Multi Purpose Integrated Day Care/Service-Initial Thoughts
Need: There is a growing and significant need for quality and affordable day care. Also there is a need to support the parents of baby boomers who may not need nursing homes or other forms of institutional care, but may need day services and supports so they can remain in their homes instead possibly entering a nursing home, or other similar settings. There are also parents seeking supports for there pre-school aged children with disabilities in integrated settings, thus preventing exclusion and achieving inclusion. The state of intergenerational relations is virtually non-existent due to geographical distance and other related factors that separate young children from their grandparents. There is value in bringing young children and older persons together such as caring for each other, the sharing of wisdom and experience that children may receive from their grandparents. This relationship can be therapeutic in terms of experiencing happiness instead of despair as Erickson suggested for many older people at the end of the developmental and life cycle.
This service is designed to meet the needs of older citizens, children with and without a disability and baby boomers seeking support during the day for their parents so they can go to work, or attend to other necessary daily activities with a clear mind and less worry. This model also addresses the issue of social integration for young children with disabilities, into inclusive school and play settings that historically have rejected them.
The service model would provide adult day services for older citizens in need of social opportunities, medical supports, and recreation, day care for young children with and without disabilities and support for bay boom generation adults seeking support and guidance in supporting their older parents. All of this will take place in the same physical setting, with separate and shared space for the children and the older adults.
Another potential population to be served through this model is adults with developmental disabilities who may be interested in working with young children, and seek meaningful work in their lives. They may also be interested in working with older people. This third possible benefit could be supported by local employment agencies which are seeking work opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.
This model will require seed money to start. It will serve those living below and above poverty levels on a sliding fee for service payment system. It is hoped that this service can be delivered at a reasonable price, and be easily accessible to a diverse group of people. It is also intended to be utilized by those working in the human service agencies in the region. It could be a paid benefit from their agencies into a pool of money that would support the program, support their staff and help improve attendance and performance, as indicated in many national surveys on employer provided daycare.
JBG
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Empathy is Impossible
Yes, I know empathy is at the cornerstone of helping others. Can we walk in their shoes? I don't really think so. We can try, we can make a focused effort to do so, but we can never fully experience what another human being is going through or the challenges they face in their day to day lives.
When I look at control issues as they relate to those people who live with congitive challenges, I don' believe I can fully understand what they experience, however I can make an effort to help them get out from human service control by knowing myself and what I experience. Simply put, when working with an indivdual and their support team members regarding health issues, social issues etc., I often take out the disability factor in my thinking and apply what is generally the cultural norm as my guide. This way one can remove some of the hypocracy that is well imbedded in some of our services and supports.For example does a person with a mild developmental challenge have the right to smoke or have sex or do other things that may cause us the providers, concern. The answer is yes of course. We must first consider the risks and danger and try to assure that safey is of the highest consideration. Then we ask ourseleves do I have a right to kill myself smoking, and of course I do and so do the individuals we support. Do they have a right to have intimate relations in a group home, well are there house rules? Do they conflict with a persons human right to privacy? Do we as providers have a policy that we throw away everytime we confont an issue related to sexuality?
These are questions we should ask ourselves, and use to guide our response in helping those we serve to live the lives we all seek and most importantly, we should not project our values or beliefs onto their lives. Here is where I still salute Carl Rogers with his notion of "uncondtional positive regard" as a goal for us to reach for.
JBG
When I look at control issues as they relate to those people who live with congitive challenges, I don' believe I can fully understand what they experience, however I can make an effort to help them get out from human service control by knowing myself and what I experience. Simply put, when working with an indivdual and their support team members regarding health issues, social issues etc., I often take out the disability factor in my thinking and apply what is generally the cultural norm as my guide. This way one can remove some of the hypocracy that is well imbedded in some of our services and supports.For example does a person with a mild developmental challenge have the right to smoke or have sex or do other things that may cause us the providers, concern. The answer is yes of course. We must first consider the risks and danger and try to assure that safey is of the highest consideration. Then we ask ourseleves do I have a right to kill myself smoking, and of course I do and so do the individuals we support. Do they have a right to have intimate relations in a group home, well are there house rules? Do they conflict with a persons human right to privacy? Do we as providers have a policy that we throw away everytime we confont an issue related to sexuality?
