One of my last calls of the day..

A woman called in asking for help with family issues. I explore a little and she tells me she was living with a relative but got kicked out recently. Now she has to find a place for herself and child to stay. She’s new to the area, new job, no resources.
I look at the notes on what type of benefits she is offered. (Each client gets different things.) I ask a coworker to clarify. “Hey it says phone support. Does that mean phone counseling?” No, it means she talks to me. And that’s her only benefit through my company.

OK, usually I can find some resources quickly. “What city do you live in?” New Orleans. Have you tried searching for “shelters” “social service” “low income” in New Orleans post-Katrina? I am not finding what I am looking for. I consult with coworker again. “This search is impossible! What do i do?” Coworker suggests referring to United Way. United Way is a really helpful organization but from interning in a shelter, I know the client’s chances of finding availability through one agency are not good. We would have shelter residents that stayed on the phones for hours searching for shelters with suitable openings. Shelters have so many exclusionary policies- Children, gender, children’s age, job status, county residency,mental illness, substance abuse history.
So I tell the client to call back in a half hour and get my social work on. I beat Google into giving me the search results I want and end up finding 8 suitable shelters in her area. I also found some free counseling services and financial resources.

I’ve missed what it feels like to really try to be helpful.

I went to Apple Fest this weekend and got tons of apple goodness. Apple donuts, apple pie fudge, apple slushies. We ate a restaurant that had cinammon apple pork chops and apple bbq chicken. We waited in a very long line for the apple donuts which I ended up giving to my parents because I felt surrounded by the sugar.

It was a very cute couple-y day. It’s nice having my boy back. It’s nice cuddling and having that hum of happiness in the back of my head while I sleep.

My birthday is soon. I’m still unsure what I want to do for my birthday. Most likely invite people to a bar on the weekend before or after my birthday. I think I’m more interested in going out or having a party for Halloween than I am for my birthday. I’m yet to get started on my costume, a combination of laziness and no money.
I’ve been looking online for baby gifts for a friend’s shower. The theme of the baby’s room is barnyard so I’m thinking some strange stuffed animals/puppets may be a good gift along with a band tee/onesie. It will be weird seeing my friend with a big baby belly. And I am going to have to eat baby food in some baby shower game? I’m hearing these stories about baby shower games and I’m not sure I can handle the adult responsibility pregnant belly balloon races.