Filed under Child Services …

Jul 19 2012
Leave a comment
california, Child Services, children, education, employment, employment opportunity, entitlement, foodstamps, GAIN program, government, health insurance, jobs, kindness, medical, poverty, Social Work, unemployment, welfare

Wicked Witch of the Welfare Office

 ImageUsually I feel pretty good about my job. Today I am disenchanted. I had an imaginary conversation with myself.

I am the evil witch lurking…ahem…working in the welfare office.

My Inner Angry Republican pitches a fit about 50 times a day. And with good reason too.  But my out Professional Social Worker tries to seek better solutions and keep it all in check.

Money for nothing?! Not really – you have to work (or prepare for work) to be granted cash aid
But if the parents don’t work the family still gets money True – but we choose to believe the parents are not spending any cash aid on themselves and only on their children
You are on crack, right? At least tell me you are screening the welfare peeps for drugs. No. We don’t test the parents – but we do ask them 7 questions to screen them for substance use and abuse
Then you take their money away, right? Of course not. We schedule them for a Clinical Assessment and chose to believe they are not buying beer, weed, crack, coke, schrooms, uppers, downers, etc . We need to believe these drugs are DONATED to them.
Why do you believe that? Because a habit is expensive, if they could afford a strong heavy habit – they don’t need Welfare funds and we would have to cut them off
What’s bad about that? Because we know they are not magically “finding” the money and we sleep better knowing the money has at least made it into a parent’s hands and there is a chance that it is being spent on the family
Do you require receipts for how the cash aid money was spent No
Why not? Too much trouble
Don’t you believe that if people were accountable for how the money was spent, they would spend it on toothbrushes and rent etc and not on cat food, veterinary bills, drugs, strip clubs and gambling Did I tell you about the time I did ask for receipts and the person bought job interview clothes at Caesar’s Palace Shops?
Why did you ask for receipts that time? Well, because GAIN  – or Welfare to Work gives money for job clothing, school books etc.
Oh, so there is some accountability. How does that work out? One time a lady bought 7 pairs of shoes as her work clothing.
What, was she a stripper? Many of my clients are strippers or in elicit but legal trades. I give them credit for making the effort.
So you encourage this activity? I encourage work of any kind. They need to do 32-35 hours of work type activity a week.
Why only 35? I do at least 40 hours of work and 20 hours of volunteering and have up to 4 kids in my house. I don’t know. At 32 hours an employer is supposed to be offering benefits like health care so families can leave Medi-Cal Insurance.
What if they don’t want to work or train, etc? Then they can say they have mental health or substance abuse or domestic violence issues or are homeless and the requirement for these hours can be waived temporarily or permanently.
Are you serious? Of course, It is the compassionate thing to do. If someone is so stressed or overwhelmed that they really cannot function in society; I don’t want to set them up for failure
So you take their children away, right? Why would we? We take a licensed professionals word – or sometimes the client tells us – that this person cannot work or go to school or do community service. What does that have to do with parenting?
Well, a 40 hour a week job is easier than 24/7 parenting. Never the less. We trust that these parents are doing what is best for the children.
Does Welfare really look out for the WELFARE of kids. Kinda,. Sorta. We make food funds and cash aid and medical funding available to the family and trust they are being accessed on behalf and for the benefit of the kids.
That’s it? Also, we ask that once a year a report card or immunization card is turned in. See, we care.
But there is a time limit on this, right? Bill Clinton put a time limit. Yes, the Federal Time Limit is 5 years or 60 months of Cash aid per family
Whey. At least that is clear and simple But some people stay on Cash Aid from the 7th month of pregnancy until their child is 18 years old.
WTF? Or until the baby graduated from High School. 
How can you stay on Welfare for over 18 years Easy. Say you were in a domestic violence relationship. Or that you are too emotionally disturbed to hold down a job or really benefit from the program. How can we push you out of the nest?
OMG Oh, my goodness indeed. See me? I am saving the world over here.
Do you really feel like that? Of course.
You’re sick. No. no fever, I feel fine. Thanks for the concern.
How are you really helping them? I am not. I make sure they have the resources to help themselves. Poverty sucks. People will move on  at their own pace. All I can do is offer options.
Like what? I will pay for child care so they can work, or I pay for books, fees and supplies for vocational training or college.
Vocational Training? Sure – you know, so people can be hair dressers and such
Very few hair dressers live far above the poverty line and there are no medical, dental, vision or life benefits with that position usually Well, then I hope each of them is the next Vidal Sassoon or Jose’ etc. I realy can’t be bothered to make sure it will make them rich or middle class. I just want to say I have “X number of clients participating” and then hope they can keep their heads above water off Welfare.
Seriously? Seriously.
Why didn‘t I hear that you pay tuition? Are they required to use their cash aid for tuition? No. The tuition at a public Community College will be waived and Federal or other financial aid will cover it at other types of schools.
When I went to school, I paid Tuition Well, you should have had a child an not been able to afford it.
Speaking of that… when new children come into the family – what happens? Usually the Medi-Cal and Food stamps increase but not the cash aid. After all – birth control is free on Medi-Cal.
Did you say “usually”? Well yes,. Some children are exempt from the Maximum Family Grant.
Meaning they qualify for raising the family cash aid amount Sure, if they show proof they were on long term birth control like a shot or IUD – or they can say they were raped and then we take their word and cover the baby as well.
OMG I know. Aren’t we nice? And – we have thousands of families leaving welfare each year.
How many of them leave before their time limits are up?How many stay on despite the time limits

