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Sunday, December 11, 2011

Social Workers.

Just out of curiosity, how many of you feel your social worker knows about RAD, understands RAD, equipped you for RAD, etc?

Reply anonymously if you'd like.

7 comments:

savannahcarson said...

We dont know each other, but I really enjoy your blog, it has been so educational and meaningful. I am adopted myself (I do not have RAD but have had my share of issues dealing with attachment that always got overlooked). I am actually an undergrad majoring in Human Growth and Development (pursuing a career in global orphan care). We actually have somewhat studied adoption and particularly RAD and had a parent with a child with RAD who came and educated our class. I feel like more awareness for adoption and attachment is so needed and so necessary, not only for families who are adopting but those families friend’s too... Keep blogging, keeping you and your family in my prayers :).. don’t know why, just felt like I needed to share that with you! God Bless.

BeckyJoie said...

My experience is that social workers know the tip of the iceburg about this topic. Some also think the label is a new catch-all phrase and many are being over-diagnosed like the early days of ADHD. But I think that it is difficult for some to admit that the disorder exists and even harder for them if they admit it, to assent to the proper treatment. Though the intent of foster care is excellent (to protect children from abuse and neglect and place them in safe homes) it is often a very long time that children must stay in foster care moving from home to home until they are finally free for adoption. Unfortunately, the risk for them to develop RAD or attachment disorder only increases with many years in the system. Knowing that, it might be harder for a social worker to admit that that system they idealize and work for could play into such a condition rather than prevent it. There are some who really understand but it seems they too feel like their hands are tied to get enough support for the family who adopts/fosters. We have had some good caseworkers and some of them have understood to a point but noone can really grasp it unless they live, daily, with it.

Simply Moms said...

zitch zero nada from both of ours

Dawn

Simply Moms said...

Savannah, welcome. You are so right. There is some brief talk but not enough information. Thank you for your prayers.
~C

Simply Moms said...

BeckyJoie-it is so hard. But unfortunately it is like a doctor not knowing how to id an ear infection. :(

Anonymous said...

Our case worker is newer, but honestly I don't think any of the ones I have talked to really know anything about it. I have a friend who is a case worker and she so often thinks things I tell her about is him just working me or being manipulative. We are new to this all, only been foster parents for 4 1/2 months to my cousin, and he has alot of emotional issues we are trying to help with. The problem is we don't know if he is going home or staying and trying to tell his case worker anything we are dealing with seems to not be getting through. We told her about how he had a horrible 3 weeks before Christmas(anxiety to the point of vomiting, horrible attitude, usually directed towards me, depressed for 5 days straight and didn't even want to play xbox which is huge for him, huge blowouts) and her response was so he has been acting up. Yeah "acting up."

Anonymous said...

I am a social worker working with a family that is struggling to provide love, support, stability, and hope for a future to a child with RAD. I have been staying late night after night at work surfing the internet, looking for more understanding, looking for advice, looking for how I can be help this child and family that my heart aches for. I have found parent forums and blogs to be particularly useful because you guys are living it. Hang in there. Great website....so glad you have a place to vent and plan and support one another. In my own agency I will work on sharing any knowledge I gain with my coworkers and colleagues. We need to be able to support and help families like all of yours.