A Shining Moment

Despite being told I looked like a Jehovah's Witness this morning, today turned out to be a really great day.

That very same client later asked me when I was going to be a caseworker. I told her I wasn't going to have a degree until December so for sure not until after that. She then told me that she was hoping once I was a caseworker that her case could be transferred to me.

Now, hopefully her case will be closed by December and even if it wasn't, clients don't get to choose who their caseworker is!

However, this is something I consider a major accomplishment. Caseworkers are often seen as the enemy, especially by the parents. After all, "we" took their kids away! It sure does help that I am coming along well after the fact (over a year ago) but I'd like to think I possess some quality that her caseworker doesn't that just makes the process more manageable.

I always try to provide her with as much information about what is happening with her case as I am able to. Sometimes I am limited by my lack of knowledge and other times I just can't tell her about other parts of the case. And when I don't know something, I tell her I don't know something. I try to be as up front as possible. It probably helps that I also take her to McDonald's after each court hearing so she can get coffee (she buys her own).

I know that not every client is going to love me or even like me. In fact, most will probably hate me and wish I was not a part of their lives. But that's ok because I'll be wishing they weren't a part of mine either. ;)