You want me to do what now?

I've mentioned this briefly, but it's worth bringing up again for the sake of the story I'm about to tell: the EDSSC is working to expand it's case management load. Though our primary function is to provide emergency services and the like, the supervisors have a very forward thinking approach to long term planning in that they know that this band-aid we offer is helpful, but will not enact real, sustainable change in the lives of the people who visit the center. I can pretend that the box of cereal I give Joe Drop-in will suddenly inspire him to compose a resume and apply for housing, but I can also attest that I find cereal uninspiring, so I can't expect Joe to be suddenly inspired either. What is truly needed is dedicated individuals who are willing to work with Joe to find out what he wants for his future and not only provide him with the resources to build that future, but also be with him every step of the way to make sure he stays on track and is finding success. 

We call those people case managers. More commonly found in havens of social work and other places that aren't located in the frigid basement of a Presbyterian church (I spent most of this week wearing two sweaters and long sleeves while sitting at my desk. Oi vey.), case managers are nothing short of miracle workers. When I think about the work they do, I'm reminded of a joke one, David Gaillardetz (who is currently doing cool social justice things in Ecuador. Here's his blog if you want to check it out.) told me in freshman year of college:

"How many social workers does it take to change a light bulb?"

"One, but the light bulb has to want to change."

See, in case management, the concern is not so much that there isn't anyone who wants to work with people who may be struggling, but that the struggling people want to put in the work it takes to turn their lives around. It's not as if they're lazy or indifferent, but that getting back on your feet is hard. Really hard. You can have all the motivation to in the world, but anyone will get discouraged after trying and failing time after time. 

No one plans to be homeless or in poverty. No one went to kindergarten and said "I want to live on the streets and rely on some rando church on Michigan Ave. to feed me when I grow up." No, everyone said they wanted to be a fireman or a movie star, or in some very rare and weird cases, a dolphin trainer at Sea World (that was me. I was that weird kid.)

My co-worker Abby, who has her Masters in Social Work and has been interning/working in the field for a few years now, has been been explaining the ins and outs of case management to me over the last two weeks. She's had some remarkable success with one guest, whom she just found an apartment and has been helping him to furnish it. I've been so impressed with her, but I've silently been glad that I wasn't in her place. Not because I don't want to help people. Come on, I'm in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. I did something very wrong with my life if I ended up here and didn't want to help people. No, I was glad I wasn't doing case management because I didn't want to fail at improving someone else's life. 

I'm a 22 year old kid with no paying job, living in a house I didn't have to find on my own. My rent is paid for. I don't have to worry about grocery money. I have a disposable income I don't have to work for, despite it being pretty meager. What the hell do I know about building a life? I haven't really had to do it for myself yet, so how can I possibly do it for someone else?

Then on Monday, the receptionist at Fourth Pres. called down to let me know that Darryl X (name change for confidentiality purposes) was coming down to see Abby. I dutifully told Abby she had a visitor and she goes, "Oh no, he's here for you."

What. 

My blank stare obviously demanded more explanation. 

"I met him this weekend. He's nice, so I thought he'd be a good first case management appointment for you."

WHAT.

I must have looked like the most pathetic sort of intern ever, because Abby very nicely said, "Go get his contact information and talk to him."

Words. That's right. I was capable of using words. I grabbed a clip board and some paper and made my way to meet Darryl. 

"HI. I'M KRISTEN. I'LL BE HELPING YOU WITH WHAT YOU NEED TODAY. WHAT DO YOU NEED TODAY."

I probably wasn't shouting, but I'm sure I was doing something wrong. Darryl didn't seem to notice anyway. He very nicely told me Abby had spoken with him about finding a job in the field he was studying. Also a place to live. 

"GREAT. HERE'S MY EMAIL. SEND ME YOUR RESUME AND WE'LL SET UP A TIME TO MEET NEXT WEEK. WHEN ARE YOU FREE. I'M HERE ALL THE TIME."

When I got back to the office, I accosted Abby immediately.

"TEACH ME CASE MANAGEMENT SKILLS."

She promised we would review later. Okay, that was good. She'd tell me what to do, I'd find Darryl an apartment and a job and then maybe solve world hunger and the crisis in Syria after lunch. 

I don't think the EDSSC realized the mistake they made. They just gave me a life to fix. I have no authority to tell anyone to do anything with their life. You want to ride your bike down the highway with no helmet? You probably have a better understanding of your situation that I ever will, so go ahead. I don't have a good reason to stop you. You want to go on an all frosting and Cheetos diet? Sure, maybe that works for you. What do I know about anything anyway?

I know nothing. Think Jon Snow and subtract everything he could possibly know about and you have me. 

We had a staff meeting the next day dedicated almost exclusively to Case Management 101, which happened at an excellent time, seeing as I have zero experience in the area. Dan asked the group what some of our concerns were about case management. 

"I'M ABOUT TO RUIN SOME POOR GUYS LIFE."

I didn't say that, but it's the same idea. 

Again, I must have looked terrified, because we took up too much time in the rest of the meeting trying to reassure me. They gave me some of the best advice they could have: don't see it as fixing someone's life. See it as a research project. 

See, I can do research projects. I've done enough of those in school that by the time we had finals in senior year, I could bang out a fifteen page research project in a day (this is less of a skill and more of a testament to how bad I let my senioritis get). Suddenly, the entire prospect of taking on a case didn't seem so daunting. All I had to do was put in the hours to find places that would benefit my client. Once I found all the sources, I just had to piece them together to create something new and readable...er, manageable.

So now I'm slightly less terrified, but I don't really see this as any less of a big deal. This isn't working in a soup kitchen to fill high school community service hours any more. This is the big leagues. 

Whatever it is, it's going to be interesting.

That was the most excitement I had all week at work, however. It's pretty good that things are mellowing out. It means I'm finally getting used to my job and the city. 

Short post this week then. For those who will inevitably wonder, as everyone else I've encounter today has, my weekend was good. Relaxing. Shout out to Tolton for the kickin' backyard barbecue/beach trip and to the city of Chicago for hosting a free jazz concert that's so cool, even Lupe Fiasco showed up (and did some Jazz-Rapping). And to my community, for not yet kicking me out as I continue to talk in circles about my increasing panic that we might be sending troops to Syria. And for putting up with me in general. Super appreciated. 

As always, thanks for reading.