Posted by Commander Janusz Korczak (Counselor) in Start Over From Experience

Posted by Civilian Caitlyn Dillon (Director, The House Sanctuary) in Start Over From Experience

Posted by Commander Janusz Korczak (Counselor) in Start Over From Experience
Posted by… suppressed (11) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Caitlyn starred unseeing toward the screen. The speaker that was attached directly to the top of the screen, helped her to at least appear to see. “No Ragna, thank you. I… I really think that we should try to do this ourselves. We agreed to come with the rest of the clan because we are ready.” She laughed mirthlessly, “Or we hope we are.” It was a huge undertaking for Caitlyn. Out of all the members of the House that had come to Oed she had been with them the longest. She had arrived broken, damaged, terrified, and totally dependent. She had been terrified of the dark. She still was some days.

Back home, on Earth, she had been very confident, helping to take care of the new people who arrived, the actual house, grounds, children, everyone. She worked on their finances, and helped to arrange services for those who needed it. She’d lost a lot of that confidence when they boarded the ship. Sometimes she woke up and didn’t remember she was on a ship and she’d trip over things because nothing was where it was supposed to be. Marissa always came to help her. It was easier now, at least in their suite of rooms. Navigating the whole ship was difficult and she never went anywhere alone.

After a long pause, she spoke again. “No worries Ragna. If I need help navigating the legalities I’ll contact you or Revna. I think I know who I need to contact and I’m quite capable of writing a letter. I’ll let you know what I find out.” She signed off the comms and had the computer start reading the laws and statutes that Ragna had sent from Oed about the process, allowances, and limitations for starting a new House.

A few days later, Caitlyn had an appointment to speak with someone from the Social Services office on Oed. She dressed in a delicate pant suite in light grey with a soft mauve blouse. Marissa had pinned her hair back so it stayed out of her face but looked professional. Then Caitlyn asked the computer to make the connection to the office on Oed. An elder woman answered and she told her she had a scheduled call with a Janusz Korczak. The woman asked her to wait while she forwarded the call.

Caitlyn

It took a few minutes, but the screen chirped to indicate that someone was on the screen. =/\= Hello. I am Commander Janusz Korczak of Star Fleet. I am working with the Oed V Division of Social Services. How may I be of help to you today, Ms. Dillon? =/\= His voice was soft and sincere, but his accent was wholly unique. As if there were multiple separate accents trying to assert dominance over one another, but simply managing to fight to a stalemate.

Korczak, Social Services (on loan)

There was tension and hesitation in the woman’s posture that reduced significantly when he said he was with Star Fleet. Caitlyn knew from Runa that Oed had a very tentative relationship with Star Fleet, but she had reason to trust them. Especially the counselors. “Yes, Cmdr,” she began. Her accent was clearly from Earth’s north American continent. How to word this? “I am part of a group that is moving to Oed, and we are a special type of family. We all met because we have survived trauma.” Her gaze faced the screen directly, but wasn’t quite focused on his position. “We lived at a special sanctuary that nurtured and and supported us. We would like to continue to help others. I understand though that Oed V is very different from Earth. We would need assistance in establishing such a refuge but also making sure such delicate information is distributed with care.”

Dillon

There was a brief pause and then Korczak said =/\= I am not sure what it is you are asking, Ms. Dillon. Are you asking if you would be allowed to start a shelter of some kind? Or is there something else I am not quite grasping. If so, I do apologize. I didn’t get any information as to the nature of your comm save for your name. =/\=

Caitlyn paused. She wasn’t doing this very well. “My apologies, I suppose we are too accustomed to secrecy and safety. We all first came to the House because we were hiding for our own safety. We would like to open a shelter on Oed and work with Oed administration - police, hospital, social services, etc, to provide help. I would like to know how to go about setting up those connections. Or whom I should speak to about it.”

Dillon

There was another pause and the odd accented voice said =/\= Alright, but what kind of shelter… specifically. I am assuming something to do with abuse, but I do some more specifics before I can direct you to the appropriate assistance. Is this for abused spouses? Children? Do you only accept a certain gender? Species? These are the specifics I need to know. I hope that is understandable. =/\=

Korczak

Her brows went up and her mouth made an ‘O’ shape. “Yes, of course. We take anyone regardless of age gender or species. We have had children, women, men that have been abused. Officers who have suffered some trauma and can not serve. Civilians who have been through violent traumas and need a safe place. “

Dillon

There was yet another long pause and the Korczak said =/\= That is… very ambitious. But also very broad in terms of need, just from a counseling standpoint. You see, any organization set up to tend to those in need on Oed are mandated to provide not only shelter… but mental and emotional support services as well. The government is adamant that those in need are given all the help they can get; but they also are proactive in in trying to break the cycles that cause such a need. Do you have trained clinicians and therapists on staff? =/\=

Korczak

She nodded, her eyes still a little of center of directly looking in the camera. “We have a doctor we work with and a nurse in staff.” She was sure Revna would cover the mental health needs. “We have one counselor, but depending on the number of residents we will have to hire more. We have also always provided transportation for those who wanted a different counselor.”

Dillon

=/\= Doctor. DO you provide medical care as well as counseling? =/\= Korczak asked. =/\= And are your practitioners licensed by the Federation Medical Board? I am not trying to be argumentative, and I hope it is not coming across that way. I am simply compiling what needs your group may have. =/\=

Korczak

This she could answer from personal experience. “No, you aren’t at all. These people, who come to us have had medical care, but sometimes their injuries need extended care and they are too afraid to stay or go back to a hospital. To be in such a public space. So in conjunction with their doctor we try to provide care if it is feasible. Our doctor and nurse are both licensed by the FMB,” Caitlyn assured him. “Their credentials are kept up to date and can be provided.”

Dillon

Korcazk seemed to exhale. =/\= Perhaps I am being more thick headed than my usual self, but I cannot seem to grasp the segment of the population you are wishing to serve. ‘Trauma’ is a n all-encompassing term, Ms. Dillon. And while I find rhe idea of trying to help anyone deal with trauma; I can tell you without reservation or hesitation… trying to save everyone will burn yiu out faster than anything else. =/\=

Korczak

The woman smiled sadly. “No not everyone can be helped.” She took a breath. Maybe she should have let Ragna or Revna handle this; she was botching it. “Perhaps I am not explaining it well. I am not a social worker or a therapist.” She chewed her lip a little. “Maybe…” even blind her eyes took on a very far away expression. “I am a resident of the House. I was brought there after I ended up in the hospital from a brutal attack. They helped me recover, gave me counseling, helped me adjust to a new life. Mostly they gave me a peaceful and safe home while I waited for my case to go to trail and find my feet again. We have all been survivors of violence. We want to help others like us by giving them the same things.” She took a long slow breath, “I suppose the segment of the population we wish to serve are victims of abuse.”

Dillon

Korczak nodded. =/\= A noble endeavor. So tell about the House. How do you envision it being set up? Where will it be? And how do you plan on supporting the needs of those seeking you out for aide? =/\=

Korczak

“We plan to model it after the physical building on Earth. Suites of rooms with shared living spaces. We run, the term is off-grid. We use solar and wind power. We grow food. It provides a since of accomplishment, but also safety to not be tracked until we are ready. We have our own means of finance through our foster clan. We have access to land, but we wanted to see the options before we decide where.”

So many years of providing safety from being found made it slightly uncomfortable to give away so much. “We provide physical and mental health care, opportunities for job training, and life skills. It probably sounds minor, but mostly we provide a home and family, when they have none.” Her voice alone conveyed the emotional impact the place had on her. “We have, well on Earth, we were able to provide legal counseling as well.”

Dillon