It's a win. I'll take it.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

Now, for purposes of full disclosure: I have clinical depression, have had the diagnosis for the last 12 years. I take my 20mg of Paroxitine once a day, my melatonin before bed and I am fine. Or as fine as anyone who struggles in The Bush Economic Miracle can be. But the struggle doesn't demolish me because I know that I am not the only one and what the hell, mysery loves company, right? ;-)

One of the best thing that happened to me because of the depression is that I worked for a while as a Peer Counselor for Easter Seals. They told me I was good at it, damned good at it, too. Sterling evals. One woman there, with a college education told me, one day "I went to college for four years, and you write better progress notes than me!". I had a caseload of all the "problem children" that no one else wanted. I was successful with them a lot. Perhaps because of the ponytail, beard and black leather motorcycle jacket. I didn't look like The Man. And I was one of them. Alas, the budget ran out and, well, I kinda made The Marywood Mafia nervous, anyway. Being that successful and capable without a college degree can do that to the poor dears.

Anyway, being a social worker(even pro tempore, as I was) is a real case of "How can you keep them down on the farm, once they've seen Paree?". It gets into your DNA and never gets out. You learn how the system works, how the linkages work, who the providers are, the lingo, how to respond to crisis situations and people at risk. You can never really stop being a social worker in your heart. at least I cannot.

I met a young woman in this town recently. Cute as all get out, presents well, extremely high-functioning, good ADL's. Smart. Has it going on.

So I was out on the street in front of my home and she walks by. There is obviously something very wrong. "Hey, grrlfriend! What's up? Something wrong?". She procedes to tell me this:

She is on the thin edge of homelessness. Thrown out by her "boyfriend" who says she is not "feminine" enough(WTF?? She's a babe!), she is crashing on a couch at a guy's apartment. He wants a taste of her sweetmeat, too. She has a shearing brain injury from an auto accident in 94(comatose for a month, a year to stop drooling, Had to relearn how to walk, talk, all sorts of fun stuff). She has little or no short-term memory to speak of, which makes it very hard for her to get or keep a job. Has an utterly screwed up Seratonin, Norepinephrine and L-dopa system from the injury. Has some meds she takes. Is scared and depressed and self-medicating with our old friend, ETOH.

I heard all this and said "Fuck this. This will not stand.". Then, I told her I wasn't looking to get laid. She liked that. ;-) Ahh, ethics, my best friend and worst tormenter.

In two days the following has happened:

1. On Monday next, she has an intake meeting with Easter Seals Options and ICMS, to link her to lots of services, advocacy and if she needs it, group housing or respite bed. And counseling. Especially that, and vocational therapies.

2. County Social Services can, and want to, link her to TBA, one of the most well-cashed-up funds out there, targeted EXACTLY at people with traumatic brain injuries. And a lot of other things. Like housing. I have a county social worker chomping at the bit on this one. Locked and loaded.

For the bonus round: During my phone calls, I called a friend of mine who shall remain nameless, but is a prominent NJ Democrat and former congressional candidate. Very involved in mental health philanthropy. This person is on the board of a coalition non-profit that has a lot of funding. They purchase blight and tax-sale housing, rehab it, and use it to provide supportive and administered housing for the homeless and people at risk in the community. They are real and burning here. Homeless numbers are staggering in this little rural county. I spoke to the president of this concern today and will be doing so again, tomorrow or friday. The people that I have talked to about this at County Social Services, and a few other selected "leading citizens" got real, real excited about this. Like you wouldn't believe. I think this can fly.

Didn't make a damn dime off of any of this, I am still unemployed as all getout, but I would say that I have had a pretty good week. And it's only Wednesday.

[undergroundpanther]

1. You Rawk!

BTW I know what you mean I end up doing advocacy whether I want to or not. And you might as well know there are others doing the housing stuff too,
http://www.onourownmd.org/msh.html

Click around on the OOO site might give you more ideas.I work with these people they are awesome.Hearts and Ears is one of the affiliates,All over Maryland.

[DemExpat]

2. A fat paycheck for all this talent and heart would be fabulous, but just the excitement

and power of tapping into positive networks like you can is the most rewarding stuff.
Thanks for this positive experience, and for your efforts.

Indeed, :yourock:

DemEx

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Excitement, sure.

Power? meh.

But doing something good for someone struggling? I recommend the experience without qualification.

[DemExpat]

6. Positive use of power in this sense:

power - ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something.

Empowerment for the person helped as well.

:hi:

DemEx

[EFerrari]

4. What a great story!

:yourock:

[hedgehog]

5. You'll be rewarded for sure, it's just that the pay check may take a while to get to you!