How many are forced off or “timed out”?

 I don’t know. But aren’t I nice?

 

 

 

 

Tagged , , ,
Jun 04 2012
2 Comments
california, Child Services, children, GAIN program, los angeles county, poverty, Women

Child Support: end profiting by discriminating against single parent families on cash aid

Stop profiting by discriminating against single parent families on cash aid!

A two parent family who lives as a household on public aid is not expected to repay public assistance. . A two parent family who lives separately while one parent and the child(ren) receive public assistance will have to repay the entire assistance .

My daughter just turned 18 years old and is two weeks from graduating High School. For the past 12 years I have been her sole support except for $240 a month; a partial child support payment. There is a $10,000 balance on the child support case and my daughter and I will never see a dime of it. I was on cash aid for about 5 years and completed college against the advice of my DPSS social workers. For the last 12 years I have not been on cash aid but the County of Los Angeles is still collecting Child Support to pay for five (5) years of cash aid.( I actually work in the welfare system now) The County of Los Angeles has received over half of my child support order for 17 years. This $10,000 is past due child support never paid to me.
A two parent family who lives as a household on public aid is not expected to repay public assistance. . A two parent family who lives separately while one parent and the child(ren) receive public assistance will have to repay the entire assistance grant even though fewer dollars were given to this family than to the family living under one roof.
For example:
Joe and Sue live together, have a child together and together they request cash aid. They receive a cash aid payment for Joe, Sue and Baby . Cash aid ends and Joe eventually moves out. Joe and Sue enter into a Child Support agreement. Sue is able to collect the full amount of child support ordered.
But maybe:
Joe and Sue don’t live together when they have a baby and apply for cash aid. Sue receives cash aid for herself and Baby for three years when Sue completes her education and finds a self-sustaining job. The County of Los Angeles demands Sue give her child support rights to them and they take all but $50 of child support. After Sue leaves cash aid the county continues to take more than half of the child support. After the baby turns 18 the county continues to bill Joe for all the cash aid Sue and Baby received when he was not living with them. There is an additional 10% interest charge added to the debt the county believes is owed to them.
Why do we ask some parents to repay cash aid and not demand that all parents pay this back – or let none of them pay it? Is it double dipping to take tax payments out of paychecks and have the taxes go to social welfare programs and additionally garnish money to pay for the social welfare your child is using?
And, who monitors these accounts? The California Child Support system has been adding on 10% for years and I think the outstanding debt on the account is more than any cash aid award my family received. I was labeled a Welfare Mom, he was labeled a Dead Beat and the state of California and Los Angeles County are making a profit.

Tagged , , , , ,
May 24 2012
1 Comment
Child Services, children, education, employment, facebook, foodstamps, homeless, housing, hunger, poverty, shelter, welfare

Living Third World in a First World Country

Ending Homeless-ness. It sounds like a noble cause, but mostly is just frustrating.

