Two movies define this thought piece. Away from Her and Up In The Air. Two dramatically different movies that I watched this weekend. Yet, both of these movies touched a nerve in me as human services provider, and one who has spent years attempting to meet the life needs of many people seeking services.
The theme I want to discuss is happy in the face of total life sucking situations. Dementia, Alzheimer's or Memory loss related challenges and losing one's job.In the movie Away from Her there is scene when the husband visits an assited care facility and gets the grand tour. The adminstrator gives him the brief tour of the facility with total joy and a spring in her step as this was similar to planning for a birthday party, or some other joyous event. "We get some much narural light." We got a puzzle going on here, we always have a puzzle going on here." "People are kept busy here and look at our brand new dining room." You get the point happy, happy as this poor man is making a gut wrenching decision to leave his wife there forever. Then he is told that there are no visits until after his wife has had 30 days to settle in. Well, with Alzeheimer's Disease that may be just about the right amount of time for his wife to forget who he is.
This is not dissimilar to what happened to the young children
dropped off at the State Schools for those lablled mentally retarded 50 years ago.There families could not see them for two months so they can settle in as well. The other reason is that most human beings resist living in controlling places like institutional settings, with locked doors and giving the freedom up to care givers who want to keep the peace. In another words, 30-60days to succumb to their new instutuional lives. Who thinks this shit up?
In Up in Air, George Clooney plays a man who travels an inordinate number of miles flying to companies all over the country to fire people. His young upstart partner thinks she can remove her feelings from what she is charged to do. Again, losing one's job is very high on the causes of derpession charts.This becomes another event that the characters in the movie try to sugar coat with numerous referrences to this being just another, and maybe better opportunity. They expect them to accept their contrived and stunted speach about them being let go as is with no reaction.
Both films are fictional, yet in human services the attempt to make happy out of deeply painful life events is not uncommon. This is probably used as a defense against our own pain and sadness. We need to be real, honest and sensative to all the deeply painful life events those who seek our services are experiencing.
Let's get real and honest, by shutting up and listening.
JBG
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Everyone Has Something to Say/ Art and Healing
This week I witnessed the power of art, expression and people who we label by disability instead of the quality of who they are, finding a voice. The voice could have been deeply imbedded in the label and the pile of low expecations we at times may have,of we support, and provide services for.
In one of our day services we serve people who happen to have Alzeheimer's Disease, other forms of dementia and memory loss. It was Jackson Pollock day and one of our staff did a presentation on the life of Pollock and focused on his style and methods of painting. Grant it, there was confusion and wonder, as well as questions concerning what was going on. But when it came time to paint, life changed in that room. People shared small canvases along with sticks, brushes, spray bottles and a good supply of house paint. With some encouragement fom the instructor and support to be free to try what they wanted to, the class particpants found their joy and their voice. They painted with huge smiles and in some cases reckless abandon.Laughter and fun bubbled up from a deep place in their memories that can at times be masked, not allowing these feelings of joy and a sense of accomplishment to be realized.
The results indicated that although their was clear interest in the academic part of the event, it was the hands on opportunity that reached them. They acted on impulse and the notion of freedom to create, and they did. As a result, we now have close to a dozen paintings that will be exhibited during an event in March.The event will be an evening of Education, Music and Art. The artists will attend and stand proud next to their creations and though they be challenged to remember making the art,our guests will value them and what they accomplished.
Stretch the limits and don't be afraid to try new things, even if you think its beyond what those you serve can do, or may be interested in. You never know without trying.
JBG
Saturday, January 23, 2010
The Slow Burn and The Awakening
I personally really hate the term burnout, as it applies to human servies workers. I guess I have been in some sort of denial as I have fought hard against it, or thought it doesn't really exist. A mere sytems myth to be used to weed out staff that weren't delivering the goods.
Well, after all these years I am not burnt out at all and in fact at the turn of thirty years in social services I am energized, happy, excited and still learning every day as I face new challenges, and more importantly those people who we have so graciously labeled clients, also face.
There are people in social service work that are indeed burnt to a crisp, and there may be no return from the helping neatherlands. What is burn out and what are the dangers as some face the onset, and find themselves in the midst of a deep fall into not caring? The symtpoms are a chronic state of tired, disinterest in indivudals served,distain for those served, distain for the service delivery system, apathy, depression, anxiety and an more, enough to fill the upcoming DSM V.
The manifestation of the above mentioned symptoms may result in families of those we serve being pushed away as a result of seeing our low energy and apathy. They most likely say to themselves, " this is not what I want for my son or daughter, brother or sister." Familes want people thay can trust to care for their relatives, support them, show a strong interest in their lives and be there and present.
So how do we turn this around? By bringing joy to our work. To relish in the achievements and gains we see those we serve make, small, large or incremental, they are all gratifying for us who serve, and for those we serve. Take creative risks and don't be captured as a prisoner of rigid and limited thinking. More is possible than not. Also, we need to remember, if we allow ourselves to learn that every day is an education, and our teachers are those we serve who teach us to be humble,how to survive when things are really difficult, and how to take joy in the small, but essential.