These are questions we should ask ourselves, and use to guide our response in helping those we serve to live the lives we all seek and most importantly, we should not project our values or beliefs onto their lives. Here is where I still salute Carl Rogers with his notion of "uncondtional positive regard" as a goal for us to reach for.
JBG
Saturday, December 26, 2009
What's New?
Service delivery systems are stuck. Individuals enter the system and rarely seem to leave. This seems to be most evident in the developmental disabilities service delivery system where few if any individuals meet all of their annual objectives stated in their Individual Service Plans. In fact, it seems most of the plans are designed to maintain the status quo.
I believe that the best and most accurate measure of success in social service delivery, is when the individual seeking and receiving services no longer needs that service, or needs less and less of the service over time. This may be a threatening notion, however I really believe the best we can do is to in deed, put ourselves out of work and to serve as temporary supports and consultants in the lives of those who seek our services.
History has shown that it takes an inordinate amount of time to free individuals from services and to introduce choice as a lifestyle not a privilege that is earned for being good, which is often measured by someone else’s standards. Therefore, I believe there is a need for an array of services designed to lead to freedom of choice as to who serves an individual and how, as well as, freedom from the service system. People should have plans that are inclusive and have the individual challenged respectfully by setting measurable goals that are relevant and have meaning.
The leadership of organizations should be shared by individuals who determine when and if they move on to other supports, and which organizations eventually determine who serves them next. They and their families should have the power and right to determine what they need, want, and will best meet their needs. We as providers of services should help develop financial resources to allow individual choice by shopping for the services that they most need to be delivered, by those who can best deliver the needed services. Although this does and has existed in some service systems, the choices have been limited and influenced by those that have potential conflicts of interest i.e. case-mangers who work for funding sources.
This model is long overdue and should apply a set of values and components that are conducive to building quality services. The values and beliefs I speak of have been used as examples through assigning hands on human service development projects for my human service students, to help them determine the strength of services that are managed more directly by line staff,individuals and their families. This model is often in opposition to services where little choice is offered and too much control is exercised.
Ownership of the services one receives in terms of choice and decision-making is the primary route one can take to empowerment as opposed to the illusion most consumers experience today, in the name of empowerment. Choice is fundamental in a democracy and should be taught to individuals receiving services, their families and staff as well as the surrounding community members, the tools of participatory democracy. Not only should these methods be taught, we should practice them daily.
For far too long we have heard about choice and have seen individuals offered choices such as bowling and more bowling, or milk or more milk. I think it is a shame that we have to teach people at various stages of their development, about choice, simply because it has been historically denied, or suppressed in order to comply with an agenda that is presented in the name of service.
Be creative and break new ground its long overdue.
JBG
I believe that the best and most accurate measure of success in social service delivery, is when the individual seeking and receiving services no longer needs that service, or needs less and less of the service over time. This may be a threatening notion, however I really believe the best we can do is to in deed, put ourselves out of work and to serve as temporary supports and consultants in the lives of those who seek our services.
History has shown that it takes an inordinate amount of time to free individuals from services and to introduce choice as a lifestyle not a privilege that is earned for being good, which is often measured by someone else’s standards. Therefore, I believe there is a need for an array of services designed to lead to freedom of choice as to who serves an individual and how, as well as, freedom from the service system. People should have plans that are inclusive and have the individual challenged respectfully by setting measurable goals that are relevant and have meaning.
