Helping Boys
Submitted by Nash on June 21 2000 07:50:59
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Hello all, I know it has been a very long time since i have posted here. Just wanted to tell you all that i am still here and to talk about my job a little. I have always wanted to work with the youth but never have before, until 2 months ago. I've been working at a boys group home, teen boys ages 14-17. We have 2 homes with four to five boys in each home. At first i was nervous about working there because of the responsibility of being in charge of them all, the boys have to follow certain rules as do i. Most of the boys are there because of behavorial problems at home or at school.When they break a rule they have to be punished which is putting them on restriction, they can't leave the home to go anywhere, no tv, no radio and have to stay in their bedroom for a certain amount of time. Most of the other staff who work there just think of the place as a job where i try to get involved with their lives by talking to them and showing them that i do care about them. When i do have to punish them i will talk with them to find out why they did what they did and what can they do to not do it again.Other staff will just send them to their room which in turn the boy will be in there by himself being upset and will continue to get in trouble on purpose. I know i have been a good influence on some of them and they consider me a good friend also, and not just someone who works there. One certain boy who i will call Jeremy, he was placed in the home because he was abandoned by his parents. he is a sweet nice teen. Always says please and thank you. he and I were talking about the Bible and Jesus and he shows an interest in going to church. I asked the group home manager for approval to take him to church with me, she declined saying no because jeremy was on restriction.I became upset with her and told her that everybody has a right to attend church if they wish to. I knew this was a good thing for Jeremy. I went over her head and got the approval from the owner instead. And now another teen there also wants to attend church with myself and jeremy. Ever since this happened, the manager has made my life rough there. I am being wrote up for minor things that everybody else does there, they have cut my hours, i am not allowed to take the boys anywhere etc. I believe she is trying to make me quit. I almost did quit a couple times but did not because the boys begged me not to go, and they liked me and needed me. That was such a great feeling when they said that. The manager does not know how to run the homes. It is her responsibility to buy the food for the homes also, but she does not do it all the time because she says she is busy, then the boys do not have much to eat because the food level is low. several times i have bought groceries out of my own pocket for them, and i was written up for doing so. Sorry for the long post it was not intended to be this long. i am just frustrated with her for everything, if anybody has any advice for me i would appreciate it. Thank you all. Have a great day. NASH |
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