Advocate is what I see myself doing and I am passionate about teens in need

[Depression = 72% of members]

Good morning everyone, ... .  

It's 4:40am in NC and I am going to be mighty tired later today. But thats okay.

I have been filling out job applications for over a year and have only had one call for an interview for a position that I did not get due to the newly signed RIF policy.  I was very upset about not getting that job because it was one of two positions that I really saw myself being an effective advocate within the County judicial system and would be afforded the opportunity to speak up for some of the juvenile offenders regarding placement in a facility that treats mental illness in lieu of being held in detention.

I had taken a week or so to get over myself and get back to applying for jobs that I was just notified via the RIF re-employment policy that I read over and over trying to make a case for forcing myself as the "employee that DESERVES this job" by finding the entire policy unconstitutional, and going to court to sue the very department that I was hoping to work, .  Sometimes the committee inside of my head, when I allow them to process a thought based in fear all the way through, have always had me homeless, in jail, or forcing my will onto a situation that I should have just let go of from the minute I found out I wasn't the one... .   this time.  But anyway,  after speaking to people who currently work in admin for the state, I have slowly accepted that my chances for being hired at the level that I qualify to apply for will be slim to none since there are so many RIF employees looking to try out a "new and exciting" position, which I am depending on because I have been drowning financially and have kids to provide for... .   teenage girls do not take the word No very easily, especially if it has to do with make-up that they ran out of.  I am half joking, and half serious about being in a financial mess just like so many of you are and have had to struggle with.

HOWEVER, I was offered a job by a very good friend of mine who was just backed by an investor to make her very funky and hysterical Cool Aunt Flo period panty business into a corporation.  I will have a job that is not in the legal field which is sad, but I will be able to flex my time to become an advocate for whatever organization I feel will be an awesome match!

So... .   just goes to show (myself mostly) that when things get ugly and life takes away your expectations and leaves you with your mouth hanging wide open and confused as to how and why did that just happen... .   it's always been the case and so easily forgotten, that unexpected opportunities can be the key to create yourself and pursue what you truly feel you are here to do!  I have never gone without, only had to redefine my wants and needs, and find a hiding place when my teenagers are figuring out that they are not going to the mall or buying makeup unless they have money of their own.  Their wants are their only needs, cause I was told I don't need to provide them with food or shelter (they could stay with a friend and would rather stay anywhere but here), only clothing on a bi-weekly basis, oh... .   and makeup.  Minus the teenage drama, life takes some really strange twists and unexpected and very much appreciated turns.

Now I can start my new job making period panties with a good friend that understands my passion to be able to advocate for these kids that are referred to as "stuck kids" and attempt to boost their quality of life, even if it is just by listening to what they have been through and let them know that there are people trying very hard to change this system that created more chaos for them to have to deal with and possibly give them a little bit of hope that I will continue to remember them and ask about how they are doing when and if the opportunity presents itself.  Just like I assumed I was going to be applying for jobs that aren't worth it to even work at all, I was given the ultimate position where I will be able to show up to argue for what these kids need the most... .   competent community based support programs and not be held in limbo because they have no one who claims them as family, and since they are dx'ed with mental illness, like my DD16 with bipolar II and BPD moderate-severe, they just fade out until they age out to go no where and have no one to turn to.

I have been reading a lot of government hearing minutes and am very disappointment with the decline in political support, and just my luck, there are links to every politician who is in support of or against making mental health treatment fit children's individual needs and not "house" them and refer to them as being stuck, cause they wouldn't be there if there were more people speaking up and making mental illness a huge deal! When the media is no longer covering another kid that fell "through the cracks" of the system and all politicians from all parties unanimous pledge to do whatever it takes to make sure there is accessible and appropriate affordable mental health care, and then fade away from the topic completely during their time to tackle the matter in the Senate and House of all 50 states.  I want to be an effective thorn in the right people's side as well as be able to speak up in court for a child's need for treatment instead of incarceration, and do whatever I can to educate as many uninformed law maker's by sharing my family's travesty while navigating through a system that continues to get smaller and smaller and way less effective and will only backfire when these "stuck kids" become angry enough and have nothing to lose to make themselves heard in very unhealthy and potentially dangerous ways.

Moral Mondays may be ineffective when change is needed like yesterday, however, maybe when the law makers go back in session, there might just be a new angle with more of an impact to draw attention to the almost 20,000 children that are "Stuck" in the system and some have been in the system their entire lives.  It's a shameful situation, and I am fired up (as you can see) to make some waves.

