A Day in a Practioner's Life

Joan M. Abbey works as a child advocate. This job is one of the toughest she has experienced. During her day, she recollects how the Governor's Executive Budget is wanting to cut the Division of Day Care Licensing. As a previous childcare worker, Ms. Abbey understands how important quality childcare is for the state. The meeting that she attends to is a public hearing. People outside the meeting are protesting the recommendation that childcare be cut off.

The reason why this is such a sensitive topic is because this division is primarily responsible for investigating neglected and abused children. Withouth this division, the children will have absolutely no one to try and fight fof their safety and rights. Ms. Abbey understands that children are powerless over their environment and more often than not, their enviroments are toxic in nature. Eliminating the one service that investigates abuse is just like abusing a child a second time, because it shows that no one cares at all.

Joan M. Abbey is quite important in the lives of children, epsecially when it concerns their health. She is on a council that helps remove lead from older homes. However, in the board meeting that she attends, Ms. Abbey learns that the State is trying to cut off funds for the lead removal. In this meeting, they decide to write letters to the federal government and the Mayor for support.

At the end of her long day, Ms. Abbey is rewarded by reading the newspaper. The headline deals with the Division of Day Care Licensing. The State ended up not cutting the program, making all of her efforts worthwhile.

My Reaction:

I really enjoyed this chapter, because it directly deals with the love and care of children. Often we forget that social programs may mean the life or death of a child. Without these programs, abuse goes on forever and no one gets punished. Children do not have the power or the authority to protect themselves. These programs are instituted to give a bit of power to the powerless.

Joan M. Abbey is truly a fine example of someone who cares about others. She juggles many meetings a day, just to try and keep children safe and happy. With people like her in the world, there is an excuse for idealism. Sometimes, just sometimes, someone can change the world and be a hero to a little person. Social work is such a challenging and stressful career, but with examples like Ms. Abbey, it seems like the stress would almost fade away, because she actually sees the fruition of her labor.

reference source: Days in the Lives of Social Workers written by Linda May Grobman