A day in the life

Preface: Kelsey is a caseworker for our agency. This is her sixth year on the job. I knew her and her mom, Donna, years ago. Kim used to work with Donna. At one time, Kelsey even babysat our kids. We reconnected when I started this job and she agreed to take me out with her to see firsthand the life of a caseworker..

Friday, Jan. 25, 2008 — back in the office after one of the most eye opening experience I've had in a while.

Started out with juvenile court hearings: first kid, male - 15, had violated terms of his probation. Got involved with some gang activity and tattoos while on probation. Judge told him that he was digging a deeper hole that someday he would have to dig out of.
Must spend weekend in juvenile facility. If he violates parole again, it will be revoked.

Second kid, also 15 — has anger issues. Violated terms of his parole and got into fight at school. Must serve time.

Third hearing, remote with TV link from Salem Hospital, 30 year old about to deliver her 3rd child, failed drug tests during pregnancy. Child will come into state protection upon delivery. Mom must stay clean to get any of 3 kids back. Father of the first two kids is in prison for drugs until 2012.

Went to Kelsey's office. Then out to an unannounced home visit. Seeking to visit a mom who had three kids removed from her care due to her drug use and neglect of kids.
The mom herself had been a foster child in that her own mom had drug and neglect issues years before. Now she lived with her mom in a one bedroom apartment. We visited, she was not there. Apartment was not in a condition suitable for kids.

Spent another hour back at the office - getting a tour of the visiting rooms. Some had one way mirrors so that caseworkers could observe biological parents during visits with their kids. Kelsey said one mom can't be left alone with her kids even in this supervised setting. The mom can't tell when her asthmatic child is in need of medication. Lets kids climb on bookshelf that is a safety hazard. Does not have adequate parental skills to allow her to even continue seeing kids in supervised visit — much less return home. Kelsey will recommend that supervised visits be discontinued out of safety for the children.

Our policy is to seek to keep more kids with their families rather than placing in foster care. Kelsey says this will be very hard to do in this case.