By the way-  My DD16, still doing phenomenal and is achieving beyond what she had planned for her goals only in her second full month of the IAFT program, however she has gone NC with me and everyone in her immediate family, and I totally get where she is coming from and am not disappointed but more than encouraged that her future is going to be brighter than she knows and definitely what I know she is capable of doing. 

BUT... .   only because I fought to get her the mental health treatment that was appropriate for her and it was an ongoing battle since 2000, almost 15 years, but we are finally gaining ground and might even be beating the very thing that is holding 20,000 NC kids back from experiencing anything they themselves are more than able to achieve but did not have one person to be their voice and provide the system someone to have to answer to when things were so bad I thought I was going to lose my ability to keep focused and in control, and that is the norm that a lot of incompetent providers bank on, no one to have to answer to or care to check up on these kids.

So, there is light being felt on our faces at the end of THIS tunnel, and I just want to make sure that I can give other kids a better shot at believing they are capable to accomplish the exact things they are being told they will never be able to experience, an education, a loving support group made up of people that want the very best and nothing less than that as long as they stay focused with their eyes on the prizes they themselves define but most importantly, BELIEVE is possible.

One single word can change the course of someone's life, so be that person who says what someone needs to hear to start to disbelieve what the system has taught them about their future and their worth, and to crack the door a little bit to the possibility of doing great things even if it's SPITE that provides the motivation.

Thank you for allowing me to vent what most people are not interested in hearing, and if you read this entire post, thank you for sticking it out, .  I know I can rant and rave and repeat myself, but this is the only place that I can do what I need to do to get it out and off of my mind and heart, and know some one in this group is saying "Right on, I hear ya, I feel the same way", or better yet, has done what I am planning on doing for these kids and can offer some much needed advice.  Number 1 on the list is to not advocate with an emotional mind and I can tell you that will be a very hard thing to do, but I'm going to do everything to become highly effective and really would like to hear about anyone's advocacy experiences if any.  What was your focus?  What organization did you chose to use your experience and knowledge, what are some of the obstacles that you encountered, and did you feel that you were "HEARD"?

Much love,

 

Googie 

[Googie]

Good morning everyone, ... .  

It's 4:40am in NC and I am going to be mighty tired later today. But thats okay.

I have been filling out job applications for over a year and have only had one call for an interview for a position that I did not get due to the newly signed RIF policy.  I was very upset about not getting that job because it was one of two positions that I really saw myself being an effective advocate within the County judicial system and would be afforded the opportunity to speak up for some of the juvenile offenders regarding placement in a facility that treats mental illness in lieu of being held in detention.

I had taken a week or so to get over myself and get back to applying for jobs that I was just notified via the RIF re-employment policy that I read over and over trying to make a case for forcing myself as the "employee that DESERVES this job" by finding the entire policy unconstitutional, and going to court to sue the very department that I was hoping to work, .  Sometimes the committee inside of my head, when I allow them to process a thought based in fear all the way through, have always had me homeless, in jail, or forcing my will onto a situation that I should have just let go of from the minute I found out I wasn't the one... .   this time.  But anyway,  after speaking to people who currently work in admin for the state, I have slowly accepted that my chances for being hired at the level that I qualify to apply for will be slim to none since there are so many RIF employees looking to try out a "new and exciting" position, which I am depending on because I have been drowning financially and have kids to provide for... .   teenage girls do not take the word No very easily, especially if it has to do with make-up that they ran out of.  I am half joking, and half serious about being in a financial mess just like so many of you are and have had to struggle with.

HOWEVER, I was offered a job by a very good friend of mine who was just backed by an investor to make her very funky and hysterical Cool Aunt Flo period panty business into a corporation.  I will have a job that is not in the legal field which is sad, but I will be able to flex my time to become an advocate for whatever organization I feel will be an awesome match!

So... .   just goes to show (myself mostly) that when things get ugly and life takes away your expectations and leaves you with your mouth hanging wide open and confused as to how and why did that just happen... .   it's always been the case and so easily forgotten, that unexpected opportunities can be the key to create yourself and pursue what you truly feel you are here to do!  I have never gone without, only had to redefine my wants and needs, and find a hiding place when my teenagers are figuring out that they are not going to the mall or buying makeup unless they have money of their own.  Their wants are their only needs, cause I was told I don't need to provide them with food or shelter (they could stay with a friend and would rather stay anywhere but here), only clothing on a bi-weekly basis, oh... .   and makeup.  Minus the teenage drama, life takes some really strange twists and unexpected and very much appreciated turns.

