Sours
#
Jennifer Sours
June 26, 2005
College Writing 1
Kristy Nelson
A day in the night.
When people ask me what I do for a living and I tell them that I am an overnight counselor at a juvenile detention center, I usually get a weird look. Most people call me a glorified babysitter. In many instances, I am, but I have an important job. I am part of a team, and without each
team member, a team is weak. My
job is not complicated but at times, it is very stressful.
My team consists of eight direct
care workers. The clinical counselor who provides counseling to each of the
students on a daily basis. He handles issues within the students that the front
line staff is not qualified to deal with.
The Unit Director is the first on the direct care line. His job is a mixture of politics and policies. In my opinion, he has the hardest job of all. He communicates with the parents and placing agencies of our students. He manages and mentors the direct line staff. He tells us where we make mistakes in our interactions with the students and teaches us new and therapeutic ways to handle stressful situations. He also acts as a voice for his staff members by petitioning for raises and benefits. He is expected to be the strongest member of our team.
The case managers fall next in line. They aid the students by setting up visits and conducting supervised phone calls to approved individuals on a contact. They have to know whom a student is allowed to have contact. Many students are forbidden contact to parents or other persons for legal reasons. They also work within the units with the students on a daily basis dealing with many behaviors from the students.
The student life staff comes next; their job is to ensure the students are provided with the necessities needed in order to live. They order the students clothing and hygiene supplies as well as their linens and personal items. They set up the
activities our students participate in like fishing, riding bikes and team building activities. All activities promote therapeutic responses. To adolescent boys who have never participated in these kinds of activities, they help with stress relief and self-esteem issues.
Finally yet importantly is the overnight counselor. We record all data concerning our students and prepare documents to be used in court. We create spreadsheets to track behavior patterns and significant incidents. We also begin the days for our students by waking them up and assisting them in performing routine tasks such as cleaning their rooms and making their beds, cleaning their bathroom and how to take care for their units by vacuuming, sweeping and scrubbing the floors, washing windows, and sweeping the stairs. We take them to the dining hall and assist with their meals by practicing basic table manners and interaction skills with other adults and students. The hardest part of our job as an overnight counselor is dealing with behaviors after being up through the night but we handle them as they arise.
There is no job any more important than the other is. When there is a vacancy on the team, it is felt by all. We function as a team because we understand we are all essential aspects in what we are here to accomplish. Our main goal is to assist these young men through their troubles by offering support and guidance. We do this proudly and with confidence to ensure the future stability of the students we serve.
More summaries about the A day in the night...