Free Write

This week has been pretty hectic. I started an extra class at night once a week. The first night was fine, except I was running late due to having to finish some things at work. This week I have had 3 child placements disrupt and have had a hard time keeping set appointments while trying to get the kids situated and complete required paperwork for their moves. Removing kids from a placement is not easy. Sometimes it is hard to see beyond the chaos to the greater purpose of things. All you can do is try to prevent more trauma from happening to a child and pray that you’ve made the best decisions at the end of the day. Many times I think there is a misconception with DCS. Some people think DCS just wants to remove people’s kids from their homes. The reality of the situation is that in most cases I see, the kids are not removed from the home until several chances are given. The only time I’ve seen children removed with no chances for the parents to correct their wrong is when the situation is so bad that there is no way we can’t remove the child. Ensuring the safety of children is not the hard part of working for DCS. The hard part is all the legalities that come with it.  

Leadership Opportunities

Leadership plays a role in my internship because I have to have leadership qualities when working with families in the community. In the role I am in I have to make important decisions regarding parents who have kids in our custody. I have to monitor the parents and make sure they are complying with their community services which are sometimes court ordered. I also have to make sure they are attending visits with their children and ensure they are making progress towards their family goals. Therefore, fostering good relationships with those in the community and community stake holders is vital. The same goes for my co-workers. They also have to do the same duties and must manage their time wisely. Multi-tasking is also important to meet organizational deadlines.

Interview

My supervisor’s main duties are to monitor the individuals in her unit. Not only does she need to monitor the individuals, she also has to make sure she does monthly meetings with each individual in her unit to ensure they are on task.  My supervisor has to make sure she is meeting deadlines put in place by the Program Manager and make sure her unit workers are meeting their deadlines. My supervisor was a DCS Specialist prior to her becoming a DCS Supervisor.

In order to get a supervisor position, it is important to have a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or a related field. It is also recommended to have a Master’s degree. However, experience is always a plus and can be substituted for some educational requirements. The current new trend in this field is that there are many supervisor positions open with not enough internal staff to take them. Some DCS staff are getting these internal positions easier because there is no one really to compete for the position. I am encouraged to check the state website for a list of available jobs and requirements

Career Services

I recently spoke with a supervisor in the adoptions department at DCS. This is where I would like to be within the next 2 years. The supervisor informed me that adoptions is a good place to be for those who like to help children find suitable permanent homes. I was also informed that with adoptions there is a process for children and potential families that can eventually lead to permanency and that placement of children does not always work out. Therefore, an adoptions specialist has to be prepared for the negative results that can come from placing children with potential homes. An adoptions specialist has to anticipate every problem that could occur and work to prevent those problems from happening which could mean passing up potential placements for children. I think I would do well in adoptions because I like to ensure that children are placed in environments where they can thrive. In my current placement I work a lot with children who have come from disruptive homes. It would be great to be on the end that finds a safe, permanent, home for abused and neglected children.

Free write

DCS workers have to go through a lot and are responsible for making some very important decisions. However, the salary for a DCS worker is low in Arizona. I previously worked in public assistance in California and made more than what DCS pays their starting workers. There is a lot of stress involved as a DCS worker due to the never-ending amounts of work. Stress also comes from always having to appear at court hearings, making important meetings in various locations, and having to make contact each month with children on their caseloads. I can not imagine anyone wanting to work for DCS in order to make a lot of money because that will never happen. Most people work for DCS because they care about helping children and want to make a difference. However, the organization should adequately pay its employees based on their job duties and performance.

My Struggle

Going to school full-time and interning has been pretty challenging this semester. As part of my internship I work full-time at DCS. My hours are set; however, working long hours are required and necessary to get things done. It feels as though there are not enough hours in the day. My week days fly by fast but it’s hard for me to get everything I need to get done during the day. When I get home in the evenings I have a 9 year old daughter fighting for my attention. It is also imperative that I help my daughter with her homework. Even though I love interning for DCS, I sometimes do not know how long I can last with my busy schedule. I hope I can hang on and come up with a better solution for time management. I feel like every day is a different struggle and because I sometimes do not know what I am walking into at work, it is hard to make a set schedule and stick to it. I can understand why DCS has a high turnover, especially for those who have families. Hopefully it gets better soon.

Freewrite

This week my family and I took a vacation to California. I was so happy to see some of my family and friends. Although I could not see everyone, I still saw a lot of people. One of the first things that I get asked by family and friends is, “how do you work for DCS”. I always tell my friends and family that it’s definitely hard work, but somehow through all the chaos everything works.

When my vacation started, it started in Northern, California, then today we traveled to Southern, California. On our vacation we are probably going to Universal Studios and doing some shopping. It feels good to get away from DCS to relax. However, I can’t help but think about all the work that is waiting for me when I get back. Hopefully it’s not too bad!