Now I can start my new job making period panties with a good friend that understands my passion to be able to advocate for these kids that are referred to as "stuck kids" and attempt to boost their quality of life, even if it is just by listening to what they have been through and let them know that there are people trying very hard to change this system that created more chaos for them to have to deal with and possibly give them a little bit of hope that I will continue to remember them and ask about how they are doing when and if the opportunity presents itself.  Just like I assumed I was going to be applying for jobs that aren't worth it to even work at all, I was given the ultimate position where I will be able to show up to argue for what these kids need the most... .   competent community based support programs and not be held in limbo because they have no one who claims them as family, and since they are dx'ed with mental illness, like my DD16 with bipolar II and BPD moderate-severe, they just fade out until they age out to go no where and have no one to turn to.

I have been reading a lot of government hearing minutes and am very disappointment with the decline in political support, and just my luck, there are links to every politician who is in support of or against making mental health treatment fit children's individual needs and not "house" them and refer to them as being stuck, cause they wouldn't be there if there were more people speaking up and making mental illness a huge deal! When the media is no longer covering another kid that fell "through the cracks" of the system and all politicians from all parties unanimous pledge to do whatever it takes to make sure there is accessible and appropriate affordable mental health care, and then fade away from the topic completely during their time to tackle the matter in the Senate and House of all 50 states.  I want to be an effective thorn in the right people's side as well as be able to speak up in court for a child's need for treatment instead of incarceration, and do whatever I can to educate as many uninformed law maker's by sharing my family's travesty while navigating through a system that continues to get smaller and smaller and way less effective and will only backfire when these "stuck kids" become angry enough and have nothing to lose to make themselves heard in very unhealthy and potentially dangerous ways.

Moral Mondays may be ineffective when change is needed like yesterday, however, maybe when the law makers go back in session, there might just be a new angle with more of an impact to draw attention to the almost 20,000 children that are "Stuck" in the system and some have been in the system their entire lives.  It's a shameful situation, and I am fired up (as you can see) to make some waves.

By the way-  My DD16, still doing phenomenal and is achieving beyond what she had planned for her goals only in her second full month of the IAFT program, however she has gone NC with me and everyone in her immediate family, and I totally get where she is coming from and am not disappointed but more than encouraged that her future is going to be brighter than she knows and definitely what I know she is capable of doing. 

BUT... .   only because I fought to get her the mental health treatment that was appropriate for her and it was an ongoing battle since 2000, almost 15 years, but we are finally gaining ground and might even be beating the very thing that is holding 20,000 NC kids back from experiencing anything they themselves are more than able to achieve but did not have one person to be their voice and provide the system someone to have to answer to when things were so bad I thought I was going to lose my ability to keep focused and in control, and that is the norm that a lot of incompetent providers bank on, no one to have to answer to or care to check up on these kids.

So, there is light being felt on our faces at the end of THIS tunnel, and I just want to make sure that I can give other kids a better shot at believing they are capable to accomplish the exact things they are being told they will never be able to experience, an education, a loving support group made up of people that want the very best and nothing less than that as long as they stay focused with their eyes on the prizes they themselves define but most importantly, BELIEVE is possible.

One single word can change the course of someone's life, so be that person who says what someone needs to hear to start to disbelieve what the system has taught them about their future and their worth, and to crack the door a little bit to the possibility of doing great things even if it's SPITE that provides the motivation.

Thank you for allowing me to vent what most people are not interested in hearing, and if you read this entire post, thank you for sticking it out, .  I know I can rant and rave and repeat myself, but this is the only place that I can do what I need to do to get it out and off of my mind and heart, and know some one in this group is saying "Right on, I hear ya, I feel the same way", or better yet, has done what I am planning on doing for these kids and can offer some much needed advice.  Number 1 on the list is to not advocate with an emotional mind and I can tell you that will be a very hard thing to do, but I'm going to do everything to become highly effective and really would like to hear about anyone's advocacy experiences if any.  What was your focus?  What organization did you chose to use your experience and knowledge, what are some of the obstacles that you encountered, and did you feel that you were "HEARD"?

Much love,

 

Googie 

[heartandwhole]

Googie,

I don't have any advocacy experience to share, but I am a "closet advocate" and want to say "right on, sister!"

I'm glad there are people like you in this world, and I believe wholeheartedly in what you want to do.  Young people need mentors and people who demonstrate that they really care.  Such important service, so thank you in advance!

heart