Networking... Plus Enchiladas and Chips

When I got to placement I started getting ready for groups right away. I went over the drug sheet with Eileen and made copies to get ready for the groups in the evening. Eileen and myself then made our way to the Fingal centre to meet another contact Eileen had made during her suicide training a few weeks ago. I really can't think of her name right now but she was great. She gave us a tour of the building and then told us all about the different programs the centre puts on. They do a ton of different things. Eileen then shared about the youth centre and told her about the programs. I also jumped in to explain some of the programs; it's crazy the amount of knowledge I have been able to pick up. Its so amazing the resources out there and how each agency doesn't know enough about one another. I feel like this is the same in Canada.. There is so much need in this area of services that just so much time goes into the work; it means we are always the best at promoting our own services. The only thing is that if we were better aligned we could work more efficiently and maybe better meet the needs of the families and individuals we are working with.

One of the really cool programs they offered, and really the only one really directed at youth is their 'Turn'in' program. Its main focus is to engage and work with young people and their parents/guardians by providing a programme of support. Through a needs based assessment, they aim to engage and provide supports for teenagers with early school leaving support issues. The programme seeks to build on the strengths and problem-solving abilities of the identified young people and their parents/guardians. It will restore their confidence in their capacity and ability to deal with whatever difficulties may arise.

Only one of the many interesting programs they run. I will add the website if you want to check them out at all:

http://www.thefingalcentre.ie/index.php/how-we-can-help/stayin-on-family-support/

We then picked up some groceries quick for one of the groups as they were cooking tonight and other biscuits and what not.

Way too fast it was time to get ready for groups. The first boys group showed up but was a bit early trying to get in. At the centre they try not to let the youth too early because workers are often still setting up the groups and there is no one to supervise. A couple of the other boys were allowed in but asked to just stay in the main area. They right away asked Laura what was going on tonight, when they found out they were not cooking tonight (it was the other group we were cooking with but they wouldn't know that) they left. We were not sure what was going on, but a few minutes later the boys were back at the door. As they were going to be let in they asked Eileen about cooking, when she explained that they had agreed to do a drug info session this time and next week was cooking the boys became very upset and a bit aggressive, yelling and swearing at Eileen, they were not allowed into the centre and left. Eileen, Laura,some of the CE, Michael, and myself talked about what happen and discussed what was going to happen with this group for a bit. I got a bit frustrated during this process because I felt like every time I tried to speak to it, I felt as if I was being talked over and not really heard or understood. Eileen and myself talk a bit about this and I felt better after. I think everyone was a bit emotional and it is often forgotten that I have experience in dealing with aggressive youth in treatment. It was just hard I think because it was one of the first times I was really made to feel like just a student. In the end it was good, they decided to set up home visits with the boys to talk about if the group was really something they wanted and explain that to do the fun activities they also needed to do the programming piece and that behaviour like that could not happen for the safety and being respectful to all.

Later the other group showed up and we cooked with them. They made enchiladas and chips. It was a ton of fun. They were pretty helpful and seemed to enjoy themselves. They do use some harsh language with each other and seem to know how to get each other riled up at times but for the most part it wasn't too bad. At the end we all ate together and chatted and talked about school, things they wanted to talk about in the group, and continued to ask me lots of questions about Canada. We tried to bring up the way they spoke together and go deeper into that, but the group kind of started to try and change the topic and attention. Most the youth even helped do clean up. Hard night but it ended not too bad.