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in my hands
Mar. 8th, 2024 07:56 pmThus ends the first week of our most recent intake at work. I think she's doing well. The usual/expected drama has already begun to take place between the ladies in the house, but I think she's hanging tight and so far isn't getting dragged into it all too much.
In between trying to get her set up, I've been considering who may be our next intake. We get influxes of women contacting us pretty regularly -- more so in cold months when people need a roof over their head. We're more than just a roof. I'd say at least half reach out with interest, and then never follow up again. I often wonder why. Did they have second thoughts? Did they get into a dangerous situation and are unable to get back in touch? I try not to think too deeply on that part, that can feel kind of dark.
I had one woman for about a 3 week span, who would set up appointments with me, I'd call to do a screening questionnaire (gather more info about her history and current need for placement), and she wouldn't pick up the phone. It would go right to an automated message as if the phone was turned off and she hadn't set up an outgoing voicemail (so I couldn't leave a message). We went back and forth setting up new call appointments through email, then she didn't answer or have her phone on, and repeat. Finally I just stopped setting up call appointments with her.
Typically when someone reaches out, we set up a call which takes about 30 mins, or up to an hour if they are talkative. It really just gives us an opportunity to gauge if they fit our admission criteria, what their current need for placement is, any medical or psychiatric diagnoses, how likely they are to fit well in our program structure and with our current women. Then after meeting with my team, we may either give them a second interview (if interested) or provide referrals to other programs (if we don't think they'd do well in our program). This second interview can take anywhere from an hour to 3 hours -- again, depending on how much they share and disclose. It's a real deep dive, and I frequently exit that interview feeling connected to them in their trust and vulnerability with me.
I've got two women right now who have completed both interviews. I really like and think we may bring both in. It's anxiety provoking to feel like the choice is largely mine. Someone's fate is largely mine. So many women need a place, but there aren't enough places, and my movements, my opinions, my selections are felt heavily.
One woman is in a more urgent, dire, dangerous situation, but we are not an emergency shelter. It can take weeks to go through the process of bringing someone new in. And she doesn't have a phone of her own, and has been in three states and three shelters since January. I want our program to be the calm she deserves after so much chaos. I hope we can stay connected long enough for us to help her.
Another woman has a bit more of a robust support system, is not in imminent danger, and yet is homeless. She's well-spoken, thoughtful, and has experienced a number of traumas. I don't like making people wait, and sometimes I have to make that call. If you've got a (car) roof over your head and no one trying to physically harm or abduct you, you sadly may get the back burner. It sucks. But I am still pushing for her.
Today, this week... it has felt heavy, and rewarding, and excruciating, and...and...
In between trying to get her set up, I've been considering who may be our next intake. We get influxes of women contacting us pretty regularly -- more so in cold months when people need a roof over their head. We're more than just a roof. I'd say at least half reach out with interest, and then never follow up again. I often wonder why. Did they have second thoughts? Did they get into a dangerous situation and are unable to get back in touch? I try not to think too deeply on that part, that can feel kind of dark.
I had one woman for about a 3 week span, who would set up appointments with me, I'd call to do a screening questionnaire (gather more info about her history and current need for placement), and she wouldn't pick up the phone. It would go right to an automated message as if the phone was turned off and she hadn't set up an outgoing voicemail (so I couldn't leave a message). We went back and forth setting up new call appointments through email, then she didn't answer or have her phone on, and repeat. Finally I just stopped setting up call appointments with her.
Typically when someone reaches out, we set up a call which takes about 30 mins, or up to an hour if they are talkative. It really just gives us an opportunity to gauge if they fit our admission criteria, what their current need for placement is, any medical or psychiatric diagnoses, how likely they are to fit well in our program structure and with our current women. Then after meeting with my team, we may either give them a second interview (if interested) or provide referrals to other programs (if we don't think they'd do well in our program). This second interview can take anywhere from an hour to 3 hours -- again, depending on how much they share and disclose. It's a real deep dive, and I frequently exit that interview feeling connected to them in their trust and vulnerability with me.
I've got two women right now who have completed both interviews. I really like and think we may bring both in. It's anxiety provoking to feel like the choice is largely mine. Someone's fate is largely mine. So many women need a place, but there aren't enough places, and my movements, my opinions, my selections are felt heavily.
One woman is in a more urgent, dire, dangerous situation, but we are not an emergency shelter. It can take weeks to go through the process of bringing someone new in. And she doesn't have a phone of her own, and has been in three states and three shelters since January. I want our program to be the calm she deserves after so much chaos. I hope we can stay connected long enough for us to help her.
Another woman has a bit more of a robust support system, is not in imminent danger, and yet is homeless. She's well-spoken, thoughtful, and has experienced a number of traumas. I don't like making people wait, and sometimes I have to make that call. If you've got a (car) roof over your head and no one trying to physically harm or abduct you, you sadly may get the back burner. It sucks. But I am still pushing for her.
Today, this week... it has felt heavy, and rewarding, and excruciating, and...and...
