Documentation

            This week, I have continued to do my usual crisis line shift and co-facilitating one of the children’s group.  One of my supervisors also opened up two intake slots for me, and I was able to do my first intake completely on my own!  It was liberating!  Preparing for my intake was challenging because I was very nervous, but it went fairly smooth and I believe I got all the information needed!

            The two biggest challenges I faced this week were the managing a lot of paperwork now that I am having more client interaction, as well as maintaining my composure and facial expressions when having in person client meetings.  Paperwork has been a challenge because it is important to fill it out correctly, file it in the right spot, and have copies given to various counselors and provide referrals to groups and individual sessions.  It’s a bit overwhelming, but I’m gradually getting the hang of it.  Managing my facial expressions has been sort of challenging because I’ve been told that I display all of my emotions all the time.  So when a client tells me a rough story, or shares something that I was not expecting I need to be conscious of my expression so they can trust me and not sensor what they share.

            Similar to last week, this week was rewarding because I am continuing to get more responsibilities as my time at Sarah’s Inn goes on.  I have two crisis line shifts a week, I am able to assist in planning children’s group as well as do the paperwork for it, I now have two intake slots, and I will be helping organize files for an upcoming audit.

Documentation

            Everything that clients are part of, or any service provided is documented.  Progress notes are kept, service plans and evaluations are updated every couple of months, and everything is kept neatly in each clients files.  If an injury happens at group or in the building before or after an event, we fill out a critical incident report to document any and everything that happens to show that we addressed and fixed the incident.  Recently, there have been updates to a majority of paperwork, so there has been some confusion for everyone.  I am not sure who created or how the paperwork came about, but everyone is capable of requesting improvements depending on client needs and needed information for better service delivery.  Documentation helps us better serve our clients, and if a different advocate needs to work with a client they can find all the information they need from their file.  Also, if these files are subpoenaed, what we document can help our clients prove abuse if they are trying to get and order of protection, gain custody of their children, or get a divorce. 

Communication

            This past week at my placement, I have continued doing a lot of the same tasks I have been doing.  I am continuing to do my crisis line shift, and I will be given two more shifts this upcoming week that will continue on for the rest of my time at Sarah’s Inn.  I was able to observe another intake this week, and I talked to my supervisor about getting my own intake slot.  Because another intern just finished their placement this past week, I might be taking her intake slots and crisis line shifts.  I have also continued working on a research project I was assigned at the beginning of my placement.  Sometime spending a long time on the computer is tedious, and I need to break it up by walking the four flights of stairs in the building, or going and talking with some of the other interns and staff.

            Some challenges I faced, and other staff members faced this week we were two difficult cases.  When I was on the crisis line two weeks ago, a troubled client called looking to get connected with our legal advocates because she wanted to get an order of protection.  One of the staff members that meets with her regularly brought up in our group meeting how she was able to receive a 60 day order of protection, but is still really scared he will approach her or harm her regardless.  She is trying to leave the state to stay safe, but they have a child together and have a pending DCFS case.  This was brought to our group meeting to see if our legal advocates or other staff knew what her rights were, and how she should go about the move if it’s even possible.  This is a challenge because we want what’s best for her, but it has to be done legally so it doesn’t work against her. It was hard.

            It was rewarding to be given more responsibilities, and getting more experience working with clients.  I’m excited and nervous to do my own intakes, but it’s great experience and I’m sure I’m just overthinking it.  In my supervision meeting, it was rewarding to have my supervisor recognize all the hard work I have put into my research project, and to give me helpful feedback to make more improvements. 

Communication

            It feels like everyone at my placement is in constant communication with each other.  Communication flows up and down throughout the agency.  When new procedures or regulations come out, we will hear all necessary information from the executive director and other supervisors.  Other staff members also relay information about whether procedures are meeting the needs of our clients, which gives the supervisors and executives to revise them when necessary.  Most of communication is followed through email, and there are many strands of “all staff” emails that go out each day regarding political news that can impact us, different client situations, and other information.

~SPRING BREAK~

3/6-3/10

Stress Management

            This past week I did a lot of the same activities as last week.  I have continued observing on the crisis line as well as getting my own crisis line shift, I have observed some more intakes, and co-facilitated children’s group.  I was given more independence and I feel like I took advantage of it and handled my tasks fairly well.

            One challenge that sticks out to me was an issue I encountered on the crisis line.  A woman called and described a situation where her abuser had attacked her with a weapon which is why she had missed a meeting last week.  She briefly described what happened and how she had to go to the hospital, and apologized for missing her meeting.  I tried to explain that all that matters is that she was safe and doing better, which caused her to jump right into getting connected with a legal advocate so she could get an Order of Protection.  After finishing the call and connecting her with the right people, I worried that I didn’t really do what I was supposed to do.  It sounded like the purpose of her call was to find the legal resources she needed, but I’m worried I didn’t meet her immediate safety needs.  This one case has been stuck in my mind all week and there isn’t anything I can do now.  I talked with a supervisor after, and she explained that clients normally call about scheduling, resources and validation, and they generally don’t share the specifics of an attack.  She told me not to sweat it and that I did the best I could, but it still doesn’t sit right with me.

             This week was rewarding because I was given a bigger leadership role in the children’s group I’m co-facilitating.  I asked the other intern who leads the group if I could help plan activities.  Because of how frustrating last week was, we decided that we would focus on rules and group behavior and have the kids work together to hold each other accountable.  It worked out well, and now we have poster boards with all the group rules and expectations that we will incorporate into the beginning of each lesson.

Stress Management

            Self-care is important for all staff members at Sarah’s Inn.  I have two supervision meetings each week; one is with my direct supervisor, the other one is a group supervision meeting with the intervention team.  In both of these meetings, I am able to share different struggles and concerns I had faced during the week, get advice for how to handle these situations, as well as hear other interns and staff members struggles and how they handled them.  I have found the group supervision to be very helpful.

            The other Training and Education intern and I have been working on creating a “self-care board” that we are going to place in the kitchen on the third floor.  We have already started it, and included different quotes, a calendar with a single act of self-care each day, and a checklist on how to focus and take care of ourselves.  Working in this field is stressful, and we all do small things each day to make sure we are at our best.

            Some staff members really encourage self-care, and push us to reach out and have a therapist.  They swear by the ones they talk to, and believe it is good for our own growth to talk with someone who is unbiased and can challenge us in a way that is different than talking with friends or family members.  Other staff members encourage us to stay well-rounded and take classes, exercise, and read.  Many staff members have pets that they walk and take care of, some do yoga, others take pottery and other art classes, and others are focusing on eating better and exercising regularly.