I work for Child Welfare Services as an aide/transporter. While driving a foster child to his therapist today, he shared that he was flying to San Diego at 1:10pm tomorrow to visit his biological family. This was his first time riding an airplane. He asked if I was taking him to the airport, as no one from CWS had called yet, to confirm they'd be picking him up. He DID say that his social worker informed him 2 weeks ago that someone would pick him up at 11am. That raised several red flags for me. His house is 30 miles from the airport. With congested traffic and broken watermains and only one road into town, 2 hours 10 minutes was insufficient time. With airlines, it used to be that they wanted you to check in 2 hours. With good traffic, it'd take 35 minutes to reach the airport. THENNN, the aide has to PARK in the busy parking structure. With the holidays, who knows how long it'd take to find parking. THENNN they have to walk to the ticket counter, maybe 150 yards. After checking in, the child must be escorted to the gate. If you're lucky, it's another 100 yards to the gate. If unlucky, you catch a tram or walk a half mile.
If there's a traffic tie up, he'll miss his flight.
If there's a parking problem and congested traffic, he'll miss his flight.
If there's traffic tie up, parking problems and a tram ride to the gate, he'll miss his flight.
The child asked if CWS could pick him up earlier, to take him to the airport. I asked him if he'd mind waiting longer at the airport. He said no. The kid is 17yo, so he can wait at the gate by himself. I spoke with the child's social worker regarding the child's and my concern. She sloughed it off, said he'd make his flight, said she'd talk to the transporter about our concerns.
At 3pm today, I get a call from the kid's foster parent. The boy had expressed an interest in working part-time after school. He complained that the foster mom refused to let him work, saying he can wait until he becomes 18yo.....WHEN CWS CUTS OFF ALL SUPPORT AND KICKS HIM TO THE CURB!!!
I ask this foster mom if the boy can look for a part-time job. surprisingly, she said.....YES!!! just as long as it's within an 8-mile area! I told the aide who's taking him to the airport to relay the good news. While the boy's on his trip, I'll canvass his district for as many job applications as possible. Since I have ALL the boy's personal information, I can easily fill out the forms for him. He's in special education class and would need my asistance.
The boy lives in the most economically depressed districts on the island. It might be TOUGH to find him a job. A new Jack-in-the-Box restaurant opened this week, so I'll be sure to apply there.
Thanks for listening. If the boy misses his flight AND his trip, I'm bringing it up to the supervisor. She's a sweetie, so she'll fix this with no one's feathers being ruffled.
Please pray that this boy finds a job. At age eighteen, he's on his own. He is learning disabled, so no college for him. There's no family support here, as his divorced dad is in the military stationed elsewhere. I've been giving him father/son talks whenever I transported him.
Graduate from high school, learn a trade/skill, get a good job, save $$, find a place to rent. THENNNN, when you can live independently, find a decent woman, establish a loving relationship, get married.....THEN HAVE CHILDREN!!!
Life is tough, but don't shoot yourself in the foot by doing this backwards!
If there's a traffic tie up, he'll miss his flight.
If there's a parking problem and congested traffic, he'll miss his flight.
If there's traffic tie up, parking problems and a tram ride to the gate, he'll miss his flight.
The child asked if CWS could pick him up earlier, to take him to the airport. I asked him if he'd mind waiting longer at the airport. He said no. The kid is 17yo, so he can wait at the gate by himself. I spoke with the child's social worker regarding the child's and my concern. She sloughed it off, said he'd make his flight, said she'd talk to the transporter about our concerns.
At 3pm today, I get a call from the kid's foster parent. The boy had expressed an interest in working part-time after school. He complained that the foster mom refused to let him work, saying he can wait until he becomes 18yo.....WHEN CWS CUTS OFF ALL SUPPORT AND KICKS HIM TO THE CURB!!!
I ask this foster mom if the boy can look for a part-time job. surprisingly, she said.....YES!!! just as long as it's within an 8-mile area! I told the aide who's taking him to the airport to relay the good news. While the boy's on his trip, I'll canvass his district for as many job applications as possible. Since I have ALL the boy's personal information, I can easily fill out the forms for him. He's in special education class and would need my asistance.
The boy lives in the most economically depressed districts on the island. It might be TOUGH to find him a job. A new Jack-in-the-Box restaurant opened this week, so I'll be sure to apply there.
Thanks for listening. If the boy misses his flight AND his trip, I'm bringing it up to the supervisor. She's a sweetie, so she'll fix this with no one's feathers being ruffled.
Please pray that this boy finds a job. At age eighteen, he's on his own. He is learning disabled, so no college for him. There's no family support here, as his divorced dad is in the military stationed elsewhere. I've been giving him father/son talks whenever I transported him.
Graduate from high school, learn a trade/skill, get a good job, save $$, find a place to rent. THENNNN, when you can live independently, find a decent woman, establish a loving relationship, get married.....THEN HAVE CHILDREN!!!
Life is tough, but don't shoot yourself in the foot by doing this backwards!
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