The reason people are in the streets is because there is nowhere else for them to go. Even though the numbers of vacant houses in the US outnumber the Homeless Families; there is nowhere that these families can legally turn. There are not enough emergency shelters or even dedicated floor space under a ceiling to direct people to when they need to escape the elements.

How would you provide this child with access to a bath if she is homeless?

I often find myself in the ridiculous position of remembering that homelessness is a “First World Problem” – because back when this same bit of land would be a Third World country; Native Americans slept outside, under the stars, in caves and in tents. Surely a corner of someone’s garage or being crowded into a living room is better than that? I remind myself that Galileo did not have cable television or even electricity.  

And yet, while there is enough low hanging fruit and food stamps to keep bellies full: I am looking at a population who is living a Third World life in a First World country. I see little children who have to get homework done before their only light sets in the west while their classmates have canned light and the internet, a safe quiet bed to sleep in and access to refrigerated food and cupboards of nutrition at their fingertips.

 Last week a FaceBook friend commented that if the parents of these children could not find a way to afford better living for them, the parents should relinquish the children to adoption. What? Aside from the entirely different story of an overcrowded Foster Care System and millions of un-adopted children already waiting for homes – there is a selfishness issue there.

If a family is willing to take on a child and pay for them for eighteen years, could that same family take in the child’s family for a shorter period of time and foster them to self-sufficiency? Would they use the extra bedroom for a child and his parent(s). No, the child did not contribute to the parents un or underemployment and the child did not make the choices that led the family into homelessness, but what emotional cost are we willing to charge the child and entire family by splitting them apart?

There are no easy answers to Homelessness. Certainly the only solution is housing. Housing, however, costs money – and lots of it.

Ways to access money:

  1. Earn it through work
  2. Inherit it through death
  3. Steal it through crime.

Clearly, the socially acceptable means is employment; however there are few jobs available. I have clients and parents working at hamburger stands and chicken joints and cleaning houses and washing dishes and babysitting, and day laboring and all the jobs the media tells us we need illegal aliens to do. I am sending parents to college and trade schools so they might qualify for better jobs in a skilled sector. It seems, however , that there are not enough jobs that would pay enough for a family to rise out of homelessness and become self-sufficient.

These families are situated in urban settings and not on a commune where Third World work and life are possible. There are no field for subsistence farming, nowhere to herd cows in order to milk them for a glass of milk, and if someone were to kill the animals available in the city for food they will be prosecuted and placed in jail: ending their homelessness temporarily at least.

I don not have an answer to Homelessness. I am constantly frustrated to meet families eager and determined to save themselves when I have no way to house them and no direction to point them to that will guarantee shelter.

Tagged , , , , ,
May 22 2012
Leave a comment
Child Services, employment, Social Work, welfare

“But , it’s hard. You don’t understand how hard!”

ImageThis, without exception, if the most irritating excuse I hear about why someone has not tried to improve their life or that of their children.

Imagine:

Dora, the shortest of all social workers, just had a very loud conversation with a woman who has been “going to enroll in adult school to learn to read and write” for 2 years. However, she thinks it may conflict with the schedule she would like to have in cosmetology school so she has never enrolled in either. Meanwhile the Dept. of Children Services is telling her that she has to go through mental health therapy, but she thinks it is “too hard” to make it to the appointment.

Says Dora: “Life is hard. Maybe you don’t understand that, but it is. It is hard to raise children, it is hard without children. It is hard to look for a job; it is hard to maintain stable and meaningful employment. Everything is hard. That is just how it is. You are choosing to think that HARD means MISERABLE and you are trying to avoid it.”

My thoughts ….

