Well, that was about two weeks ago...
I finally heard back from caseworker TODAY. She wanted to discuss the goals I had written...
Specifically, she had a problem with "difficult child will refrain from hurting her family members each day." Caseworker felt this goal was too "lofty" - too high a standard.
She felt it should be changed to "difficult child will refrain from hurting any family members for 6 out of 7 days."
Um....what?
So I asked her "So, you mean that if difficult child goes for six days without touching her brother....and then on the seventh day she beats the tar out of him - she still earns her reward?"
Even caseworker had to admit that it sounded pretty stupid when you put it like that...
BUT, she explained...you need to look at it as an improvement. It's improving the level of violence in the home.
"Oh" I said. "So what level of violence should be acceptable? Somebody is bloody once a week? Once a month?"
Well....no violence is really acceptable - but remember, our goal is improvement.
"Well, what do you do for the kids that are getting abused? Do you ever do anything to help the kids that are getting beat up?"
"Well, sure" caseworker explained...
"If it's a real problem."
Oh, I understand now. We only worry about kids getting beat up by their siblings if it's a PROBLEM.
Other than that - I guess it's OK.
I can't wait to get started on that Behavior Chart!
I finally heard back from caseworker TODAY. She wanted to discuss the goals I had written...
Specifically, she had a problem with "difficult child will refrain from hurting her family members each day." Caseworker felt this goal was too "lofty" - too high a standard.
She felt it should be changed to "difficult child will refrain from hurting any family members for 6 out of 7 days."
Um....what?
So I asked her "So, you mean that if difficult child goes for six days without touching her brother....and then on the seventh day she beats the tar out of him - she still earns her reward?"
Even caseworker had to admit that it sounded pretty stupid when you put it like that...
BUT, she explained...you need to look at it as an improvement. It's improving the level of violence in the home.
"Oh" I said. "So what level of violence should be acceptable? Somebody is bloody once a week? Once a month?"
Well....no violence is really acceptable - but remember, our goal is improvement.
"Well, what do you do for the kids that are getting abused? Do you ever do anything to help the kids that are getting beat up?"
"Well, sure" caseworker explained...
"If it's a real problem."
Oh, I understand now. We only worry about kids getting beat up by their siblings if it's a PROBLEM.
Other than that - I guess it's OK.
I can't wait to get started on that Behavior Chart!