The leadership of organizations should be shared by individuals who determine when and if they move on to other supports, and which organizations eventually determine who serves them next. They and their families should have the power and right to determine what they need, want, and will best meet their needs. We as providers of services should help develop financial resources to allow individual choice by shopping for the services that they most need to be delivered, by those who can best deliver the needed services. Although this does and has existed in some service systems, the choices have been limited and influenced by those that have potential conflicts of interest i.e. case-mangers who work for funding sources.
This model is long overdue and should apply a set of values and components that are conducive to building quality services. The values and beliefs I speak of have been used as examples through assigning hands on human service development projects for my human service students, to help them determine the strength of services that are managed more directly by line staff,individuals and their families. This model is often in opposition to services where little choice is offered and too much control is exercised.
Ownership of the services one receives in terms of choice and decision-making is the primary route one can take to empowerment as opposed to the illusion most consumers experience today, in the name of empowerment. Choice is fundamental in a democracy and should be taught to individuals receiving services, their families and staff as well as the surrounding community members, the tools of participatory democracy. Not only should these methods be taught, we should practice them daily.
For far too long we have heard about choice and have seen individuals offered choices such as bowling and more bowling, or milk or more milk. I think it is a shame that we have to teach people at various stages of their development, about choice, simply because it has been historically denied, or suppressed in order to comply with an agenda that is presented in the name of service.
Be creative and break new ground its long overdue.
JBG
Friday, December 25, 2009
Under The Public Radar
Every waking moment we are not really awake. We fail to notice the small things that have a much larger significance. For far too long the story of those who receive human service supports and those who deliver the supports each day of the year remains a mere blip on the public radar screen. Most American citizens who don’t receive services or have never had a need for human service don’t fully understand what this process is about and what it means to our society. Many people still confuse Human Services with the profession of Human Resources, which is prominent in today’s workplace but has little to do with Human Services as they exist in the public sector. Those who are relatively well educated seem to be suffering from a severe human service deficiency. They too are lacking the awareness and knowledge of service delivery and service supports processes. They do not see nor comprehend what the day to day challenges are in delivering services to some of society’s most vulnerable people.
Teachers on the other hand, have been in the public eye for many years with their legitimate issues of underpay, lack of adequate supplies and materials and other indiginities. They have been forced for political purposes, to teach to standards that have very little to do with real learning and education. Most citizens have been made aware of these issues and understand them fairly well. This may be due to the fact that all of us at some point in our lives are mandated to go to school.
Teachers have strong unions both nationally and locally. These educators have become an important base for politicians who support public education. As a result, many people are now aware of the struggle that they endure daily particularly in poorly funded inner-city schools, and rural and remote communities. Through the years they have received a high level of respect at times, as many people see the value in education and the ultimate benefits that last a lifetime. Their salaries have improved exponentially yet still are advocating for more pay and better conditions, as many people still seem to be empathic to their plight.
Unlike human service workers, teachers have been positively portrayed in movies, TV, books, theater etc. I challenge you to recall how many times you have seen a TV show that focused on a social worker or an individual working with vulnerable people in a positive or negative vein in a group home, nursing home, or other such places where people seek and receive services. I can think of very few examples most of which are very weak or negative. In the show “Alf”, Willie worked in the New York Welfare system and he had an alien (not illegal, but from space) living in his house, not a very positive or strong image that values the profession. Another example is “Norm” were the main character played by Norm McDonald of Saturday Night Live Fame, plays an ex- hockey player who is caught gambling on hockey games. He is punished by the court and is assigned to work in a public welfare office, again not a positive or valued image.So many Americans have their lives defined by what they see on TV or through other forms of media. This is not a small issue or minor consideration. The very large world of human services is a four billion-dollar a year industry in North America, yet is still not in the public eye.
