I am scheduled for a training to discuss patients rights. I meet with a woman who shares her background as a paralegal. She provides resources in the community to help our clients with legal issues. She explains her role and provides examples of why patients may call her. She explains most of her calls are from clients in locked facilities. She explains she remains non-objective while listening to the grievance and then she begins her investigation. She provides me with a book explaining rights and her goals of trying to work with both parties to reach a common goal. I think to myself about the difficulty working with the mentally ill population and having to decipher what is real and what may be delusional thinking.
As we continue the training we discuss laws relating to human rights, the discussion turns to my educational goals and how I wished we would have crossed paths sooner. I shared with her information on a completed advocacy project in mental health and how she would have been a great resource. Next, I share with her the focus of the distance learning program for Humboldt University and its concentration on the Native American culture. She shares with me her Native American heritage and I share with her mine. We both disclose how we are not federally recognized as being Indian. We then take some time sharing and storytelling the journeys our families have experienced over the years. As we come together we realize we can not share many of our thoughts and feelings about our culture with many people we work with. She shares how she wanted to be an attorney to fight for her people and as the years went by she grew tired of fighting. She has switched her focus to advocate for patients. As I leave her office, I walk away with not only training on patient rights, but also some healing for each of us. Through storytelling, I also grew more aware of the loss this Native American tribe suffers but more importantly how connected they are to their culture and people. I visited their website to learn more about the salmon coming home story. I f you have a moment please watch it is a great story between New Zealand and the Winnemem-Wintu.
http://vimeo.com/movingimage/dancing-salmon-home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mpuqR1hwmgs
A few different thoughts regarding your post. I am thrilled that it sounds like in your county staff meet with the Patient Rights Advocates, and have that opportunity. I am particularly familiar with that program, as I assisted with the restructuring of our county's Patient Rights' Advocacy program. I think this is a resource that is underutilized, and that people are just not aware of for the most part, at least in our area. Additionally the fact the PRA in your county is Indigenous, is definitely an advantage for the clients there. I think making this personal connection with this person could be beneficial for both of you.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this story of your life. It's a beautiful story. Sounds like you are finding yourself. I am glad for your insight, your process and your presence in the program. Your tenacity is huge and I appreciate it. I loved the videos as well.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the patients rights program goes, that sounds hard. I work with homeless every day at work and most are mentally ill. I have discovered that sometimes certain types of clients are harder than others but I am also taking time to learn what it is that makes it hard so I can be ready for it the next time. You are going to be a great social worker because you already are.