Gate Way Community Action Partnership Internship Experience Gate Way Community Agency Partnership Internship Experience By: LaVerne Sease-Batie

Getting Started as an Intern Excited Worried Excited about learning new tasks as a Human Service Administrator Excited about Learning another skills to add to my Resume Excited because this is my last class Worried about all the assignments I had to complete Worried about it I was going to have a good Site Supervisor Worried about if I will obtain my 120 hours

Getting Acquainted Agency Context most Learned: Learned Policy and Procedures related to Head Start Interacted with Site Supervisor (SM) and Mental Health Specialist (MHS) Observed SM and MHS job functions and responsibilities Client Referral forms Intern View of Agency Context: GHS depends on federal funds GHS provides a variety of services to children and low-income families GHS services are driven by the goals and expectations of the Office of the Administration for Children and Families Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center

Developing Ethical Competence Unethical Observations (Head Start has financial issues for many years) Late mileage payments Underpaid staff Facility issues Lack of supplies etc Solutions for Unethical Observations Suggest that Head start needs to apply for more grants and expand Head Start Explain to the Site Manager why I believe the expansion would generate more money to assist with the financial deficit Discuss with the Site Manager of how the elimination of some centers would increase finances Solutions: Head start applied for several grants and expanded Head start ( in Philadelphia, Atlantic and Cape May County) Eliminated some centers- Sicklerville, Penn's Grove and Port Norris

To obtain knowledge and learn skills Using Supervision To obtain knowledge and learn skills How I handled responsibility: Not sure I will ask question on unsure tasks Work independently but I will build a team approach if needed to complete task Meetings: I attended monthly agency meets were based around (ways to monitor and plan for agency success The agency 2014 review questions and criteria Head Start Budget for 2014, organization charts, emailing etiquette and program monitoring What I need: A supervisor who is willing to teach and advise me on what I need to improve my professional development through guidance provided by the agency supervisor directing, coordinating, and evaluating the performance of workers. TRAINING. Your supervisor should see to it that you receive whatever onthe- job training is necessary for you to do your job. If you are not sure how to do something and you tell your supervisor, you can expect him or her to teach you or make sure someone else shows you how to do it. EXPLANATIONS. You can expect your supervisor to explain what he or she Expects from you and also to explain any important policies, rules, and regulations of your agency that you should know. CHANGES. You can expect your supervisor to tell you about any changes in your duties and responsibilities, and about anything else which affects you and your work. EVALUATIONS. Your supervisor will be evaluating your performance on the job by assessing your work and making suggestions on how you can improve. DISCIPLINE. If you don’t follow rules and regulations, or if you don’t live up to what is expected of you, you may be disciplined by your supervisor. SUPPORT. You can expect your supervisor to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your ability, to understand your viewpoints, to encourage you to improve your performance, and to try to help you when you request assistance with a problem. (pp. 413-414

Integrative Processing Model Step Six: Developing a Plan: Generate a list of Action to obtain each goal Identify possible problems Assign tasks Implement the plan Mostly relates to me on a daily basis as a Case Manager Generate- Think about and make a list of the things that need to be done in order to achieve a particular goal. Record the list by the goal you are trying to achieve. Arrange list and prioritize in sequential order. Identify- Brainstorm about the things that could go wrong when trying to achieve a particular goal. List the problems and identify causes and suitable actions needed to solve them. Assign tasks- Review the time frame to complete each task and Ask: Who could facilitate the task by the date set and complete the tasks as per your request. Tasks should be allocated to appropriate staff or teams. Implement the plan- Finally, rewrite information and list what needs to be done and person responsible for the particular task and task completion date. Once the Four Steps has been completed, information can be passed on to everyone who is involved.

Communication with Clients Employment Experience: Case Manager ( 14 years ) Full time Employment) Behavior Specialist ( 7 years) Part-time Employment) Residential Counselor ( 4 years) Part-time Employment) Level of intervention most experience: Provided comprehensive in home and in community service to children and families Individual Sessions Strengths: Developing plans and Independent living skills Least Experience Gained Group Counselor

Developing Cultural Competence Office and Agency is Culturally Diverse Population served Agency serve every race (Primary African American and Hispanic) Children (Head Start) Pregnant women (WIC) Low-Income families Challenges Language barrier Goals as I continue to develop my skills with diverse groups Continue to seek trainings Attend more Community Cultural Awareness programs Offers daycare services for 0-5 years old WIC- Provide supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Low-Income Families- (helps low- and moderate-income residents identify and overcome barriers to self-sufficiency. Challenges- There is a large amount of Hispanic/Mexican population receiving services and can not speak English. I have to schedule appointments when a Bi-lingual staff is in the office Goals- Training to improve Cultural Diversity awareness

Writing and Reporting within Your Agency Wrote reports: based on my observation of children in Head Start Day Care Reports; also involved documentation of areas of concern with client(s), response letters to parent(s) and schools on reason(s) for referral and person contacted as well as the follow up plans. Additional reports: were based on completing Child Development Charts Strengths: of my reports are my ability to provide a complete observation and follow up plan Weakness: lengthy observation notes Need of Improvement: write short and brief notes

Taking Care of Yourself Internal Stressors Balancing home and work stress Worried about current and upcoming assignments due dates External Stressors Relying on individuals to complete intern hours If assignments are late will drop a full grade Computer crashing Stress Management 8 hours of sleep Exercise daily Complete assignments 2-3 days before due date

Ending Your Internship What do I most appreciate: I had a respectful and caring Site Manager who mentored more on administrative skills that would assist me on my future jobs Regrets: No Regrets because I was overwhelmed with work, home and assignments Continue Growth: Continue education and training on ways to be an effective Administrator and opened to constructive criticism to be a successful leader My feelings, wants and needs after the internship completion: I am nervous about becoming an Administrator/Supervisor I wants and needs is to continue learning and growing as a Human Service Administrator

Career Goals Long Term Goals Short Term Goals Continue case management with At-risk children and families Seek immediate Case worker position within the Department of Children and Families Long Term Goals Possible work towards becoming an DCF supervisor Seek to utilize any degree I have and possibly obtain work in other areas of my education such as Business and Human Resource

Advise to New Intern Talk to other department staff about what their job position within the organization. Do not be afraid to voice your opinion on how to better complete a task or handle a situation Seek and reach out for additional tasks. Give them another copy of your Resume and demonstrate your skills by requesting less secretarial assignments and more administrative tasks. If you are not sure of a task, ask your supervisor for guidance

Farewell, Adios, Goodbye, Ciao, See you E-portfolio: http://lseasebatie.weebly.com//