Hmm. I'm writing really long posts again, so I should probably start posting to the blog the stuff that I've got running around my head.

Firstly, I'm almost finished with Niki's blanket and a pair of Fruit Loop socks. I'll link to the patterns and pictures if I can. It's rather a bummer because Niki's blanket was supposed to be a mindless project that I'd work on after I'd burnt out on UFOs. But, that's ok. I organized a stack and have them moving again. I'd even found a pair of socks that just needed to be Kitchnered. uggg

Also, I'm a podcast addict. I admit it. I'll probably live the rest of my life with buds in my ears and I'm ok with that. Random sound usually makes me nervous anyway. This morning, I'm listening to History According to Bob. I don't have a top list as it depends on the mood I'm in. I love Cast-On, CraftLit, Lime and Violet, Dr Gemma, Forgotten Classics and many more. I'll try to note out what I'm thinking about them as they post up new stuff because I'm rather enamored of all of them.

The other side of it is that I'm getting very used to having Vanessa here. She's getting bored and figuring out that she likes to read, knit, and learn. If tv gets turned on, then she'll sit there all day. She's lost 3o pounds, learned to crochet, and we'll be starting the yard and garden work pretty quickly.

Busy yesterday. The camera is all ready, and the sun is out for pictures. First, I'm trying to get up a bunch of pictures for the web that I took yesterday at the Olson reunion in Ulen, MN. It was a nice little park, and the kids, I can't call them short people anymore, they behaved terrifically. There was a bit of testosterone stupidity, fake kung-fu and chin up contests, but it was all in fun. I'll probably put a picture essay on the main site, but for now, this is my favorite picture of a nice, long day. For a short picnic, I think it was supposed to be 11-1, we didn't get home until almost midnight.
This is Miss Emily on the bridge at Ulen city park. I think she was actually singing to the fish that had been traumatized by the rock skipping and ker-plunk-ing, so they'd just fed them pizza and determined that they were trout and there weren't any fishing poles in the caravan.

New email - and I have permission from Sheri, the cool advocate, to put it all online this time.

M called, Marlene set up an appointment for M with Craig Sinclair, the P and A guy who is assigned to assistive technology issues and can write an appeal for the MA denial. But here's the kicker--if Marlene was going to do no more than that, M and I could have taken care of it way back in June when I first understood the issue. But it was agreed at the meeting that I would find a resource for resolving the AT issue and give Marlene that information to act on.

Besides the issue of providing a service D (nephew) has been assessed as needing, this is an example of a good way to test the caseworker's professionalism on the job. A simple request, good documentation, all she had to do was follow through timely and gather the records she has or has easy access to for the P and A lawyer to go forward with. Supposing the parent was unable or unwilling to follow through, Marlene would not have (since she also said C was going to take care of the MA appeal but didn't follow through--meaning Marlene did not follow through to make sure it got done). It was an easy assignment for Marlene and she blew it. As supervisor, Beth should have also monitored for outcomes since this was done as a staffing with her and Chip and Melanie. So Beth blew it too. As new Social Services Director (hey, they changed the contract so Chip is allowed to keep his hockey store in Moorhead--the previous head was not allowed any outside employment or self-employment) and (at the time) Child and Family Services director, Chip is ultimately responsible.

{{LIE ALERT}} C said outright that she's done enough and has to concentrate on her children. No, she never said she'd check with MA (Medical Assistance).}}

M said she signed the release for you. DBGR also wanted a release from M to get a copy of her parental capacity, she said no way. After talking to her, I called SEHSC to find out the easiest way for her to get a copy.

Hey, if you want to throw this on the blog, I have no problem.

Yay! Progress is good!! I think that Beth finally realizes that I'm not random, crazy ranting person from the street who just wants to yell and moan for the sake of drama. NO, been trying to fix drama for TWO YEARS thru the usual channels, so now I'm ranting. It's working. I cleaned my whole kitchen happily with Lime and Violet on the ipod. And, now I'm cuddling a bright alpaca smoke ring and working on the articles. Pictures will be coming since with my mind clear - I remembered to put the batteries on the charger. Sun is out, coffee is good - there will be *PEACEFUL* knitting.

Teaser - I was informed that it could probably be a very good day for "news on foster care". Yay!

Update - I tracked down the "cottage number" and was able to talk to nephew last night. He still seemed rather drugged down and depressed. But, he got to ask after everyone, and even asked for news of our dog (fine and fat, and has a girlfriend - 8 mo old "Sophie"). So, progress is good.

