Today, I did training for future correctional officers and talked about dealing with people with developmental disabilities and head injuries, and the implications for how the correctional officers related to them. A colleague sat in the session, and she said she could see some light bulbs going on and some wheels turning about what this meant for them. Which is what my goal is. If I reach one correctional officer, I have done what I needed to do. I think my day was successful. I have to admit, the class was very engaged, attentive, and seemed to be eager to learn (which is not always the case.)
I appreciate the input from my colleague. I felt like I was connecting because the correctional officers asked some very good questions. And some were not so interested.
I also speak about the role of the social worker at my unit. And I make it about how the officers can helps us, interface with us, and understand what we are doing. My supervisor previously sat in on this presentation, and she told me how much that added to the presentation, and was an aspect of training that she would not have considered, given the topic.
Doing two hours of training when I am not used to it drains me. But when the class seems to get something out of it, I know I have not wasted my time.
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