Portland downtown.
Kind of windy, hard to believe Judi is from Wisconsin
I thought this is a cool building. Not to earthquake standard so better take a picture now.
Performing arts building
Wow, two years already; where does time goes?
Two years ago we arrived in Salem thinking I was going to be a Salem Police Officer and social service jobs were plentiful so Judi will get one in no time. We were wrong, 5 months later I got a job as a supervisor for the Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Welfare (CW), Working with the adolescent Unit, kids raised by the agency. Angry little angels with no respect for authority and the agency having no power over the situation. Not a good fit for me.
Judi landed a job with DHS / CW few months later as a Social Worker in the In-Home Unit. Judi is responsible for several families who are failing in being safe (decrease parental protection), but who's kids have not been removed from the home. This is a very delicate and sensitive matter since the victim and the perpetrator still living together and the case could go sour at any time. To work in this unit requires a quick mind, strong behavioral science background, excellent negotiation skills (Court, Attorneys, and community partners) and most important nerves of steal (your decision can result in a kid damage by the removal of his home environment or damaged by an abuser). Judi and the workers in her unit make decision based on Court orders, observations, and gut feelings.
The reward? The case gets close because Mom or Dad became a better parent or the kid(s) was removed with not further harm because the parents did not got better. The risk? A kid(s) gets hurt because the wrong call was made.
I changed jobs in September. I felt I had to at least do a year in DHS / CW. I became an Investigator for the Office of Investigations and Training (OIT). Our mandate is to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect to people with Developmental Disabilities. I think this is a better fit for me.
I still miss been a cop, but I am glad I did not become a cop in Oregon. Looking at the tactics employed by cops here, cops are not that safe. Cops are very involved in Civil matters and duties that should be carry out by a deputy Sherrif. Cops / citizens contact seem to be complacent, even when there are several prison's releasing felons every day. Law enforcement is reactionary as oppose to proactive. Now, I do not miss: traffic stops in the rain, traffic accident calls, heavy gear to carry, Citizen BS calls, etc. I still get to Carry a badge, confront hostile people (some times), people still lie to me (all the time), and I still get to seek the truth; so I guess it balance itself out.
Oh, I forgot, Judi and I have every Friday, Saturday, and Sundays Off. Life is hell here in the North West.
