I refuse to go to the projects

[Smurfy]

Im supposed to go assess a potential foster home in the Chicago Southside neighborhood of Englewood in a high rise project building. Im sorry Im just not going. Im ten years at this job, I have never refused to do anything. Until now.

Ive been to the Robert Taylor Homes many times as well as Cabrini Green and other prjects here in Chicago. But as I get older, I just dont feel like I need to put myself in that position. Plus i have a son that I think about. What if something happened to me?

Fuck that. I dont get paid enough to put my life in danger. See, this is why I want to be a Gym Teacher.

 

[from zero]

Oh come on, be a sport. beastboy is going to be disappointed if you don't visit him.

 

[jerkbox]

i don't blame you

 

[Y_lifter]

I bet if you go, BB will even show off his new mattress he found..

 

[BrandonXJ]

I drove by the robert taylor homes last weekend.. very quickly

I don't blame you, I wouldn't go close to Englewood if I could help it either.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

How could something in that area become a potential foster home?

 

[Y_lifter]

Being poor does not mean you can't love a child...

 

[Smurfy]

How could something in that area become a potential foster home?

Because the woman is a relative of the teenage girl who is a ward of the state. The teenager is already living in the home. Being a licensed foster home is not required of a relative caregiver. But this lady apparently wants to pursue licensure. Im about to call her in a few minutes and tell her Im not coming out there because I dont feel comfortable. If the agency wants to send someone else, they can. But it wont be me.

 

[jerkbox]

maybe the agency could give you an AK-47 to take with?

 

[PHATchik]

Being poor does not mean you can't love a child...

Enough said.

 

[Smurfy]

maybe the agency could give you an AK-47 to take with?

The woman who sits next to me was visiting a client in the projects once and there was gun fire in the apartment wherre she was. She ran to the back bedroom and hid in the closet and stayed there even after the police arrived she was so scared. When the police told her to come out she wouldnt. I guess she was in shock. This was about 8 years ago. I cant believe she didnt quit.

 

[Smurfy]

Ok, i just called the lady and told her i would not be coming out this morning. I told her that it would probably be referred to someone else in the office who "felt more comfortable". Thats all I had to say and she completely understood my position.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Being poor does not mean you can't love a child...

I know.

But I also know that poor people are the most crime-prone, the most abuse prone, and we all know the wonderful stories of abuse that happen in too many foster homes.

The worst abusers are poor (impoverished poor) foster parents. You don't hear about kids getting burned with irons in Palm Beach.

And we all know the issues associated with poverty and opportunity. Oh, and it isn't just poor...it's housing project poor.

Wouldn't a law that prevents foster parenting if you live in government sponsored housing make sense?

 

[jerkbox]

some foster parents get paid to adopt.....and some abuse it.

there was a situation in NJ where they had 3 foster kids, living in one filthy room, and weren't feeding them.....they were eating wood chips and shit......close to starving.

 

[BrandonXJ]

Ok, i just called the lady and told her i would not be coming out this morning. I told her that it would probably be referred to someone else in the office who "felt more comfortable". Thats all I had to say and she completely understood my position.

Good for you! I wish more people were actually up-front and honest with others like that.

 

[big4rt]

some foster parents get paid to adopt.....and some abuse it.

there was a situation in NJ where they had 3 foster kids, living in one filthy room, and weren't feeding them.....they were eating wood chips and shit......close to starving.

I happen to know those folks personally. Those children were born crack-addicted, and no one else would care for them. Their addiction to crack at birth caused an apparent lack of growth and some mental handicap. When the neighbor found the kid digging in the trash for food, that's when the "starved children" thing came into play. Also, Smurfy, DYFS representatives falsified paperwork saying they visited the home and assessed the home when they did not. I just want to say that I admire you for being honest with the people about how you felt. You could have been like the DYFS reps in Jersey and lied.

Now, on the other hand, even though these people didn't starve these kids I don't ever recall them actually working either. Doesn't social security give money to foster parents until the kids come of age? I'm just saying...

 

[jerkbox]

i don't see how a mental handicap and birth defect would cause a child's body to be emmaciated....

and didn't they mention on the news shortly after that one of the kids was up 13lbs shortly after being given proper care.....they weren't feeding them.


those people are scum.

 

[tiger88]

Im supposed to go assess a potential foster home in the Chicago Southside neighborhood of Englewood in a high rise project building. Im sorry Im just not going. Im ten years at this job, I have never refused to do anything. Until now.

Ive been to the Robert Taylor Homes many times as well as Cabrini Green and other prjects here in Chicago. But as I get older, I just dont feel like I need to put myself in that position. Plus i have a son that I think about. What if something happened to me?

Fuck that. I dont get paid enough to put my life in danger. See, this is why I want to be a Gym Teacher.

they cleaned up cabrini green i was there for a 3 on 3 basketball tourny this summer

 

[d3track]

i get hassled more in upscale neighborhoods than when i go back home (phillips block, north minneapolis)

the "projects" never seem to bother me

 

[Shak]

Good for you Smurfy - There is no job worth putting your life in danger.

 

[TheProject]

C'mon Smurfy...I'll show ya a good time!

 

[Smurfy]

I happen to know those folks personally. Those children were born crack-addicted, and no one else would care for them. Their addiction to crack at birth caused an apparent lack of growth and some mental handicap. When the neighbor found the kid digging in the trash for food, that's when the "starved children" thing came into play. Also, Smurfy, DYFS representatives falsified paperwork saying they visited the home and assessed the home when they did not. I just want to say that I admire you for being honest with the people about how you felt. You could have been like the DYFS reps in Jersey and lied.

Now, on the other hand, even though these people didn't starve these kids I don't ever recall them actually working either. Doesn't social security give money to foster parents until the kids come of age? I'm just saying...

i understand what you are saying. However, I would never put my job or the lives of children in danger by FALSIFYING paperwork or LYING about seeing children if i hadent seen them. There are crooked and unethical people in every field. However, I am not one of them. I take my job seriously because of the risk involved. Actually, I have taken every job i ever worked seriously simply because that is my nature.

 

[Burning_Inside]

fuck I'd go and I'd bring a gun and I'd walk through there acting like I owned the place. People would see the confidence and not fuck around.

 

[Smurfy]

C'mon Smurfy...I'll show ya a good time!

LOL

 

[MrMakaveli]

i get hassled more in upscale neighborhoods than when i go back home (phillips block, north minneapolis)

the "projects" never seem to bother me

I tend to agree with this, assuming you dont act like a fool or try to make yourself stand out and act normal, neighborhoods are neighborhoods (Q.B. not included....never again will I go back there, ever)