I work at the largest residential treatment center for youth in SE massachusetts. It's a place where kids go to live if they've been removed from their homes for many reasons, DSS, DYS, or if their parent's just can't handle them. Most of my kids are in and out of psychiatric hospitals and/or lockup, the parents are non existant or should be (many are locked up themselves, fiends, and just shouldn't have had kids), and the kids are placed in this group home/campus environment. It's pretty crazy sometimes, i've got kids aged 4-20 who need all sorts of help. For the most part i just hang with them, play ball, get them on a skateboard, talk, listen to music, help with stuff they ask for help with; basically serve as an authoritative figure mixed with role modeling and whatever else, a person who cares.... We do have to use physical restraints sometimes when the kids get set off, for me anyways, it's the last resort- although some fuckheads like beating on kids... I want these kids to find their souls and if that's not the case, at least help feed a mindset that will stay free of prison. Other perks are all the good looking women that work there, getting to skate a little flat at work, chilling., and it's pretty amazing that going into this place totally cuts out shitty moods from my mindset.
The day consists of:
wake up sometime between 9am-1pm.
Shower, shit, maybe eat, pushups, in no particular order
Head to the "work" spot
transition the kids from school to the cottage
get some food lined up and get rooms cleaned
head outside or play video games
get dinner squared away
get kids doing chores
go outside some more or to the gym
get the kids to clean themselves, take their meds, and head to bed
complete minimal paper work for the shift
Get out at 11:30pm
smoke a bowl, skate, play guitar, maybe go to the bar
go to bed around 2-3am
start again.
I really love my job right now, residentail counseling isn't what i'm down to do as a career persay, but it's been a great experience so far and gives me something to look forward too. the toughest part is keeping relationships with my kids minimal, when a good one moves on i'm always happy for him/her to have hopefully completed their goal, but it's like they're little bros..... anyways.. be easy