Human service workers are not in the public conscience and are largely invisible as are the majority of people they serve. Historically our society by way of public policy has chosen to marginalize devalued people and those working with them by creating large segregated institutions. We have warehoused many people such as those with developmental disabilities, the mentally ill, the poor, the elderly etc. that society didn’t want to see or be aware of thus rendering them out of sight and out of mind. Although many of these segregated institutions have closed and people have returned to their communities they still remain largely invisible until an abhorrent behavior occurs. For example, someone dies in the custody of a human service agency, abused by a foster family or another infraction of the public trust in a system that is grossly under-funded and designed to replace the kind of care many received from their families. In fact, the human services system in many cases has become a surrogate family system for many people for many legitimate reasons are no longer connected or supported by their biological families or their local communities.
Negative news abounds, even though very few incidents of neglect or abuse occur during the many hours of care people receive from human service workers that support people in their daily needs and activities. The quality of care is often exemplary.
I don’t mean to suggest that service delivery systems are all excellent and perfect, not by any means. But it has been my experience over 30 years of working in human services and teaching college students how to become more effective workers and provide supports for those they serve,I still see a great deal of compassion and commitment in those who enter the field. There are large numbers of dedicated people who want to do their best for those they serve and their families. They do this with very little pay and certainly little thanks and recognition for the amazing things they do every day as part of their jobs and are expected to do every day. I hope more will see this work and that if someday they are there famies need human service supports, they will be there for them.
JBG
Teachers on the other hand, have been in the public eye for many years with their legitimate issues of underpay, lack of adequate supplies and materials and other indiginities. They have been forced for political purposes, to teach to standards that have very little to do with real learning and education. Most citizens have been made aware of these issues and understand them fairly well. This may be due to the fact that all of us at some point in our lives are mandated to go to school.
Teachers have strong unions both nationally and locally. These educators have become an important base for politicians who support public education. As a result, many people are now aware of the struggle that they endure daily particularly in poorly funded inner-city schools, and rural and remote communities. Through the years they have received a high level of respect at times, as many people see the value in education and the ultimate benefits that last a lifetime. Their salaries have improved exponentially yet still are advocating for more pay and better conditions, as many people still seem to be empathic to their plight.
Unlike human service workers, teachers have been positively portrayed in movies, TV, books, theater etc. I challenge you to recall how many times you have seen a TV show that focused on a social worker or an individual working with vulnerable people in a positive or negative vein in a group home, nursing home, or other such places where people seek and receive services. I can think of very few examples most of which are very weak or negative. In the show “Alf”, Willie worked in the New York Welfare system and he had an alien (not illegal, but from space) living in his house, not a very positive or strong image that values the profession. Another example is “Norm” were the main character played by Norm McDonald of Saturday Night Live Fame, plays an ex- hockey player who is caught gambling on hockey games. He is punished by the court and is assigned to work in a public welfare office, again not a positive or valued image.So many Americans have their lives defined by what they see on TV or through other forms of media. This is not a small issue or minor consideration. The very large world of human services is a four billion-dollar a year industry in North America, yet is still not in the public eye.
Human service workers are not in the public conscience and are largely invisible as are the majority of people they serve. Historically our society by way of public policy has chosen to marginalize devalued people and those working with them by creating large segregated institutions. We have warehoused many people such as those with developmental disabilities, the mentally ill, the poor, the elderly etc. that society didn’t want to see or be aware of thus rendering them out of sight and out of mind. Although many of these segregated institutions have closed and people have returned to their communities they still remain largely invisible until an abhorrent behavior occurs. For example, someone dies in the custody of a human service agency, abused by a foster family or another infraction of the public trust in a system that is grossly under-funded and designed to replace the kind of care many received from their families. In fact, the human services system in many cases has become a surrogate family system for many people for many legitimate reasons are no longer connected or supported by their biological families or their local communities.
Negative news abounds, even though very few incidents of neglect or abuse occur during the many hours of care people receive from human service workers that support people in their daily needs and activities. The quality of care is often exemplary.