  1. Cosmetology is a difficult trade and the study of it requires a fair amount of math and science. I honestly have not met any dumb hairdressers. My hair guy Denny (of The Yellow Balloon in Arcadia) is brilliant and dedicated and works long hours standing on his feet.  – I don’t think this young mother can be a Cosmetologist.  
  2. OMG- STOP WHINING! Is this what you have taught your kids to do in the face of adversity; to whine? Somewhere in my life a family member used to tell me, “come here and cry and I will give you something to cry about.”
  3. This is the Welfare recipient that the public identifies as draining resources and sponging off the system. Because, by the way, she is.  Nice job as ambassador, right?
  4. Get a simple job that does not require literacy: Push a broom, clean, wash dishes, etc…  Take a job in the service industry and earn while you learn.
  5. Go to Adult school on the side.
  6. Be responsible for yourself and own your decisions – even when your decision is to do absolutely nothing. And then be aware of the consequences of your choices. In this situation, the consequence is that you may lose your children. If you lose your children you will also lose your meal ticket, food stamps, Medi-CAL, and cash aid.
  7. Parenting my own children was never this frustrating. Changing the attitude and behaviors of adults from my limited role is anguish.
  8. How many minutes would it take for me to be fired if I walked over there and said “Get over yourself !”? Yep. I will just sit here and write this while I collect my voice messages.

Not all people are like this. Thankfully, most of the folks we help are willing, motivated and have their own hustle on that we support. “Good things come to he who hustles”. It is true.

By now, in this fictitious scenario, Dora has stopped talking and the volume level is normal again so I can make phone calls.

Tagged , , , ,
Feb 02 2012
Leave a comment
Child Services, children, Social Work

Questionable Parenting Moments and DCFS

This week is filled with thoughts about parenting.

When I was a kid I waffled between not wanting any children and wanted to have 12 (and then name them after the disciples :I was a closet mini-Bible-Thumper )

Having Jackie was a shock and I was fairly young, Darla was also not planned and both of them are joys. When Jax was a baby I used to wonder where her parents were and why they were late picking her up. Then it would hit me that “I” was her parent. My kid brother is 10 years younger than I;  and I was a nanny while in college, and for no apparent reason – babies and little kids like me. So do ugly men, old men and all canine dogs. Jax I raised alone and for Darla I am trying to keep her two parent family in tact, but frankly, I don’t see why or that it is much easier than doing it alone. Certainly the drama is not attractive. 

This week’s drama involved the county Child and Family Services threatening to remove Darla if they find anything wrong in the home of my friend’s kids. Are you kidding me? I can not win for losing! I am not sure what is happening with them – but because it would severely complicate my life, relationships with their parents, and the kids  I have not opened that can of worms.  I have, however spoken a parent and discussed any and every concern I have had. No, this did NOT make me a popular family friend and almost ended my friendship all together. 

A long time ago we had Mandated Reporter training here in the office and I was told that I have to report on ANY child, ANYWHERE or I face prison and a fine. Well, that sounded ominous so I called DCFS and they said that I would be excused for not reporting if I ever had Bonus Kid concerns specifically because it would complicate my life.

So, why is it that a DCFS worker told me that my Mandated Reporting ended when I walked out of the office at work? She went on to say that if DCFS finds anything wrong with my friend’s children they would take Darla because I didn’t do anything, didn’t say anything, didn’t keep the kids from going home, even if I didn’t know anything?  The worker did not ask me if I have any concerns, or say there was any basis to anything, or even tell me what the issue with those children might be. She just straight up told me that she would remove Darla if she finds anything.

So – what is the message? I have to report every little concern and be a nuisance or I don’t have to do anything.

Oh, and personal side note, you get one guess who is being blamed/credited/accused for the appearance of D.C..S. .

Meanwhile, at work I pulled a baby bottle of sweet ice tea out of the mouth of a 3 month old. Teen mom and teen dad thought baby would like it because she had tummy problems. I told them to talk to the WIC lady and call the family doctor because their health care is provided for free. This was at the same table I have pulled narcotics out of a toddler and in the same office I have called DCFS when my walk to 7-11 resulted in passing by a car filled with children unattended on a hot summer day. 17 year old girls are telling me the planned to have that first baby at 14 and want 4 kids by the time they turn 21.I have families living in boxes, in cars, in tents in the local forests and parks and when some of the children come to my office I just let them raid my snack drawer because I know they didn’t eat anything that day.

I am starting to wonder if children deserve parents who are given basic skills classes when pregnancy is diagnosed. Maybe, like the Swiss all have to serve in the Swiss army for two years and Mormons all have to go on Missions, maybe all American children should have mandatory parenting classes as part of sex ed in junior high-school so they are pre-armed with the skills they need if and when they have children.

