Is there an App for that?

Over the last while I have been extolling the virtues of agencies having a social media presence and using technology to improve our services. There are TV commercials that highlight an App to solve almost anydilemma. In my opinion, technology and social media are part of a strategy to creat multiple contact points with community members. However, I believe that there are limits to the use of technology for communication. Is there an App for working with others?

I am concerned that our society, and individuals within it, might lose (are losing?) the ability to connect on a face-to-face basis. Texting each other while walking side by side and Facebooking your family member in different rooms of the same house may sound like innocent activities, but I wonder about the long term change in interpersonal dynamics. Are we all going to struggle when the vast majority of people are fired from employment due to an inability to get along with other people? (i.e. those at the desk next to yours, or the customer at the counter)

The key factor in all of this, both virtual and real, is the ability to develop positive relationships with others. At the Open Door we see some youth struggle with the ability to develop positive relationships often leading to inappropriate coping mechanisms.

As we near the end of 2010, I'd like to thank the Open Door staff who show a patience and caring attitude towards the youth who we come into contact with. Thank you to those in our community who invest in people. As someone said to me once, "You might forget what someone says or does to you, but you will never forget how someone makes you feel."

Is there an App for that?

Maybe Next Time?

Last week I talked about a situation where staff were a lightning rod for a client who lashed out. This 16 year old male has been kicked out of every thing due to anger management issues and threatening behaviour. All I can think of is that this young man is destined for prison.

What went wrong? Is this young person predestined to be an offendor? Did the "system" fail? How many opportunties were missed to make a connection that might have changed his life?

I obviously don't have answers to these questions. We are still trying to maintain contact with him but need to take care of staff safety. I believe that there are key moments in a person's life where an appropriate action taken can result in a life change.

We tell the story of "29" that we heard from another agency working with street involved women. A young woman came to the agency wanting to make a change. Every time she couldn't make the change permanent and returned to the street. That pattern continued until the 29th visit to the agency when she managed to leave the streets behind.

I hope that the last contact we had with the young man was #28. Maybe next time?