Working Women

Audrey · Post by **Audrey** » Wed Jun 22, 2005 9:16 pm

I would like to begin by offering my sincerest apologies to all the working women out there who I used to call and badger into volunteering their time, baking cookies or spending a Saturday morning in the Charity Thrift Shop....

As many of you know, I began a new job on January tenth of this year. It is the first job I have had in nearly 20 years!

I am an Inmate Advocate serving men and women jailed in the tri- country area.

The job was intended to be a glorified translator. I was expected to translate for lawyers/judges and explain to the inmates their rights and responsibilities while in jail.... Easy huh?

The position was intended to be 32 hours a week..

I have been working 45-60 and still not clearing my desk and finishing everything I wanted to! The need was intense and I was actually having to pick and choose what to do and who to help! JINKEES!

I worked for and was paid by a "cartel" of lawyers who work as public defenders. They all threw some money in a fund to pay me and meet my office expenses.

I recently wrote and was approved for a 3 year grant ensuring me full time status (and pay) a full and part time assistant and all sorts of money to do what I found to be the major needs in my community.

I can do group and individual victim therapy. I will have funds to do proactive work in the schools and with recently released convicts.

I will begin to work with a volunteer Board of Directors and continue to provide translation services (volunteer and paid members of the community) as well as the new services we are to offer.

I get a really important sounding Director/CEO title and will administer a budget of over $350,000 per year. Although I can use my discretion as to how it is spent I do have to justify my expenses in quarterly reports.

I feel a bit overwhelmed with the administrative aspect of the job, but I will learn! As it is granted money I will have to ensure I dot all my i's and cross all my t's... But I can do it. (encouragement will be helpful!)

The only conflict I see is that I may be counseling a victim and the perpetrator at the same time... I do not know how this will play out, I guess I will have to see.

No time for lazy sleep in days... No more shopping every day and smart lunches with other stay at home moms....

Good thing I recently had my lips permanently colored!

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 1:53 am

Wow Auds ! What wonderful things you are doing ! SO many will benefit from your kindness and from your high level of expertise ! How many languages do you usually have to translate ? Do you ever work with juveniles ?

Tracy...

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 2:35 am

Way to go, Audrey! It sounds like you are doing something that is SO needed and yet not enough hands to go around to help with the work. I applaud your efforts, it warms my heart to think of all the good you are doing and the thought of people in need who will have you at their side. So, how many languages do you speak fluently? I dated a guy from England in the past who spoke so many different languages, it was simply amazing to me! Now those permanently colored lips, how bad did that hurt? Its like a tattoo right?

augusta · Post by **augusta** » Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:02 am

Of course you can do it - and do it very well!

Congratulations on landing such an important and, I think, prestigious, job. It is good to know that there will be someone very trustworthy and honest working in that capacity. I would think that budget is in very good hands.

I would think it would be tough if you had to counsel both the victim and the "perp".

I have seen some marriage counseling cases where the same therapist will handle both the wife and the husband - both together and also at separate times. It turned out terribly. But then, in a marriage, the two would be talking to each other and probably comparing notes, and in a victim/suspect situation those two would not be speaking to one another.

Still, my heart would go out to one of them and I would probably refuse to counsel the other. I could not sit there without feelings. Maybe you could maintain that professionalism because you had to, even tho you may believe in one side over the other.

They must have something worked out to help you with a situation like that. Another person coming in to talk to one of them? Or training you so you will be like a doctor or nurse - so your emotions do not come into play on the job.

Permanently colored lips!!! Details! Details! Is it expensive?? How long did it take? Did it hurt? I'd like to get eyeliner done. That's a hassle to get on straight. I will only use the liquid - and Almay because of allergies. I have never found an eye liner pencil that did not drag my skin with it (pencils work good for me for the lower lash).