I don’t mean to suggest that service delivery systems are all excellent and perfect, not by any means. But it has been my experience over 30 years of working in human services and teaching college students how to become more effective workers and provide supports for those they serve,I still see a great deal of compassion and commitment in those who enter the field. There are large numbers of dedicated people who want to do their best for those they serve and their families. They do this with very little pay and certainly little thanks and recognition for the amazing things they do every day as part of their jobs and are expected to do every day. I hope more will see this work and that if someday they are there famies need human service supports, they will be there for them.
JBG
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Stuck In Neutral
Howard Zinn entitled one of his books, a few years back, "You Can't Remain Nuetral on a Moving Train". Nuetrality and the lack of risk taking in the delivery of supports and services for those living with a diability, is the ultimate dis- service. "Well we have always done it this way." One hears that often but the question that should be asked, did it work? The answer most often will be no. Yet we continue to do it over and over.
Take a chance free yourself, be creative this is a field that requires creativity not rancid stagnation and stuckness. Move the shift and gain traction and move forward and onward. Impart your passion, don't satisfy the funders take a chance, put your ass on the line for what you believe in. Don' shut the door before it opens and if it does close, another will open, its only a matter of time. We waste our time and those we serve by waiting around doing a great deal of ordered nothing and yawning the day a way. We allegedly beleive in social integration, yet nobody is fully integrated, nobody becomes fully social and few people leave the iron clad system we have set up, and thus experience a life time of clienthood and become social service victims.
No idea is wrong, its an action that is not fully developed. No idea is stupid or without merit, it may fail but it is ok to mess up and fail. It's also ok for us to help those we work with become fully human which includes trying new things, living dangerously at times and oh yes, failing. Its better than sitting around waiting for the explorations,examinations,assessments and other inquiries to tell us what we already know, be human be real and pass it on.
Don't think outside of that stupid old box, be the box, break the box and build circles, squares and rectangles, but build, baby build. Create the future and the present for all those you support and serve, you will be happier for doing so. You owe it them and yourselves.
JBG
Take a chance free yourself, be creative this is a field that requires creativity not rancid stagnation and stuckness. Move the shift and gain traction and move forward and onward. Impart your passion, don't satisfy the funders take a chance, put your ass on the line for what you believe in. Don' shut the door before it opens and if it does close, another will open, its only a matter of time. We waste our time and those we serve by waiting around doing a great deal of ordered nothing and yawning the day a way. We allegedly beleive in social integration, yet nobody is fully integrated, nobody becomes fully social and few people leave the iron clad system we have set up, and thus experience a life time of clienthood and become social service victims.
No idea is wrong, its an action that is not fully developed. No idea is stupid or without merit, it may fail but it is ok to mess up and fail. It's also ok for us to help those we work with become fully human which includes trying new things, living dangerously at times and oh yes, failing. Its better than sitting around waiting for the explorations,examinations,assessments and other inquiries to tell us what we already know, be human be real and pass it on.
Don't think outside of that stupid old box, be the box, break the box and build circles, squares and rectangles, but build, baby build. Create the future and the present for all those you support and serve, you will be happier for doing so. You owe it them and yourselves.
JBG
Friday, December 18, 2009
Let' Be real
What is up with the Individual Service Plan or effectionatley known as the ISP. A friend of mine used to refer to it as the individual neglect plan. It is disconnected from reality, redundant year after year, and it is a great exercise in cognitive constipation.
We are at times, forcing a life plan on an indivudal who is often labelled with a disability, but more so, with a disabling diagnosis driven by insurance giants who created the DSM to assure we can label people within 24 hours, even though its wrong and may lead to a lifetime of horrible and dysfunctional treatment, and service plans.
We need to stop humoring our customers and ourselves. We need to celebrate our differences but more so, how as care givers,we have much more similar needs and wishes similar to those we serve, seek in their lives. We need to think about what people really need and want from our services, and make sure we deliver. The worst thing we can do is waste people's time. Human Services has a long history of doing so, as well as doing amazing and wonderful things for those we serve and support, provided we free ourselves from our own restrictve thinking about what someone's limitations are. We need to focus on the great things people can do when they have real choice and have real interest instead of the trumpted up goals that are presented in one' ISP. I (inspire) S (support) P(prosper). Now that's a plan, and not something done to someone seeking services who has no choice but to have this annual ritual done to them, instead of for them and with them.