Children are more important than ‘the love of your life”. Your children are more important than your girlfriend, boyfriend, parent, husband, fiance, or wife. Being a good parent is more important than shopping, eating, travel or success in business.

Being a good parent means being aware of your child. Knowing and responding when they are hungry, needing bathing, clothing or a nap. Being a good parent means BEING THERE, being present in their lives at all points in their life. Being a good parent means having a personal relationship with your child so you know them as an individual. Sometimes being a good parent means recognizing that you can’t or don’t want to do all these things and letting someone else parent your child.

But, what do I know. Apparently I am just someone that a DCFS worker who didn’t give a business card or last name can threaten to walk out of my home with my 1 year old because I pulled a “Joe Paterno” and did not complain enough if I had any concerns.

Tagged , ,
Sep 30 2011
Leave a comment
Child Services, domestic violence, kindness, shelters, Women

Women’s Shelters in California

If you or your children are a victim of domestic violence you should: 

  • Get yourself and your children to safety.
  • Call law enforcement (911) if you’re in immediate danger, are being threatened or being abused.
  • Press charges against the aggressor with the police.
  • File for a restraining order in your local family court.
  • Find the local domestic violence shelter and ask for help. 

WOMEN SHELTERS CALIFORNIA 

LOS ANGELES
Battered Service Action Center 134 E. 1st. Los Angeles CA 90012 Business #: 213-268-7568 Toll Free #: (800)548-2722

Center for the Pacific-Asian Family, Inc. 543 North Fairfax Ave., #108 Los Angeles CA 90036

Free Spirit/Chicana Service 134 East First Street Los Angeles CA 90012 Business #: 213-253-5959 Hotline/Crisis: 213-937-1312

Good Shepard Shelter P.O. Box 19487 Los Angeles CA Business #: 213-737-6111

Jenesse Center, Inc. P.O. Box 73837 Los Angeles CA 90003 Business #: 213-751-1145 Hotline/Crisis: 213-751-1145 Toll Free#: (800)479-7328

Los Angeles Commission on Assaults Against Women 6043 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 200 Los Angeles CA 90028 Business #: 213-462-1281 Hotline/Crisis: 213-626-3393 Toll Free #: (310)392-8381

APPLE VALLEY
High Desert Domestic Violence Program 18930 Outer Hwy 18 Apple Valley CA 92307 Business #: 619-242-1468 Hotline/Crisis: 619-242-9179

ARTESIA
Su Casa Family Crisis and Support Center P.O. Box 998 Artesia CA 90702 Business #: 310-402-7081 Hotline/Crisis: 310-402-4888

BAKERSFIELD
Alliance Against Family Violence P.O. Box 2054 Bakersfield CA 93303 Business #: 805-322-0931 Hotline/Crisis: 805-327-1091 Toll Free #: (800)433-7337

BARSTOW
Dessert Sanctuary,Inc. P.O. Box 1781 Barstow CA 92312 Business #: 619-252-3441 Hotline/Crisis: 619-252-3441

BERKELEY
Women’s Refuge P.O. Box 3298 Berkeley CA 94703 Business #: 510-658-7231 Hotline/Crisis: 510-547-4663

BEVERLY HILLS – Women Shelters California
Beverly Hills Center for Domestic Conflict 9401 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 730 Beverly Hills CA 90212 Business #: 310-275-0960 Hotline/Crisis: 310-275-0960

FRESNO
YWCA Marjaree Mason Transitional Living Center 1600 M Street Fresno CA 93721 Business #: 209-237-4701 Hotline/Crisis: 209-237-4701

GLENDALE
Glendale YWCA Shelter 735 E Lexington Dr. Glendale CA 91206 Business #: 818-242-4155 Hotline/Crisis: 218-242-1106

MODESTO
Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus 619 13th Street, Suite 1 Modesto CA 95354 Business #: 209-576-0659 Hotline/Crisis: 209-577-5980 Toll Free #: (800)834-1990

MONTEREY
Domestic Violence Shelter for Women/Children 2115 N. Fremont Blvd. Monterey CA 93940 Business #: 408-649-0834 Hotline/Crisis: 408-372-6300

