Masks

In one of the units at work, a select group of clients who have displayed progress in their own treatment and have had good behavior are part of a leadership group

There is an upcoming art show being put on by the recreation department. Our leadership group was asked to make something to contribute to the show.

On Tuesday night, I took six of the clients in the leadership program, we stayed up late and decorated these masks. I put out all of the arts and crafts supplies that I could find in the cottage ranging from tissue paper and glue, sequins, paint, and markers.

Each of the clients decorated a mask. The creativity that ensued took my breath away. Each mask is such a statement of the emotional space that the girl was in that evening. Some of the masks brought tears to my eyes, while others made me laugh outright.

This mask, while a little difficult to see in the picture is all women's faces - from all sorts of magazines. There are women of every size, color, and culture that could be found in our limited magazine stash. This is one of the two that spoke to me the most.

Such a cool project. These are the moments that I positively love my job. I get to watch kids be kids, and let their creative juices flow, and watch them laugh, and be 'normal'... if only for an hour.

Toothpaste

I never want to see toothpaste again.

This evening, one of my client's (who was recently diagnosed with Aspergers) was having difficulty following staff directives (to go get in the shower), and became emotionally dysregulated with escalated behaviors. She proceeded to walk into the bathroom without asking permission, and filled up the center of a toiled paper roll with a concoction of shampoo, conditioner, body wash (about 2 tablespoons of each), and an ENTIRE tube of toothpaste. Add a little water, give it a good stir.... and then start flinging it about the bathroom. While she was at it, it seemed prudent to soak all of the toilet paper on said roll with the toothpaste soup, and fling giant spit-wadesque masses at the walls... the ceiling... and of course at me.

As frustrated as I was.... I couldn't help but be thankful for the minty freshness, and not mind the smearing of it over every surface in the bathroom, when my clients have been known to liberally finger paint with their own excrement and menstrual blood.

When I got home, I discovered tooth paste in area's tooth paste ought not go. I just may have to brave through the taste and start brushing my teeth with baking soda.

Graduate School!

Last week, I was accepted as a foundation year student in The University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work!

GIGGITY!

Nutrition

I have to pat myself on the back a little bit. Since I've been working at my facility, I've been talking to the director about the correlation of nutrition and behavior. They're finally re-evaluating some of the nutrition and wellness issues. They're re-evaluating the contents of the vending machine and are pricing out more healthy options. The cafeteria is going to start sending veggies to the units for clients to snack on. We already get fresh fruit. It's a small start, but it's being talked about, and I'm thrilled!

I'm old!

Ugh... I took a 15 year old client to the hospital the other night for vomiting blood, and all the nurses (and even the doc) kept assuming that I was her mother. I would have been 12 when she was born....

Do I really look that old?!

Gang Activity

I learned about a new (new to me) gang tonight at work. After searching the client's school folders, I was showing a co-worker

this sexually inappropriate, slightly creepy drawing I confiscated from one of the folders. She immediately expressed concern that it was gang related... The Juggalos (or Juggalette feminine). Huh... never heard of it.

The Jugglos were initially started at an ICP concert when one of the musicians referred to the crowd as Juggalos... and it stuck. There have been violent acts ranging from homicide to arson

associated with the Juggalos, and due to this activity they have been classified as a gang in Utah, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and California. Though "studies have shown" that the violence has no relation to ICP's music, this is why ICP paraphernalia is not allowed in schools... I always wondered that.

Additionally my co-worker filled me in that Juggalo's "worship" the hatchet man, and carry hatchets as their preferred weapons (rather than guns). They consider themselves to be societal outcasts, and to be a family. Several of them will paint their faces like ICP.

Therapy Dog

I had a meeting today with my potential new boss, who is the therapist that runs the Canine Healers at Excelsior. In addition to Interviewing for the open position for Group Living Counselor in Edge Point, I expressed my interest in animal assisted therapy, and my desire to 1. Train Amos to be a therapy dog, and 2. to specialize in animal assisted therapy. She told me to look at TDI (Therapy Dogs International), or Delta, which are the two most recognized certifications for therapy dogs.

I was looking at the behavior requirements for TDI, and I'm feeling a little bit discouraged that Amos will be able to become a therapy dog. There are several things he can do, but several he just can't.

1. Greeting people and sitting politely for petting. Amos is just too exuberant, and happy to see everybody. I've worked with him with this...
2. The dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit a stranger such as a vet, groomer or friend of the owner to do so. Yeah right... ain't gonna happen. Amos is TERRIFIED of being groomed, and totally flips his shit every time he sees the brush, unless I have him in a small enclosed room (such as the bathroom), and am giving him treats every 30 seconds and am speaking sweetly to him... and even then its a bit of a struggle.
3. Coming when called.... needs some work. He's just inconsistent, which I know is my fault, as I'm inconsistent as well.

These are the one's that I'm worried about. I keep telling myself manners can be learned.... It just might be a bit of a process.... Le sigh.