In a drop-in setting, there’s no such thing as typical day. Here’s one Friday.
9 am Check my voice mail. Return my calls if I can, but a meeting coming up at 9:30 this morning means I prepare for that instead, going over the agenda and relevant documents.
9:30 am to 12:30 pm At the staff meeting we hear committee and board of directors reports and examine our organization’s policies and service-meeting. Sometimes outside agencies make presentations.
12:30 to 1:30 pm Return calls. Check in with respite program participants. If a medical form needs to be completed before placement, I’ll do advocacy with the medical clinic. I also check on separation anxiety, especially if a child is coming into respite care for the first time.
1:30 to 2 pm Meet a family to travel to the respite care provider’s home together.
2:30 pm Arrive at the provider’s home. Deal with medical forms and make sure everybody’s settled in and getting to know each other. Complete paperwork. Watch family get settled, taking cues from the mom and the child. Goodbyes are really important in helping with separation anxiety.
3:30 pm Go through the same process with my next family. I often have three placements on a Friday, which takes me to the end of my day.