As I was typing this, Tim E returned my call. I think that he intended to be officious and "We cannot speak to you without a release." But, we talked for quite awhile about program specifics and got into mentoring programs. I even had the nerve to I suggested that they bring in the geek friendly entertainment to help kids with social skills, math skills and the like. YES, DBGR now know the words LARP, Cos-play, Magic and card based games. Whoo HOO!

It sounds like DBGR is trying to move from the residential model of medical treatment into the community based, family guidance model. And, they have some help from the Red River Asperger's community group. So, there's hope, maybe.

Thanks, Tim E!

First - Received a phone call this morning from Marlene Sorum's boss, Beth. She tried to tell me that everything was fine, but I trotted out the "lost release of information" and the "two visits in 20 months" and the "No Communication Assistant Technology." So, she brought out the good lipstick and asked me to put the issues in writing.

My brief overview ran to 5 pages, and yes, I will post them here after I make sure that the rules are followed, and I haven't missed any major issues.

Secondly, for "Are Human Services actually meeting Child's Needs?" and real stories of Human Services, I looked for candidate platforms and statements about how North Dakota's Human Services are working, and I didn't find Squanto. I'll keep looking.

I did find one of the people I'm recommended to talk to. Glory Kramlich was defeated in a bid for state legislature. I don't understand why - the other guy must have shown a superman cape - because she really knows her stuff! The state of North Dakota has a surplus, so she's interested in fixing roads, restoring student funding back to 65%, and extending a program that looks like Companions for Children or Big Brother/Big Sister to help kids have more support to be successful. We talked for far too long about the different things that do work to help children, and places to go for good services, like the Ann Carlson Center in Jamestown. (Web at http://www.annecenter.org/ ) I hope that she stays active in making positive change!

Hopefully, I'll have the letter edited and polished to post tomorrow, and I'll continue to speak with the leaders to see what is proposed and what is being addressed to help all of the children of North Dakota.

Details of Ear Aerobics, Auditory Integration Training, Dr Bernard Rimland, Dr Stanley (?) Greenstrand or any of the proven or disproven methods are still over at http://www.wierdkids.com/ The "Autism" tab has information on IEP, Books, Support groups and services, protocols and eventually it might become organized.

Knitting is really good for thinking. I'm finishing my coffee, elsewhere I had to admit that I needed to walk away from the caffeine, and knitting - what chores need to be done, what I'll do tomorrow, how I need to get away from this drama and get myself ready for work.

And, I realize that this is bigger than my feelings for my nephew. This is even bigger than the racism, class-ism, and discrimination against the disabled/different. This is how the government is spending my money.

I've been pretty lucky. This family got it together enough to help others. I was able to stay home and actually raise my kids to be nice, if wierd, people who aren't afraid to speak out at a Clean Air Meeting with the EPA and Potlatch, "It's great that the air will be cleaner, but what are you going to do about the people that are already sick?". Or, speaking out against yet another liquor store near the reservation.

This is our government when no one cares enough to stand up for a low-IQ woman. This is how one black/Indian child is being treated by Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch - told how much he deserves to be there and isn't leaving, then "Child is depressed and unmotivated."

Each of us touches the government in some way, and each of us can tell a story or relate some facts. Minnesota tries and has a good complaint system, but still have improvements to make. I'm not letting anyone off the hook, I want to know what needs to be fixed and how it can be done better. By contrast, North Dakota looks like a Nazi camp, but eventually (hopefully) I'll finally find someone who was helped by this billion dollar con game. I've seen a few in MN. Is it actually worth all of this money to put uneducated, drugged out kids right back on the street without help?

Forget Iraq and Obama/McCain a moment and look at our daily lives instead of just the newcast and Jon Stewart - is this what it means to be an American?

Someone has read this and wants to leave feedback - only about NY. Apparently, NY decided that an entire class of volunteers is unacceptable to be foster parents. That's why taxpayers are being socked for extra money to keep these kids in "custody" and out of family situations. It seems that you have to be blonde and wear khakis to be fit to parent. I invited her to write as she pleased, but it's rather cool that I have readers and feedback already about how it's not just North Dakota that's sucking money for moronic policy decisions..

This woman is still angry that she had a Muslim kid from a war torn country who was taken from her care because she wasn't black enough then - but now "Is she black?" Duh. This kid was dragged away from a war by a stranger relative and placed with her - but is now in "custody" with urban black kids as if that's more appropriate by NY standards.