So stop the slow burn and awaken to all that is possible, in the wonder of the work we do.
JBG
Well, after all these years I am not burnt out at all and in fact at the turn of thirty years in social services I am energized, happy, excited and still learning every day as I face new challenges, and more importantly those people who we have so graciously labeled clients, also face.
There are people in social service work that are indeed burnt to a crisp, and there may be no return from the helping neatherlands. What is burn out and what are the dangers as some face the onset, and find themselves in the midst of a deep fall into not caring? The symtpoms are a chronic state of tired, disinterest in indivudals served,distain for those served, distain for the service delivery system, apathy, depression, anxiety and an more, enough to fill the upcoming DSM V.
The manifestation of the above mentioned symptoms may result in families of those we serve being pushed away as a result of seeing our low energy and apathy. They most likely say to themselves, " this is not what I want for my son or daughter, brother or sister." Familes want people thay can trust to care for their relatives, support them, show a strong interest in their lives and be there and present.
So how do we turn this around? By bringing joy to our work. To relish in the achievements and gains we see those we serve make, small, large or incremental, they are all gratifying for us who serve, and for those we serve. Take creative risks and don't be captured as a prisoner of rigid and limited thinking. More is possible than not. Also, we need to remember, if we allow ourselves to learn that every day is an education, and our teachers are those we serve who teach us to be humble,how to survive when things are really difficult, and how to take joy in the small, but essential.
So stop the slow burn and awaken to all that is possible, in the wonder of the work we do.
JBG
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Control is Out of Control
Today I was visiting my favorite day program, the mall, any mall USA. The world's biggest provider of Mall Therapy. This is place where people who can't afford lunch, bring a bagged lunch to the foodcourt where others are purchasing lunch, the more typical behavior. It's a palce where many people congregate with there staff with the misguided idea that this is social integration. Well it isn't social, and it is certianly not an experience that forwards the possibility of those living with diability, join those of us who are wronlgy perceived to be OK.
I was eating lunch and I was observing an interaction between a staff person and the individual he was there with, eating his bagged lunch smack in the middle of a place of commerce. The dialog went like this" Ralph, where are going Buddy." Ralph was standing up and looked like he was ready to go. Staff to Ralph" Hey buddy you need to sit down for one minute before we go." Why one minute? Would those of us alleged adults listen to another telling us we need to sit down? Ralph to his credit, wasn't buying it and in my mind I was stronlgy rooting for him not to give in, and sit down for the mandatory minute. As it turned out, Ralph after much coaxing by his staff/guy, sat down. Of course Ralph got the obligatory praise from the staff guy, " nice job" for listening to me and complying with my controlling wishes. Who needs buddies like that? Well Ralph wouldn't be at the mall if he indeed did have a "nice job" somewhere.
Control has become out of control, and in some ways has always been in the helping profession, but now it looks like it is driven by stupid mandates to be in the "community" at all costs, in defiance to sanity. We are now having individuals do tricks in public for their paid friends and trainers, for all the public to witness and wonder why?
Let's stay out of malls or other places that have little if no meaning in terms of social integration or life enrichment for those who have a disability and for that matter, all of us. Let's help individuals be free and choose for themselves.
By the way the requesite minute turned out to be 17 minutes before Ralph was finally given permission to get up and leave. I know, I timed it.
Serve Well
JBG
I was eating lunch and I was observing an interaction between a staff person and the individual he was there with, eating his bagged lunch smack in the middle of a place of commerce. The dialog went like this" Ralph, where are going Buddy." Ralph was standing up and looked like he was ready to go. Staff to Ralph" Hey buddy you need to sit down for one minute before we go." Why one minute? Would those of us alleged adults listen to another telling us we need to sit down? Ralph to his credit, wasn't buying it and in my mind I was stronlgy rooting for him not to give in, and sit down for the mandatory minute. As it turned out, Ralph after much coaxing by his staff/guy, sat down. Of course Ralph got the obligatory praise from the staff guy, " nice job" for listening to me and complying with my controlling wishes. Who needs buddies like that? Well Ralph wouldn't be at the mall if he indeed did have a "nice job" somewhere.
Control has become out of control, and in some ways has always been in the helping profession, but now it looks like it is driven by stupid mandates to be in the "community" at all costs, in defiance to sanity. We are now having individuals do tricks in public for their paid friends and trainers, for all the public to witness and wonder why?
Let's stay out of malls or other places that have little if no meaning in terms of social integration or life enrichment for those who have a disability and for that matter, all of us. Let's help individuals be free and choose for themselves.
By the way the requesite minute turned out to be 17 minutes before Ralph was finally given permission to get up and leave. I know, I timed it.
Serve Well
JBG
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Connections and Context
Building a non-profit human service requires focus,vision and an undying committment to those an agency serves and supports.
