Stressed out

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I have a new community support worker. She is supposed to help me get involved with things. The last community support worker I had, for some reason I was more comfortable around. She was my moms age and had kids and so was the motherly type. My new support worker is around my age and doesn’t have the same sense of humour. For some reason I feel really uncomfortable around her and I’m not sure why. I said I didn’t want to volunteer at the 2 places she suggested, and she said where do you want to volunteer then? I said I don’t know, I was hoping you could come up with some places I haven’t thought about or didn’t know about. Then she suggested the YMCA. I asked what there is to do there and she just said “lots of stuff” and gave me a blank look without saying anything else. She also thinks it’s a good idea to move in with someone I don’t know, in a town I’m not familiar with. My mom doesn’t think it’s a good idea because if it doesn’t work out, she doesn’t want me living with her. Anyway I just feel uncomfortable around my new community support worker. I hope she doesn’t push me to do something I regret. Should I ditch her or get a new one? Should I give her more chances, even though she makes me uncomfortable? I don’t know what to do.

I find I'm more comfortable with older people, especially in that kind of role.
Maybe you could give the new worker a bit more of a chance, but if you're still unhappy ask for someone else.

I wonder if the "Y" might just be a decent place for you.

Any news about your housing (waiting list)?

It is difficult right now because if she is younger she is trying to suggest things while learning herself. She may have only worked with a few others so she has less experience. This does mot mean that she has not qualified as a support worker. Bear in mind that the only way one learns is through experience and the only way one gets experience is by being there and learning.

The problem that can be is that there are "Official" ways of doing things which when one is fresh out of training, or for the first so many years one has to stick by what one has learned. The support worker is probably an NT so she is suggesting things and learning from you through your response as she does not know how you think.
Your previous support worker may well have had a lot of experience and so she would have picked up on things easier as with experiwnce one has more of an idea how to bend to fit into other peoples situations.

They probably thought that this new support worker and you could also make a good team as you are the same age. This can work or it may not work.

Sorry. Deleted a lot as it went way off topic.

Do they have another older support worker? Or do you think this support worker and you will get along well after a while?

Well. Give her a try and see. May work. Might not work. If it doesnot work it does not mean the lady is no good. It just means that your differences in the way you think and see things maybe too great. It is why life needs more then one social worker as if things are not working for you, she may just be 100% right foe someone else. But who knows? Things may just work out fine and she could be just what you need right now? Lets hope it works. You may need to be honest if something stresses you so she can gauge how you feel about things, as sometimes if one person thinks different to another, they may not pick up on the things you may find difficult or stressful. This is no ones fault. It is just the way it is.

The YMCA is a nonprofit organization. The YMCA believes in strengthening local communities -- both by providing assistance and by drawing on the resources that are already there. It is a place where those who are down on their luck can get a meal and a cheap bed for the night. So it works with local volunteers. Volunteers teach classes, coach athletic teams, lead groups and provide mentoring. They help out with administration, organization, development (fundraising) and management.

The YMCA works with five broad classes of volunteers:

* Program volunteers - This group is the largest. It consists of the people who directly help the YMCA carry out its programming. They include teachers, tutors, workshop leaders, mentors, group facilitators, athletic coaches and trainers, bus drivers, nursery school staff, event hosts and staff, referees and other game officials, lifeguards and equipment maintenance workers. There are many other program-specific positions.
* Support volunteers - This group consists of the administrators and office workers who help the programs run smoothly, including the registrars, receptionists, schedule planners and resource managers who help the organization coordinate its many different activities.
* Fundraising volunteers - As a nonprofit, the YMCA relies on donations, so it needs plenty of fundraisers and grant writers. Development volunteers may be enlisted for staffing phone banks or stuffing envelopes. They may help coordinate fundraising events. Those with extensive experience in writing or development may be interested in helping the organization apply for grants or set development strategy.
* Policy volunteers - This group includes board members and committee members (all must enter a longer-term relationship with the organization governed by its bylaws). A policy volunteer not only gives time and effort to the organization but also helps guide its direction and determine its programming and priorities.
* Managerial volunteers - This group applies to trained professionals -- including accountants, lawyers, executives, designers and IT workers -- who donate their services pro bono.


FITting Another Piece in the Puzzle - YMCA of Greensboro Autism program changes lives everyday.

There are some real words of wisdom written in the above posts. I agree she is probably just learning her job. I agree that different support workers work well with different people.

Checking out the YMCA is probably a good idea. They might have something that suits you.

I would also suggest trying to contact the organization opening the new low income housing close to you. Even though they are not yet open, they may be taking applications.

Good luck!