-hour monitoring. We have been for the most part blessed. Other than having 1 or 2 screw-up workers, we had basically pretty good DCF & DMR workers. They were severely over-worked but compassionate, sometimes working on the weekends to ensure that my daugter's needs were met. But, I had to stay consistently involved, educate myself, and have the resilency and tenacity of 3 bulls! The system is so screwed-up and does not always work in the clients favor. My daughter is now 22 and living in a contracted DMR group home setting. She completed her academic requiremnts ahead of schedule and graduated from high school last year. She is in a work training program. She still has major issues that we are working with and I still have to remain active and advocate for her needs. But, I would rather do that than go visit her at the cemetary. My heart goes out to the family. It is very sad!
Hi Kim,
You are so right. Everything is a struggle trying to get a loved one the help they need. It's very frustrating and stressful. The system has let me down so many times and still is. I have been an advocate for my son for almost 3 years now and have had very few possitive results. It's wearing me down. I thought getting an agency involved would make things easier, but I'm constantly having to stay on top of them. I feel sorry for the mentally challenged who don't have people like us in their corner.
Hey Kim & Dawn
Sorry for the late response.It seems that your dedication to the care of your loved ones is relentless, I applaud your efforts.Could you imagine all the children who don't have a support system with the resiliency that it takes to deal with the screwed up system.They are probably overlooked and the chances of them falling through the cracks must be higher.
This is my first social service class and I too am really enjoying it. Thanks h.s.f and fellow classmates for all the shared knowledge.
Miguel makes the key point. Most children in crisis do not have parent(s) or other advocates with the savvy to navigate the system. I believe a majority of adults in crisis don't have the ability to navigate the sytem either, to ask the right questions, to become just outraged enough to get needs met, but not too outraged to be blacklisted. Systems are not "user friendly," and many individuals in charge of systems have the social graces of a garden slug (on a rainy, muddy day). And many are more judgemental than empathic. Systems don't work for a reason. If systems are successful, they put themselves out of business. If systems raise clients up to a dignity that allows them to "get ahead," then the entire class structure is shaken.
This class is very instructional because I learn a lot about society and higher, middle,and middle class. The class allows me to broaden my view of the way life. Not many people are able to live the American dream and this class allows us to see that it is hard to live up to the idea of the American dream.
Hello,
Kim, Dawn,
I have great respect for people who fight for their loved ones and specially for those who can't fight for themselves. I worked with people with disabilities (we all have some kind of disability, isn't?) I met parents who show such resilient and obtained the quality of care that their children or relatives need. I applause you and encourage you to continue the good fight. One day we will no longer have to deal with that system. Mr schissler, I enjoy your class.
Thank you Dawn & Miguel for saying so. I have to also totally agree with Professor HFS, most people (children & teens alike) do not have the advocates. My first reason for fighting for my child is because "she is my God-given gift" and I feel responsible for her well-being. The second reason, is b/c I grew up in the foster care system of the 60's, 70's, & early 80's. Some things may have changed, but not much. I needed advocacy from the day I entered the system but didn't get much help until I learned how to fight for myself. Knowing the system is one piece and navigating is total different thing. It is an uphill climb everyday-sometimes all day and alot of sleepless tearful nights. Dawn, hang on in there-the fight does have times when referee rings the bell!
oh, I forgot to say: "I SO ENJOY THE CLASS; PROF. HFS, YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION! I AM LEARNING SO MUCH WHICH GOES FAR BEYOND GETTING A GRADE!
Hi everyone,
I would like to say that I have had a great week. I received a letter for Judge Hackett in New York. They want me to be on their show. I purchased a brussel Grifon from All Pets Club in Wallingford. I brought him for my daughter it was her birthday in July. However, I had him only 3 days and he had blood in his stool and he had a cough. So after I paid all this money for this puppy he was very sick and to make matters worst the pet store wanted to give me a store credit. So to make a long story short I did not argue with them I took them to small claims court. After they received a letter from the Judge to be on her show they paid the money I requested in full. So should I accept the money or go to court? After talking to other dog owners they had the same trouble with All Pets Club in Wallingford selling sick puppies.
So Long, have a great night.
Beverly, go to court! Fight for the rights of all of the others that lost their pets. This place should be put out of business!
Beverly, I say take the money and run...run to another reputable Pet store and buy your daughter that puppy. What will going to court solve or prove? Will All Pets change their ways? Probably not...so I say take the $$$!!!
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