Those social service agencies! With some…the way they waste money? It's…What's the word? Comical some tell you how wonderful they are, mean well… and do nothing; others, don't even seem to care. But there are plenty of good ones out there and we need to give tremendous thanks to all those agencies that improve our lives. As for me, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for a social service agency called Safe Haven. They give my roommate and me a proverbial tent in the form of a comfortable apartment with a modest dining room and kitchen. They also give me a community apartment with a modest dining room and kitchen. They also give me a community of consumers for me to be a part of where I can let my hair down. Not only that, but Safe Haven helped me get a job. The job is with yet another government agency I'm thankful for, called CARE. Do these two agencies waste money? Far from it, they both are social service agencies that make a difference in this world and yearn to grow and do even more.
First, let me tell you about CARE. I like working there. At times working at CARE can be fun. I have one client, let's call him Joey. Joey is a good friend of mine. Assisting Joey in speaking up to a librarian or interacting at a dinner party with kids his age is both challenging and gratifying. After a session with Joey I feel a good kind of tired which is therapeutic. Joey is a young adult who is not so bad off but has problems to overcome. That's not such a huge problem because he has the determination of an Olympic athlete to improve.
Second, let me tell you about Safe Haven. I like living there. At times living at Safe Haven can be fun. I have two roommates. Let's call them Jacob and Steve. They are good friends of mine. Cooking and decorating the apartment (I like religious inspirational stuff) is both challenging and gratifying. After Jacob shares his mom's brownies or Steve cheers me up when I'm blue, it's therapeutic. Jacob, Steve and I are adults who are not so bad off but have problems to overcome. That's not such a huge problem because all three of us have the determination to improve.
For some agencies the facts are plain and simple. They simply waste and squander their government and private funds. Others are "penny wise and dollar foolish." For example they stick consumers into homeless shelters instead of ultimately cheaper more comfortable group homes. On the other hand, in attractive yet modest group homes, bonds are made with fellow housemates. Also people are encouraged, like I was to thrive and eventually work. There are other examples that are just like Safe Haven and CARE; great social service organizations.
So to politicians who advocate for us, Medicaid people who toil for us and people who write for the very paper you are now reading who knock down stigmas and united to inform us, thanks. To that social worker we all know who is buried up to his/her neck in paper work or that mental health worker who conveys to a patient that their significant other is just not worth it. To all those quality social service agencies that truly make a difference, I say thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart!