Thursday morning we got a lecture by Dani Smith. She works at the Chapman University and participate in the Peace Study Program. She gave us a summary of the program. It was interesting because the main item was conflict resolution, that’s also the theme in de GSE trip. Dani (and the Chapman University) believe that if you start with baby steps you finally can manage world wide peace. To achieve this goal everyone has to learn how to handle themselves then you can handle others and deal with conflicts. The key to handle yourself and others is to ask the question who is right? The answer to this question is that everyone is. Everyone has his one perception and has his own reason for it. If you respect the other, really listen to them and here what he is saying you have less conflicts and better contacts. In the end everyone just wants to tell there story. If you are a good listener and ask questions why some people think en do the things they do you have a better understanding.
The things Dani told us about the idea behind the Peace Study Program made me realize that in my field of work at Elker we already use this philosophy in the basis attitude of the social workers in our unit. It made me proud to realize we approach clients and the system in a way that is an entire field of study at the University in California.
For lunch we got invited at the Rotary club meeting. We did out short presentation and were honoured to meet Bob Meyer (one of the Rotarians) who was a glider pilot during the World War 2. He participated in the operation Market Garden and was a part of the liberation of the Netherlands. He showed us his awards and medals, including an award handed over by our Queen.
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| Bob Meyer the third on te right |
My first vocational:
After lunch I had an appointment with a clinical social worker who gives psychotherapy for adults and adolescents. We had an interesting meeting. We shared experiences. We also compared the system in The Netherlands and in California. Besides the federal laws every county has his own laws and exceptions, so the comparing is just between California and the Netherlands.
I’ll first start to explain the social system within the adolescents care.
You have two systems in California, the Foster Care system ( federal and state) and the Medical Care System (state funding) and of course the private sector. Unfortunately most people don’t qualify for state help and can’t always afford this help. They can buy insurance but you have to pay a lot of money to get the right insurance you need. People with a low income get a state insurance, a lot of people have a low income that is not low enough for state insurance, its tough for them.
Adolescents who are in the system are heavy cases, double diagnostics, orphans, criminal teens, abused and neglected children and adolescents.
California has his own residential care for children and adolescents, this care made possible by the state, volunteers, fond (like churches, communities). To help and prevent adolescents for going to residential care or juvenile there is the community that does a lot, they have supporting family resource centres, support groups, educational seminars and classes. Those are one of the many things they have.
There is a group that is not heavy enough for the residential care but who need the attention en treatment. Here in Orange this group can visit the St Joseph hospital for day treatment. They start at 08:00am and choose to do this different therapies like peer group therapy, drama therapy and creative therapy. They leave at 14:00 pm.
A big difference between the care in California and The Netherlands is the observation responsibility at the school. Here in California the high schools are the observers and follow there students during there school process and mental health process. Every student has his own individual plan. If a student needs more specialized education, school adapt there plan en give the student the education he needs. If there are other problems, like mental health problems, behavioural problems they adapt there individual plan and seek and guide the student with the therapy he needs. School is responsible during the entire period, they look for the right treatment, make sure the family gets the treatment they need and evaluate this treatment. Because of the responsible function, school is protected by law.
Unfortunately most care stops when the adolescents turns 18. For this age there are programs that support, by example help with finding a job, financial help, etc. April (the wife in my first host family) is finding sponsors for projects like this.
Thursday evening:
This evening we went to a baseball match. The Angels (Anaheim) played against The Red Sox (Boston). It was our first time at a baseball match. The stadium was huge and everyone had there own support outfit (Mike arranged most of it). When the Angels were behind in score there was this funny mascot the fans had to call out loud. It was the Rally Monkey, a movie of a real Monkey that jumps up and down. When the Rally Monkey appears the crowd go’s wild!!! It was a long match (4,5 hour) and unfortunately The Angels lost. It was a good experience and so much fun.
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| The mascot Rally Monkey |
