This message was originally posted by
bacrone.
Sam,
Your emotions are taking over in a situation where it probably shouldn't. Obviously you have to keep your job, and from reading this post and the others about your entire situation, it seems you need to learn when you should emotionally separate yourself from your child. I know it seems hard to do, but if you were to look at it from my point of view, you would say to yourself "Don't quit your job, are you crazy?"
So, my advice, "Don't quit your job!" You want to help this child, but it sounds like you want to become the Therapist, Psychiatrist, Counselor, Father, all the while holding down your job as a teacher--and all this needs to be done in the next few days. Your dedication is to be noted, I'm impressed, but resolving these types of problems with your child takes a lot of people doing a lot of things correctly. No medication will be an immediate resolution, no one person will be able to help. You can play an important role in his recovery, but you can't (and shouldn't) be expected to do it yourself.
Check out this website:
http://www.psychologynet.org/dsmaxis.html
This site will explain the mental illness most of these children have, what the signs and symptoms are, recommended treatments, etc. Research what is wrong with your child, make strong recommendations to the social worker, but most importantly, realize the magnatitude of the issue at hand.
Go back to the social worker, recommend that he get more services, tell her your job is in jeopardy and you can no longer allow that to happen. You have to look out for yourself first. Remember, if you don't have a job, I assume you are not independently wealthy, so therefore you may lose your house/apartment, and once that happens you lose your foster parenting certification.
Good luck, keep us posted...
- B