My last post led me to this post (it helps that MJ's "Man in the Mirror" is playing in the background). If you read my comment on my own post, in response to my brother, this is a little repitition.
One of my signature comments is "We do not all start off on the same rung on the ladder when we are brought into this world......my kids will never know what it is like to worry when their next meal is, but most of my client's this is primary worry". I joke that Zach worries about if he can have a third helping of Doritos, but in all honesty it is not funny.
Every single one of the families (I currently work with a higher risk population) that I work with are generally in financial difficulties.
A too common conversation that I have with client's is whether to pay the rent, the shut off notice to the utilities, or their fines. An even sadder decision is to take their kids to medical appointments in Seattle (3 hrs) or Spokane (2 hrs) or pay the rent. Yes, there are systems in place to help, such as rides to appointments or gas reimburesment, however let's remember, you have to have auto insurance to qualify for this government program. Insurance vs Rent vs Utility shut off notice vs fines.....which one would you pick??
One might ask, well they get "welfare" because I am paying for it with "MY JOB"....why dont' they get a JOB? Let me educate a little on "welfare"!! Average household (4-5 household size) amount equals: TANF (CASH) - 549.00, FOOD - 415.00, Free Medical (to which most doctors are not accepting new patients because they get paid such a small amount from the state), Subsidized Housing (fairly low rent amount due). So let's put a little SPIN on this, shall we! Get a job, well most of my client's do have a job, and guess what, they lose the 549.00 CASH, FOOD is cut to about 150.00, and their rent goes up 250.00 all because of the JOB they got at Wal Mart, which they NET 950.00 / month.
Now for those that their heads are beat red with anger, please bear with me! I am completely MODERATE in my political belief and definitely lean more RIGHT/CONSERVATIVE. I do NOOOOOOOOT believe that throwing tax payers money at the poverished through some of the programs out there is the RIGHT solution!!! I tested this, this past tax return season with most of my client's. All of my client's curently work and receive VERY LAAAAARGE tax returns, in the amounts of 6000-8000.
In December, I worked with every client to develop a thorough budget on how they would be spending this money. For all that complied, we came up with a game plan to pay all past due debts, collections, fines, AND a novel conept arose! What, you might ask???? Many of my client's were never taught how to pay rent EARLY, nor to put money AWAY in a SAVINGS in the case of an emergency. It was powerful to watch (some) client's "buy into" this system and actually have money when their car broke down to fix it. They were able to take money from their EMERGENCY FUND, rather than the payday loan store.
NO, I DO NOT THINK WE SHOULD THROW MORE MONEY AT PEOPLE IN POVERTY BECAUSE WHETHER IT 500-5000 DOLLARS, IF YOU ARE NOT TAUGHT WHAT TO DO WITH IT, IT WILL NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!
You see, my client's are not much different than most of us that live in credit card debt. They, however go to the payday loan, where they are RIPPED off at a INTEREST rate that is through the roof, which is directly taken out of their next paycheck, leaving them no money to pay next month's rent, utilities, fines. They do not have the option to take out a home equity loan to "pay their debt" as so many Middle Class Americans do these days.
Yes, you read the references to "fines" frequently. People in poverty are more likely to commit crimes, act deviantly, drive under the influence, drive without a license. This behavior leads to arrests and fines (which I agree with)!
Remember, the above paragraphs about TEACHING. Most of the high risk client's I work with were taught by example as you and I.
The exception is the behavior that was "modeled" to some of my client's growing up: do drugs to cope, not pay your rent, have a pink slip on your door every month reading "3 days or vacate", steal cars, call the cops to solve your problems, flip off your enemies parents as they drive by, tell your teachers to F*CK off, don't go to the doctor because your mom can't get off of the couch from a hangover or can't ask for more time off from work at Wal Mart or she will lose your job (because she is considered a dime a dozen), taking the bus places, and the one that HURTS the HEART the most......
Watch other mom's hold their children close when you approach them because they do not want you playing with them.....INNOCENT children born on a lower rung on the ladder. This child is not told by their parents, "I can, I can, I can" as they approach the swimming block at a competitive swim meet, but I can tell you that I personally heard that from my dad every time.
The result, my parent's raised three very generous children, all in the helping profession: a school psychologist, a cardiologist, and a social worker/therapist. Yes, our lives were not perfect, which I think has been a strength, but something we always had were parents that loved us and BELIEVED IN US!
My point is instead of seeing yourself as so different from my clients, see what is common! We are ALL God's children! How flipping cool is that??? God loves us ALL so much and wants us to help our fellow brother and sister.
Jesus, thank you so much for teaching and showing me the struggles that people go through on a daily basis. Thank you for allowing me to teach my children this principle. Thank you for instilling a passionate love for people! Thank you for giving me the opportunities along this path you have so specially paved for me to be an amazing Social Worker/Therapist.....to give honor to you and share your word when appropriate with "my clients" because you are the Ultimate Healer, Protector, Strength, Teacher, and Love that they NEED! Whisper in their ear, "I can, I can, I can" as their Heavenly Father since their Earthly father never knew how.....
Rung on the ladder? To Jesus, we are all on the same rung.....
