Higher Level of Care

This morning I was thinking individuals who require a higher level of care.  Fresh on my mind is a recent outing with a child requiring such care, recently transferred to a more appropriate facility. Nevertheless, at the time he was off his level of precaution, was not restricted, and had demonstrated his ability to respond to staff direction; so I took him on an off-grounds excursion. Not only did he require constant adult supervision, but all the other boys on the outing became junior staff encouraging him to behave in a safe manner.  They walked next to him to physically guide him, put their arms around him, used kind tones as if they were speaking to him as a beloved hyperactive dog off leash. Even the most impulsive, unpredictable, unstable, even violent peers were able to recognize the inappropriate behaviors, point them out and step in to keep him safe-whether it was throwing rocks, trying to cut down trees, playing with fire, throwing water bottles into the river, darting around, and running away. Even while traveling back in the van, boys tried to prevent him from getting out of his seat-belt and playing near the van door.   Though it was a disaster of epic proportion, we were able to return him safely back to campus-back to the security of locked doors. As I lay in bed that evening replaying the events of the day, my mind kept returning to the images of these boys helping a less capable peer and their loving attitudes-it was sincere-they really cared about him.  Their concern for him has grown as they have witnessed his behavior and progress while living with him.  They know he is not held to the same standards and rules that they are required to live by.  In living quarters where boys are always screaming about things not being fair-they are learning first hand that we all have different abilities and as such we require different levels of care-even though we may be tempted to treat everyone the same-one size does not fit all. One to one supervision (the highest level of care) is sometimes required.  Who wouldn't want 1 to 1,  24 hour individual attention-one person to truly care about the needs of another human being? It's just hard to provide with limited resources.

 So how can one environment meet the needs of so many different children?  How can one set of program rules possibly apply to everyone?  And what is the value of sticking everyone under the same roof, if we are so very different? What is the value of living together in groups?  How does anyone really fit in or who really wants to fit in with a bunch of treatment center kids?  If I hang around a bunch of sick people, will I catch what they have?  Social Learning is a powerful tool for good or ill. Behaviors that some children would never even thought of are sometimes mimicked by others. Learning unstable behaviors from peers can have horrific consequences.  It can make one question the value of living in groups and opt for isolation.  One child can act like a cancer spreading through the residence.  One child can pull the whole program down, or at least the quality of the group experience. Grouping by diagnosis or overall stability seems to make a difference-yet there just isn't enough space or categories to make sure everyone has an individualized living environment.  It's not how the world works either.  And if we did-we would surely miss out on the positive aspects of social learning.  If everyone was just like you and just as capable as you-how would we care for others?  How would we learn to care about others?  Would all this individualized attention make me more prone to only caring about me and what I want?

I've seen it in the eyes and witnessed it in behavior of students who feel like they don't belong in a lock down facility as they say, "This is a mistake.  I don't belong here.  I'm so much better than so and so.  Why are you grouping me with these people? This isn't fair." The same sentiments come from within prison walls.  It is especially true when comparing brain functioning-some kids brains work better than others.  Why do some have so much potential, and others have so little?   Some kids are just plain more capable than others. I know where much is given, much is expected. And  I don't think the saying is referring to entitlement; because I'm superior and given much, I expect more or the rules don't apply to me so I can do whatever I want.  Entitled people don't get the sympathy like our developmentally impaired individuals. The don't get the label of being "special" even though the entitled people think they are "special" In fact, they usually get everything taken away. The clearer phrase is "Where much is given, much is required." The responsibility to use those natural gifts and abilities isn't for self aggrandizement, rather for service to fellowman; to lift another up-to provide quality care. If we were all the same intellectually, on a level playing field, then how could we help if we weren't standing on higher ground?  Maybe it would turn into a bloodbath of selfishness; everyone grasping for privileges either earned or not.

The students who were caring for this intellectually impaired boy were genuinely happy for him when learning he would be coming with us on our outing-having observed his lack of freedom-they wanted him to get out and see the world-just a little. When the experience was over, one boy remarked, "I'm going to be such a good dad." Therein lies the challenge to all would be parents, or all who seek to nurture other living things:  How can I have a higher level of care for this person and how can I give a higher level of care to this person?  Both noun and verb are required to genuinely "care" and certainly there are degrees or levels of care. Some care a little, some care a lot and everything in between.  Some do a little, Some do a lot and everything in between.

I know the great parent on high cares about me more than anyone here on earth,  He also gives me the highest level of care possible. I receive 24 hour/one to one supervision as my impulsive, even unsafe behaviors require. A higher level of care actually refers to a more restrictive environment in order to keep a person safe. Though commandments might seem restrictive at times, I know they are all given to promote my safety and well being. Higher laws mean higher care-and the consequences from living them actually provide the highest, most quality care I could possible receive.