HN 299 Welcome to our second Seminar

Review Review of first week Review of first week Second week Second week Projects ahead Projects ahead Discussion Boards Discussion Boards Questions about course site Questions about course site Check announcements Check announcements

Checking in Five minute review Five minute review Two minute mixer Two minute mixer

Human Services The field of Human Services is broadly defined, uniquely approaching the objective of meeting human needs through an interdisciplinary knowledge base, focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life of service populations. The Human Services profession is one which promotes improved service delivery systems by addressing not only the quality of direct services, but also by seeking to improve accessibility, accountability, and coordination among professionals and agencies in service delivery.

Examples of Occupational Titles of Human Service Workers Examples of Occupational Titles of Human Service Workers Case Worker Family Support Worker Youth Worker Social Service Liaison Residential Counselor Behavioral Management Aide Case Management Aide Eligibility Counselor Alcohol Counselor Adult Day Care Worker Drug Abuse Counselor Life Skills Instructor Client Advocate Neighborhood Worker Social Service Aide Group Activities Aide Social Service Technician Therapeutic Assistant Case Worker Family Support Worker Youth Worker Social Service Liaison Residential Counselor Behavioral Management Aide Case Management Aide Eligibility Counselor Alcohol Counselor Adult Day Care Worker Drug Abuse Counselor Life Skills Instructor Client Advocate Neighborhood Worker Social Service Aide Group Activities Aide Social Service Technician Therapeutic Assistant Needs assessment is a process

Continued Probation Officer Case Monitor Parole Officer Child Advocate Gerontology Aide Juvenile Court Liaison Home Health Aide Group Home Worker Child Abuse Worker Crisis Intervention Counselor Mental Health Aide Community Organizer Intake Interviewer Community Outreach Worker Social Work Assistant Community Action Worker Psychological Aide Halfway House Counselor Assistant Case Manager Rehabilitation Case Worker Residential Manager Probation Officer Case Monitor Parole Officer Child Advocate Gerontology Aide Juvenile Court Liaison Home Health Aide Group Home Worker Child Abuse Worker Crisis Intervention Counselor Mental Health Aide Community Organizer Intake Interviewer Community Outreach Worker Social Work Assistant Community Action Worker Psychological Aide Halfway House Counselor Assistant Case Manager Rehabilitation Case Worker Residential Manager

Readings this week Reading 1: Please review your notes from the HN144 and HN200 courses Reading 1: Please review your notes from the HN144 and HN200 courses

Unit 2 In this unit, we will discuss how the information gathered from client needs assessments can be used to determine which services are most needed in a particular community. If clients need homeless shelters and there are not enough beds available on most nights, the community would benefit from another homeless shelter or from more beds added to existent shelters. In this unit, you will use your knowledge of service delivery systems and human behavior to solve some typical assessment problems encountered by human service professionals. In this unit, we will discuss how the information gathered from client needs assessments can be used to determine which services are most needed in a particular community. If clients need homeless shelters and there are not enough beds available on most nights, the community would benefit from another homeless shelter or from more beds added to existent shelters. In this unit, you will use your knowledge of service delivery systems and human behavior to solve some typical assessment problems encountered by human service professionals.

Resources in your Community Rural Rural Urban Urban National, City or Town National, City or Town Resources Resources

Needs Assessment What is a needs assessment What is a needs assessment What does this mean for our client What does this mean for our client

Key Concepts this week Human service professionals constantly assess client needs according to the emergence of social problems compared with service availability. This assessment is completed in formal or informal settings such as an office interview (formal) or observations made during an in-home visit (informal). Knowing how to assess clients’ needs and then how to make an appropriate referral is an essential job task Human service professionals constantly assess client needs according to the emergence of social problems compared with service availability. This assessment is completed in formal or informal settings such as an office interview (formal) or observations made during an in-home visit (informal). Knowing how to assess clients’ needs and then how to make an appropriate referral is an essential job task

Community Often, the social problems of a community are similar to the individual problems of clients in that community. For example, if a large local employer suddenly closes a factory, substance abuse and mental health referrals will increase (as will referrals to homeless shelters). Assessing the community’s needs helps professionals to understand and prepare for providing adequate services for clients who live in that area. Often, the social problems of a community are similar to the individual problems of clients in that community. For example, if a large local employer suddenly closes a factory, substance abuse and mental health referrals will increase (as will referrals to homeless shelters). Assessing the community’s needs helps professionals to understand and prepare for providing adequate services for clients who live in that area.

