Day Three

Today was the next to last day for orientation. We covered HIPPA laws and boundaries with the children. I was briefed on what I can and can't say here in my blog. PR for Youth Villages also came around to take individual pictures and have all the interns fill out a bio so that they can send out press releases to our home towns. I gave the PR rep a link to my blog so hopefully more people can begin to read it. I'm excited to share my experiences with people from home and maybe inspire some people to look more closely at the agencies offered in their areas. These places always need help and these kids are our future. The quote that I hear every day in my head: "It is easier to build up a child than fix an adult." 

Approach to Violence

After the standard privacy act talk we started what they call CPI training. It is Crisis Prevention Institute training on Non-violent Crisis Intervention. For four hours today we discussed ways we can verbally deescalate a situation. I learned SO much in those four hours of note taking and role playing. We covered everything from kids flat out refusing to do a task such as homework to children trying to intimidate or manipulate their way out of a situation. We had scenarios that gave everyone in the group a chance to play out in their own minds what they are going to to when, not if, but when a child comes up to them in an escalated mood.  I had asked myself some of these same questions earlier in the week and today my fears were put to rest. The techniques they taught us today were really helpful in handling real life situations that are bound to come up. The golden rule as interns though is to never place our hands on the children. We cannot restrain them in any way. So these verbal techniques will become very useful in high stress situation during the summer. We went through every type of child in the book. Aggressive, threatening, questioning, non compliant, defiant. We learned how to address every type of child and how to deescalate each situation. Tomorrow we learn how to do physical holds on children in an escalated state. Although we aren't allowed to do these holds, we are required to know the proper technique so that we can spot harmful behaviors. Obviously though, the goal is to get a verbally aggressive child down to a reasonable and comprehensive level before he becomes physical. 

Five O'Clock

After work two of my coworkers and I went to a local Mexican restaurant to blow off some steam and to discuss our fears about the job. We all of course are worried about the physical pain that we might endure, but I think we mostly bonded over the fact that none of us want to be responsible for a child under our care to reach a point where he feels like it is necessary to become physical. We also discussed the uniqueness of the group of interns that are gathered here for the summer. Although we come from different states, colleges, and backgrounds, we all have one thing in common. We all have a passion inside of us that is driving us to help kids. The three of us sat there for a minute just thinking about how great it is to know that no matter who you turn to this summer, you will have a common thread with another intern.


Tomorrow is the last day of orientation and I'm more fired up than ever to start to get to know the boys in my courtyard. I know that I am surrounded by good and competent people and that I am armed with the skills to make a real difference in these children's lives.