OAKLAND
A Safe Place P.O. Box 1075 Oakland CA 94604 Business #: (510) 986-8600 Hotline/Crisis: 510-536-7233 Fax: fax (510) 986-8606

PASADENA
Haven House, Inc. P.O. Box 50007 Pasadena CA 91115 Business #: 818-564-8880 Hotline/Crisis: 213-681-2626

REDONDO BEACH
Second Step Shelter 103 W. Torrance Blvd.,Suite 101 Redondo Beach CA 90277 Business #: 310-370-4712 Hotline/Crisis: 310-370-5902

RIVERSIDE
Alternatives to Domestic Violence P.O. Box 910 Riverside CA 92502 Business #: 909-352-9262 Hotline/Crisis: 909-683-0829 Toll Free #: (800)339-SAFE

SACRAMENTO – Women Shelters California
WEAVE, Inc. P.O. Box 161356 Sacramento CA 95816 Business #: 916-448-2321 Hotline/Crisis: 916-920-2952

California Partnership to End Domestic ViolencePO BOx 1798Sacramento, CA 95812-1798Toll-free phone number(s):(800) 524-4765 (866) 484-4913 TTY Phone number(s):(916) 444-7163 Fax: (916) 444-7165

SALINAS
Salinas Women’s Crisis Center P.O. Box 1805 Salinas CA 93902 Business #: 408-757-1002 Hotline/Crisis: 408-757-1001

SAN BERNARDINO
Option House, Inc. P.O. Box 970 San Bernadino CA 92402 Business #: 909-381-3471 Hotline/Crisis: 909-381-3471

SAN DIEGO
Center for Women’s Studies and Services 2467 E Street San Diego CA 92102 Business #: 619-267-8023 Hotline/Crisis: 619-233-3088

YWCA Battered Women’s Services P.O. Box 126398 San Diego CA 92112 Business #: 619-239-2342 Hotline/Crisis: 619-234-3164

SAN FRANCISCO – Women Shelters California
Asian Women’s Shelter 3543 18th Street,#19 San Francisco CA 94110 Business #: 415-751-7110 Hotline/Crisis: 415-751-0880

Shalom Bayit P.O. Box 64048 San Francisco CA 94164 Business #: 415-241-8874

WOMAN, Inc. 333 Valencia St.,Suite 251 San Francisco CA 94103 Business #: 415-864-4777 Hotline/Crisis: 415-864-4722

La Casa de Las Madres 965 Mission Street, Suite 300 San Francisco CA 94103 Business #: 415-777-1808 Hotline/Crisis: 415-33-1515

Rosalie House 5616 Geary Blvd., Suite 207 San Francisco CA 94121 Business #: 415-255-2754 Hotline/Crisis: 415-255-0165

SAN JOSE
Next Door, Solutions to Domestic Violence 1181 North 4th Street, Suite A San Jose CA 95112 Business #: 408-279-7550 Hotline/Crisis: 408-279-2962

SANTA BARBARA
Shelter Services for Women, Inc. P.O. Box 1536 Santa Barbara CA 93102 Business #: 805-963-4458 Hotline/Crisis: 805-964-5245

SANTA MONICA
Sojourn Services For Battered Women & Their Children P.O. Box 7081 Santa Monica CA 90406 Business #: 310-264-6646 Hotline/Crisis: 310-264-6644

VENTURA
Ventura County Coalition Against Household Violence 4882 McGrath, Suite 240 Ventura CA 93003 Business #: 805-656-3443 Hotline/Crisis: 805-656-1111

If you can’t find the women shelter nearest you in this list, try the:

 

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
Live Help 1(800)799-7233 – 24 hours

or the

NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE
at 1-800-656-4673.

Gifts to the Shelters are Tax Deductible.

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
Sep 28 2011
2 Comments
Child Services, ick, pregnant

BAD MOM Alert

Please dip me in boiling alcohol – I may never feel clean again.

She self aborted her last child then complained that she had a uterine infection, yesterday she called 911 when her 8 year old son would not get dressed, she drops the kids off at state funded child care and then goes home to sleep, she has an iPhone and manicure but her kids wear clothes with holes.  AND SHE IS 8 MONTHS PREGNANT AGAIN.

I am going to be ill.

 

Tagged , ,
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 46 other followers