Serve Well and Often.
JBG
We are at times, forcing a life plan on an indivudal who is often labelled with a disability, but more so, with a disabling diagnosis driven by insurance giants who created the DSM to assure we can label people within 24 hours, even though its wrong and may lead to a lifetime of horrible and dysfunctional treatment, and service plans.
We need to stop humoring our customers and ourselves. We need to celebrate our differences but more so, how as care givers,we have much more similar needs and wishes similar to those we serve, seek in their lives. We need to think about what people really need and want from our services, and make sure we deliver. The worst thing we can do is waste people's time. Human Services has a long history of doing so, as well as doing amazing and wonderful things for those we serve and support, provided we free ourselves from our own restrictve thinking about what someone's limitations are. We need to focus on the great things people can do when they have real choice and have real interest instead of the trumpted up goals that are presented in one' ISP. I (inspire) S (support) P(prosper). Now that's a plan, and not something done to someone seeking services who has no choice but to have this annual ritual done to them, instead of for them and with them.
Serve Well and Often.
JBG
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Take Joy
Helping others who need a voice so they too can particpate in the world we may take for grant it, can bring one great joy. To reach out and lend a hand and heart, to connect on a real one to one level with somebody who really needs to connect, is vitally important to the art of helping. Each connection creates more joy, and brings the helper the assurance that they are indeed doing the right thing at the right time for the right reasons.
We do not have to label things with scientific terms such as social integration or deviancy juxtiposition, to know when something is woefully wrong and when something is oh so right. Do the right thing, do your job and you will be rewarded with joy witnessing the effect it has on the one you help, but more so, on the community we all share.
JBG
We do not have to label things with scientific terms such as social integration or deviancy juxtiposition, to know when something is woefully wrong and when something is oh so right. Do the right thing, do your job and you will be rewarded with joy witnessing the effect it has on the one you help, but more so, on the community we all share.
JBG
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Bureacratic Bop
Papework oh paperwork!!!! We all have to do it and most reasonable people hate it.If we don't do it, we could be in deep trouble with our funder agencies. Often the demands are silly,obscure and at times seem quite irrelevant and they often are. Just keep in mind without satisying those that fund us, we can not do the great work and see the accomplishments of those we support come to fruition.
So do the paperwork early in the day when your energy is higher, because the fun and interesting things we do are easy for us to energize ourselves for. You can try to change the system, but your energy is better spent building examples of excellence that your funders and others can learn and proposper from.
Let me know your experience in this realm, as well as your suggestions as to how we can make it all work and stay focused.
JBG
So do the paperwork early in the day when your energy is higher, because the fun and interesting things we do are easy for us to energize ourselves for. You can try to change the system, but your energy is better spent building examples of excellence that your funders and others can learn and proposper from.
Let me know your experience in this realm, as well as your suggestions as to how we can make it all work and stay focused.
JBG
Sunday, December 13, 2009
A Rush to Hire
It is not uncommon in human services to make quick and hasty hires. This is largely due to the need for immediate direct service coverage in day and residential services. Given this sutiation that many managers and human service leaders face,we are often driven to rush to hire, thus engagining in compromised decisions that lead to bad and and at times, dangerous hires.
We need to find a balance in bringing in the best people we can to support and serve the people we work for, our clients.I think as a rule, shouldn't worry some much about experience, but more so about values and beliefs. Interview questions should help those who are hiring to determine the quality of the person, and hopefully help us understand what their philospophical view is about people who often live on the margins of our society due to public perception of their differences, rather than their abiltity to be more like the rest of us, than not.
