Dealing with a Drug Addict & Alcoholic

myshirt

Is this the correct forum I ponder?

Does anyone have any advice on this issue?

I do a lot of voluntary work with kids from socio economic disadvantaged backgrounds, and from what they like to call 'broken homes'.

Amongst other things, primarily the focus is on keeping them within some form of education; encouraging their self esteem; life skills; self worth; belief; self efficacy, etc.

I engage with and sit on different committees, meet with educators, municipal bodies, the guards, politicians, etc, at different times.

One kid has told me that she cannot sleep at night as she fears shots coming in the window; there are arguments she overhears that frighten; drug activities she witnesses; gun activities. She is a good kid, very bright, and it pisses me off.

We have an aggressive drug addict and alcoholic in the mix who many people would like to chop up.

I know the mother in this scenario is ultimately scared sh!tless, and though she has been on the end of an asses beating a few too many times, she doesn't have the courage, strength, or wherewithal to go against x,y,z and sort it.

Trust me, the greed that dominates the arms of the state and the utter lack of attention to societal problems over the years is shocking. Piss poor county development planning, utter idiots in public jobs pensioned up to their eyeballs, receiving increments unvouched and unfettered, despite utter and complete failure. Appalling.

Has anyone any advice on how this might flesh out? How can we get this child out of this scenario, and this scumbag out of our communities?

Big Bag of Chips

You say you work on a voluntary basis, with what would be considered vulnerable children. But the fact that you are asking this question makes it sound like you have had no basic training, whatsoever. The very least you should have been sent on is a "Children First" course. And your supervisor should have briefed you on the procedure when a child makes an allegation to you. I volunteer with kids in a local GAA club. None of these kids would be at risk, that we know of anyway, and we still all had to do that course.

You need to speak to whoever is in charge and tell them what the child has said to you. They then report it to the HSE, and possibly the guards. On a practical level all you can do for the child is be there as a confidant and a trusted person that she can open up to.

It is absolutely vital that you do not break her trust by discussing this with more people than necessary. The Child First guidelines work on a "need to know" basis. This is to protect the child who might have had to build up a lot of courage to admit something, and so they don't feel "everybody is talking about them".

Go to your supervisor/manager and tell them what the child has said to you. And then ask that you be sent on a "Children First" course, so you are better equipped to deal with situations like this.

myshirt

Yes, it is on a voluntary basis. In no way am I the professional, nor am I taking the lead on this.

The issue doesn't stand or fall based on me. If it did, your comment would be more appropriate.
The service, and what we are at is multi disciplinary, with different skillsets across the table.

Let me be clear. The proper mechanisms are in action. Those with the appropriate skills are the ones charged with dealing with this practically.

Nevertheless, I have an interest in hearing comments on the issues, broadly. I am interested in the issue as I am exposed to the issue. That is the extent of my post.

myshirt

Let me also point out to the thread that this is not a current live issue. Moreso, it is actually a combination of scenarios from a number of kids throughout the years. The underlying dynamic and tustle is however representative.

To aid proper discussion, it is best to frame it the way I have, to view it as a real live situation that you are an active participant in - because unfortunately, this is reality.

The crux of the story here is that the HSE, the guards, the justice system and other arms of the state have an appallingly low success rate in lifting children from these scenarios.

The suggestion from Bag of Chips that you put it through the machine and pass it up the line... all too common, and unfortunately smacks of total lack of informed judgement.

For me, these one day Child Protection courses, or Google merchants, are probably part of the problem. For the most part, I get frightened to think that it may just be box ticking when the end product is a mentality of pass it up the line. That is not meaningful engagement

dipdip

Perhaps you should discuss this in humanities. I fail to see how it is a personal issue.

What a bizarre and verbose post. As someone who works professionally in the kind of environment you describe, I find your posturing very odd.

myshirt

Voluntary.

I do financing mostly at this point in time. Have acted as a mentor, tutor and activity leader at different times; study skills, self motivation, career advice, all that jazz.

Have always had an interest in the social conscience side of it, and that's why I volunteer, to try help the mission.

Ok, can a mod move this to humanities?

dipdip

No you misunderstand, I am the professional working in the environment you describe.

myshirt

dipdip wrote: »

No you misunderstand, I am the professional working in the environment you describe.

I see. I jumped the gun and read it wrong. Realised afterwards.

My fault.

Apologies.

Big Bag of Chips

OP, as you are not looking for advice on a Personal Issue then we have to close this thread.

Personal Issues is a board for seeking advice, not for general discussion or starting a debate. As dipdip suggested, maybe the Humanities Forum would be better for your post. If you want it moved there, contact any of the PI Mods using the pm facility.

Before posting again please acquaint yourself with The Charter of any forum you want to post in. it will be stickied at the top of each Forum. Also have a read of other threads, to get an idea of whether or not your post belongs in that forum.

Edit: Apologies, I missed the part where you asked for it to be moved...