1. Prepared by: Camille Simpson Wilmington University ASH-8100 Guided Practicum

2. Getting Started Feelings & Concerns  Overwhelmed & Stressed  Long hours spent away from family  Nervous  Unsure what to expect  Will I have a beneficial learning experience Primary learning interest and needs  Pro’s and Con’s of being a Administrator  Professional assertiveness  Staff management and supervisory experience  Job responsibilities of an Administrator

3. Strengths & Weakness  Experienced working with diverse low-income populations  Currently work in direct service as a Case Manager  Educational background, knowledge, experience, skills, and positive attitudes towards helping people  Not being able to tolerate unprofessionalism Most Important  Having a beneficial learning experience  Building Relationships  Knowing what I can bring to my internship experience  Gaining relevant knowledge as it relates to human services

4. Excited about  Learning about community resources, programs, and services offered  Populations served and demographics  Being able to utilize resources I learn at my internship at my job  Successfully completing my intern hours and graduating Challenges  Working with staff members who are set in their ways  No being able to meet the need(s) of a client  Trying to make changes with-in a state entity

5. Site Placement Agency context  Situated in a low-income community  Serve all races, majority African American  Individuals 18 years and older, homeless, elderly, and disabled  Living at or below 200% of the federal poverty line  Living in 19801, 19805, 19806 zip codes  Federally funded but controlled by the state of Delaware View of agency “Now”  Gained more knowledge about the LIHEAP weatherization program  Better understand program guidelines and policies  Program eligibility requirements  Interview process and required documents  Community education  Community resources and referral programs

6. Sources of Stress Internal Stressors  Taking on more than I can handle at times  Being a perfectionist  Analytical thinking  Being a leader  Worrying about other people and their problems External Stressors  Irate and bossy people  Employees who think they “know it all”  Balancing life events, work, school, parenting, marriage, and friendships  Unorganized, lateness, and being unprepared  Helping client’s beyond my scope of work responsibilities Stress Management Activities  Family time  Taking a nap  Walking  Hot bath  Listening to music

7. Implementation of Activities  More relaxed  Fun to be around  Accomplish more  Feel better Avoiding Stress  Don’t sweat the small stuff  It stops at 4:30PM- Don’t bring the office home  Develop positive talk  Self control Professional & Personal life boundaries  Reorganize priorities and time  Self discipline  Identify family support- “It’s ok to ask for HELP!” Staying safe in the workplace  Security officer on site  Police station with-in minutes from site location  Treat client's with respect and professionalism  Sign in log

8. Supervisory relationship *No direct supervisor experience* I need…  Doesn’t micromanage staff  Willing to transfer knowledge and skills  TRUST  Doesn't make other s feel inferior  Avoids dual relationships and maintains appropriate boundaries I want…  Gain supervisory experience and take on supervisory responsibilities  Learn from someone with the experience and educational background  To critical think and problem solve  My ideas to be supported  Ability to express creativity

9. Being a Intern  Time management  Flexible  Prioritize assignments  Engaged  Disciplined Professional Growth  Ask my supervisor to take on more roles directly related to supervision  Observe and monitor the work of my supervisor  Find ways to take on leadership roles  Allow myself 1-2 years to gain supervisor experience Supervisor Characteristics  Knowledgeable  Supportive  Skillful  Transfer important and valuable information  Model high standards of professionalism  Know the staffs learning needs

10. Integrative Processing Model (IPM) (Step 1) Gathering Objective Data from Concrete Experience (Step 2) Reflecting (Step 3) Indentifying Relevant Theory and Knowledge (Step 4) Examining Dissonance (Step 5) Articulating Learning (Step 6) Develop a Plan

11. IPM Breakdown 1. Asked to organize and make the filing system more efficient. 2. I felt overwhelmed, angry, it was very time consuming, waste of time, I was uncertain as to what I should do, afraid my supervisor would make my internship more complex. 3. Previous internship knowledge. Filing is not a assignment you give to a Master’s degree candidate. State employees are at highest risk for “burnout” and often use interns to do the dirty work. 4. If I bring it to my supervisors attention, not sure of the consequences. Wanted to do something helpful but not filing. Disappointed that I agreed to the project, not sure that it was a good idea. 5. I learned the importance of verbalizing my goals and objectives. Be prepared to discuss things I’m not interested in. Make conscious decisions about what is appropriate for me. 6. Suggest projects and activities. