Today was "home inspection" day with one of my granddaughter's mental health teams. It was scheduled for in the afternoon. However this morning, after reading a journal type blog that she started last night, we became concerned about her safety and contacted her crisis team. What followed next was the worst that I have personally witnessed. It was a full-blown meltdown that escalated into a major episode.
Apparently, someone is/was concerned about her mental health and our providing her the proper care, so they contacted Child Welfare (formerly known as CPS - or Child Protective Services). A minor episode quickly escalated after their arrival. She had no idea who they were and was furious that there were more people here. At one point, she locked herself in her room and we heard the sounds of things breaking, the crisis team made the decision to contact the police department. An officer arrived and made her come out of her room until she could calm down. This was the first time a meltdown required the involvement of the police.
So, we had a houseful of mental health crisis team, CPS, a police officer, and one very angrily hostile girl. But then something happened. The officer deemed her to be calm enough to not require hospitalization, the CPS apologized for not calling ahead and promised to do so next time, and the crisis clinician got her stabilized. However, we were shaken to the core, wondering if the long-term care would be best. Scared that we were ill equipped to best help her.
Later in the afternoon, after all of this happened, I got in touch with one of the State workers who had assisted us with advice. I voiced my concerns about being left out of the decision making process, about worrying we will have to make a decision without knowing all the options available, and whether or not the various agencies are working together as a team. We want to work together with everyone. We want this to be a coordinated effort to get my granddaughter the best care for her. The state worker gave me more information, advice, and encouragement.
While still on the phone with the State, my granddaughter's crisis team returned to check up on her. Because of the escalation earlier, they decided that there were further safety measures that needed to be taken (no push pins, string of colored lights, glass objects, and other items) and that set her off into another fit of anger. This one wasn't as bad as this morning though, and I was able to think back on the morning's events while watching the clinician work. And that merged into us all working together and communicating concerns, questions, and other issues. Realizing that we do have the same desires involving how to proceed, and that a meltdown doesn't necessarily mean hospitalization.
I am ending the day with renewed hope. This is going to be a long, challenging, heartbreaking at times, and sometimes frightening journey. But she is worth it. She is worth whatever it takes to ensure her safety and eventual happiness. My next immediate goal is to get these individual people and agencies, along with us, as a cohesive team. Only with teamwork can we ensure that we are ALL working towards the same goal.
****The journey continues......actually it has only really just begun.****
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