VOICE OF DISCONTENT AT HAMILTON STREET PLANTATION

The voice displayed only a mild tremor when discussing working conditions at Department of Children and Families office on Hamilton Street in Hartford, Connecticut. He [wishes to remain anonymous] talked for almost one hour about how a white led management is using various techniques to squeeze every ounce of work from all employees. For example if a clinical worker does not keep at least an 85% case load rating then that person gets a failing grade from DCF. When pressed for more details the worker replied how management wants a full case load of at least 25 people for DCF workers. This means maintaining 90% or higher rating and working non stop. You do not have a personal life outside of DCF, for time is directed toward not making mistakes that drop your case load rating. The person explained how putting together treatment plans for clients can be dangerous [if not approved]. Such an error automatically drops that case worker to lower status levels. In addition it was reported to this blog how at staff meetings performance ratings are placed on a large screen for all to see [causing added stress for people named as failing].

Then the case worker reported how disproportionate disciplinary actions are aimed toward black men at DCF Hamilton Street plantation. It is hard to work with families of color in the community providing services when there is a paucity of black men. This – the case worker states- tends to diminish black men especially in the impressionable eyes of children. It also reinforces stereotypes of black men not being productive in workplace settings. According to the case worker in this story mostly females visit homes in service delivery, and most of these are white. In addition black men are not in the process for promotion at Hamilton Street plantation. Most of the Program Managers are women and one black man recently had his application for promotion rejected.

This staff writer felt the conversation was winding down and asked if there were any more details needed for the story. The case worker at Hamilton Street decided the conversation needed to end. We promptly ended our dialogue.

In conclusion there are one million stories on the DCF plantation. You have just read one of them.



Every truth passes through three stages before it is recognized.
* it is ridiculed
* It is opposed
* It is regarded as self evident
--attributed to German Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer ( 1788-1860)