It's vital to be aware of having vision and more importantly, to clearly define organizational success. There must be a there there, when you get there. Without knowing what success looks like, it is very difficult to know what elements it will take to arrive at success. It may interfere with hiring decisions, financial planning, board selection and efforts to bring the public's attention to what the work is you are doing, and who it is your supporting.
So, I suggest asking some basic questions, followed by some basic decisions that are very important to reach a successful outcome.First, what is the context we are operating in as a human service? Well, good question, but what does it mean? Simply put in my opinion, most of what we do is in a contextual universe. We can not solve social problems with out knowing cause and effect and as Daniel Quinn said, with a program.Location, people involved in every step of the change of service delivery, as well as advesaries and those who embrace what your angency is doing are key elements to be aware of. We need to know what the threats are to success, what areas of the community can we find support and possible early adopters of new program developmentand its concept.
The reason context is important is to find all the possible connections to what you are doing and who are the key people you neeed to bring into the effort to help you arrive at a successful outcome. Building programs and new services is not much different than building other organizations. All good strategic planning should include the elements one may need to reach the agreed upon goals.
In order to succeed at building an organization or new program we must realize how in deed so much is connected, and it is imperative to recognize this, be aware of the connectivity by applying critical thinking skills, and realize how important it is to choose the right people for the job.
I don't worry so much about the directly related experience one brings to the job, I am more interested in what is in the persons' overall background, the values they bring to an organization in terms of those we serve and how they may be a creative member of the team. The team should be diverse in thinking, education, cultural relationship and how they solve problems.Tom Peters has said hire people who make mistakes because not much learning will take place with those who know it all, or think they do.
Its fun to build things and its important that in buidling there is joy,vision and intense drive to reach the stated goals.
JBG
It's vital to be aware of having vision and more importantly, to clearly define organizational success. There must be a there there, when you get there. Without knowing what success looks like, it is very difficult to know what elements it will take to arrive at success. It may interfere with hiring decisions, financial planning, board selection and efforts to bring the public's attention to what the work is you are doing, and who it is your supporting.
So, I suggest asking some basic questions, followed by some basic decisions that are very important to reach a successful outcome.First, what is the context we are operating in as a human service? Well, good question, but what does it mean? Simply put in my opinion, most of what we do is in a contextual universe. We can not solve social problems with out knowing cause and effect and as Daniel Quinn said, with a program.Location, people involved in every step of the change of service delivery, as well as advesaries and those who embrace what your angency is doing are key elements to be aware of. We need to know what the threats are to success, what areas of the community can we find support and possible early adopters of new program developmentand its concept.
The reason context is important is to find all the possible connections to what you are doing and who are the key people you neeed to bring into the effort to help you arrive at a successful outcome. Building programs and new services is not much different than building other organizations. All good strategic planning should include the elements one may need to reach the agreed upon goals.
In order to succeed at building an organization or new program we must realize how in deed so much is connected, and it is imperative to recognize this, be aware of the connectivity by applying critical thinking skills, and realize how important it is to choose the right people for the job.
I don't worry so much about the directly related experience one brings to the job, I am more interested in what is in the persons' overall background, the values they bring to an organization in terms of those we serve and how they may be a creative member of the team. The team should be diverse in thinking, education, cultural relationship and how they solve problems.Tom Peters has said hire people who make mistakes because not much learning will take place with those who know it all, or think they do.
Its fun to build things and its important that in buidling there is joy,vision and intense drive to reach the stated goals.
JBG
Saturday, January 2, 2010
New Year/ New Ideas
It's the time of year,as it always is to rethink what we do to support those we serve. For many years it has been the same, year after year without the creation of new models of supports and services that consider first and foremost the best for the individual, what is efficient and most importantly, what works to arrive at the desired outcome for the individual and their family.
As I manage and lead my organization I always consider the social worker side of 30 years. I now find myself considering the business side of my experience and hopefully learning from all the wrong decisions I and others have made. Cost benefit analysis plays a big role in what I and my team of leaders decide to do, yet the human side of this business continues to fill the mind with the notion of doing the right thing. Well, I think we can do both and take an integral approach to how we support individuals while also considering the best business decisions that will lead to a sustainable model for service delivery. We can no longer look at issues in isolation and think that we can solve problems this way. A good and strong approach to applying critical thinking and Integral Theory may very well get us to that place we call success.
JBG
As I manage and lead my organization I always consider the social worker side of 30 years. I now find myself considering the business side of my experience and hopefully learning from all the wrong decisions I and others have made. Cost benefit analysis plays a big role in what I and my team of leaders decide to do, yet the human side of this business continues to fill the mind with the notion of doing the right thing. Well, I think we can do both and take an integral approach to how we support individuals while also considering the best business decisions that will lead to a sustainable model for service delivery. We can no longer look at issues in isolation and think that we can solve problems this way. A good and strong approach to applying critical thinking and Integral Theory may very well get us to that place we call success.
JBG
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