My Job

I wanted to give a quick overview of what my Job at CMH (Community Mental Heath) entails. I usually tell people that I am like a 'Big Brother' type guy...I pick kids up and take them to do fun things like bowling, basketball, pottery painting, and just walking through stores where they can take however much time they want looking at whatever- yes this can mean Pokemon cards.

But here is the real deal. I am working with 4 kids right now. I see them afternoons, once a week.

Kid 1: 17 yrs old. When I contacted his Therapist before seeing this kid for the 1st time he told me to be very attentive with this one. He has a violent history. About 4 weeks ago he was released from an intense care facility (incarcerated). He has threatened to "carve" his mom up, while holding a butcher knife. He has been very hard to crack! He is so freaking sketchy every single week. He makes me more nervous than any other kid I've ever worked with...but I never let him see that- he is already manipulative enough. He has begun to trust me- actually called me when he's pissed at his mom and thinking he's gonna blow.

Kid 2: 13 yrs old. Comes from a Spanish speaking family. He is very quiet. I have only met with him for a short time, but he is warming up pretty quickly. The nature of my job doesn't allow me to know all of the details, therefore I have no idea why he has been kicked out, or is just out of school. This is true for about the last 3 weeks.

Kid 3: 13 yrs old. I have been seeing this kid since last April. This is an anomoly. The program the kids are in allows them 8 weeks at a time with any one person who does the job I do. This little guy has major issues, but none that are threatening to anyone. He is minorly autistic, has aspergers, and major obsesive compulsive disorders, and lastly suffers from turrets. He would be hospitolized if not for his angelic Mother. Father...not so much. We do fun stuff each week and he is really not a problem child, just needs socialization and variation in his day to day. We are buddies.

Kid 4: 15 yrs old. At this point I have yet to meet this kid. I will soon though. What I know is that he is a kid living with his dad. His mom is in Washington state, a prostitute, and has "lent" her son out at times. Just saying that makes my stomach drop. I guess he is on house arrest as of late.

I have worked with other kids- some very sad stories have developed during my respite service to them and their families. I sometimes don't know how people in the profession keep the passion. Most likely I would be fired from this job if I was any more specific about any "client". I don't think this information divulges anyone's identity, and if it did, the readers that would be reading this would do nothing with the information but understand and love these kids in the same way I try to.