Seminar Discussion For the past few months, you have been working as substance abuse program aide in an outpatient program (clients return home after treatment each day). For the past few months, you have been working as substance abuse program aide in an outpatient program (clients return home after treatment each day).

Lately, your town has had many budget cuts and you have noticed this in the number of clients who complain about not having enough food or clothes for themselves and their children. Other complaints relate to bus route cuts and the closing of two government-funded day care centers. Counselors in your program have noticed a significant drop in client daily attendance. Lately, your town has had many budget cuts and you have noticed this in the number of clients who complain about not having enough food or clothes for themselves and their children. Other complaints relate to bus route cuts and the closing of two government-funded day care centers. Counselors in your program have noticed a significant drop in client daily attendance.

One of your job tasks is to call clients who miss treatment each day and discuss the reason for the absence and help them to solve whatever obstacle is preventing their attendance. During a staff meeting, your program director asked you to make a list of the main obstacles reported by clients and to propose ways in which the agency can prevent or reduce those obstacles, or how many agencies together might be able to solve the problems. One of your job tasks is to call clients who miss treatment each day and discuss the reason for the absence and help them to solve whatever obstacle is preventing their attendance. During a staff meeting, your program director asked you to make a list of the main obstacles reported by clients and to propose ways in which the agency can prevent or reduce those obstacles, or how many agencies together might be able to solve the problems.

1. List all of the obstacles that you found in the scenario above in order of what you think is the hardest to solve to the easiest to solve. 1. List all of the obstacles that you found in the scenario above in order of what you think is the hardest to solve to the easiest to solve. 2. How might your agency solve the first two obstacles on your list? 2. How might your agency solve the first two obstacles on your list?

Discussion Question this week Scenario: Individual Needs Assessment Scenario: Individual Needs Assessment You are working as an employment specialist at a substance abuse agency and work primarily with clients who have successfully completed residential treatment and are currently living in a transitional living facility (some are still referred to as halfway houses). One morning, you arrive at your office to find Carlos standing outside waiting for you. He is very worried that he is about to start a new job the next day working for a government office as a mail room clerk. His problem is that he does not have appropriate work clothes or money for the bus. Further, he tells you that his therapist (from a local mental health center, not your agency) told him that his insurance will no longer cover his individual therapy sessions, but that he could attend group sessions. He currently has no income and will not have his first paycheck from the government for about a month and no benefits for another three. He appears to be getting more and more stressed in your office, as if he might have a panic attack. Discussion questions: You are working as an employment specialist at a substance abuse agency and work primarily with clients who have successfully completed residential treatment and are currently living in a transitional living facility (some are still referred to as halfway houses). One morning, you arrive at your office to find Carlos standing outside waiting for you. He is very worried that he is about to start a new job the next day working for a government office as a mail room clerk. His problem is that he does not have appropriate work clothes or money for the bus. Further, he tells you that his therapist (from a local mental health center, not your agency) told him that his insurance will no longer cover his individual therapy sessions, but that he could attend group sessions. He currently has no income and will not have his first paycheck from the government for about a month and no benefits for another three. He appears to be getting more and more stressed in your office, as if he might have a panic attack. Discussion questions: List all of the problems that you can find in the scenario related to Carlos in order of most immediate need to least. List all of the problems that you can find in the scenario related to Carlos in order of most immediate need to least. Describe what you will do to help him with the first two needs that you listed. Describe what you will do to help him with the first two needs that you listed. What obstacles might he have in accessing services? What obstacles might he have in accessing services? What can you do to help him to work around the potential obstacles? What can you do to help him to work around the potential obstacles?

Websites to check out /