We should try to hire without compromise, given the historically and present low wages we offer and pay, this is a major challenge and at times a moral dilemma.However those we serve deserve the best we can deliver.
Let me here what you have faced through example and your thoughts. We can solve problems and creat new ways together.
JBG
We need to find a balance in bringing in the best people we can to support and serve the people we work for, our clients.I think as a rule, shouldn't worry some much about experience, but more so about values and beliefs. Interview questions should help those who are hiring to determine the quality of the person, and hopefully help us understand what their philospophical view is about people who often live on the margins of our society due to public perception of their differences, rather than their abiltity to be more like the rest of us, than not.
We should try to hire without compromise, given the historically and present low wages we offer and pay, this is a major challenge and at times a moral dilemma.However those we serve deserve the best we can deliver.
Let me here what you have faced through example and your thoughts. We can solve problems and creat new ways together.
JBG
Saturday, December 12, 2009
This is my first attempt at the art of blogging. What I'll be writing about and what I hope you will join me in discussing,is the profession and world I have lived and worked in for the past thirty years. I am talking about human services often confused with human resources, which is not even close. Human services, often referred to as social services, is the day to day helping and support of individuals and their families who seek to improve their lives by utliziing a system of services and supports often over taxed to deliver all that is needed. Yet, I will be writing about the extraordinary experiences and events that happen to those who help and those who receive help.
I am talking about people who are inspiring those in their lives by what they accomplish living with challenges of mind, spirit and body, incrementely at times, yet each day of their lives. This will also be about the people who help and do it quietly with little notice or public awarness. It is often very silent work that speaks loudly, when done right and well. Most importantly, it is done well more often than not, under the pulbic radar screen, and it is not often understood until one may need to call for services for themselves or a family memeber.
I will be writing about innovation in helping, risk taking, creatively finding solutions to complex challenges that people and systems of service delivery face each day as they help those who live with disabilites, who may be homeless, suffer from a brain injury or memory impairment, and seek the life that we often don't spend much time thinking about. We will talk about art and poetry, and other ways and tools to reach those who may have autism, or other challenges in developing social connections that we all seek, to find their soul and spirit as well as that deep hidden voice that defines who we are.
I invite those of you who help others for a living or are care takers of a loved one, to join me in getting the word out on the amazing and remarkable things that you do each day, that impact those who need us for a while. I believe the best measure of success in human service delivery, is measured by those we serve needing us less and less overtime, if not at all.
Thanks, and let me know what you are thinking and doing to help somebody realize their potential that may have at one point seemed impossible. Also, please note, humor is required and welcomed. Lastly, when one person lives with a disability, we all live with a disability.
JBG
I am talking about people who are inspiring those in their lives by what they accomplish living with challenges of mind, spirit and body, incrementely at times, yet each day of their lives. This will also be about the people who help and do it quietly with little notice or public awarness. It is often very silent work that speaks loudly, when done right and well. Most importantly, it is done well more often than not, under the pulbic radar screen, and it is not often understood until one may need to call for services for themselves or a family memeber.
I will be writing about innovation in helping, risk taking, creatively finding solutions to complex challenges that people and systems of service delivery face each day as they help those who live with disabilites, who may be homeless, suffer from a brain injury or memory impairment, and seek the life that we often don't spend much time thinking about. We will talk about art and poetry, and other ways and tools to reach those who may have autism, or other challenges in developing social connections that we all seek, to find their soul and spirit as well as that deep hidden voice that defines who we are.
I invite those of you who help others for a living or are care takers of a loved one, to join me in getting the word out on the amazing and remarkable things that you do each day, that impact those who need us for a while. I believe the best measure of success in human service delivery, is measured by those we serve needing us less and less overtime, if not at all.
Thanks, and let me know what you are thinking and doing to help somebody realize their potential that may have at one point seemed impossible. Also, please note, humor is required and welcomed. Lastly, when one person lives with a disability, we all live with a disability.
JBG
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)