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I think there is a lot more stress, I mean apart from the obvious, for some of our families. I feel especially bad for the ones who are truly poor and really don't have the skills or the aptitude to do much to change their lot in life. The reports of abuse and neglect have escalated a great deal. I don't know if this is typical or not. Seems like reports involving drugs have increased as well, especially meth. This training I had to go to on Friday was another on meth lab protocol. There's a lot of it goes on here, but then, I suppose that is a mounting problem in lots of areas. I see children in some sorry states, though, and I can't help but wonder what will become of them.

This is a very generous community, and many businesses and organizations have called wanting to adopt a family or just to give where it is needed, so I look forward to being able to deliver Christmas gifts to my families. It will be nice to be a part of making their Christmases a little brighter. There are those you don't even want to mess with because of how they are, but then you think, that isn't the children's fault. But it's hard to make the call. One of the other workers told me that some of these people get nice things for the children for Christmas and take them to Walmart as "returns" and get the money. Then there are others who "expect" it.

They're not all like that though. Besides the bad cases, there are also a fair number who are decent people with poor coping and parenting skills and who try to do the best they can with what they have, and those people really appreciate the support from the community.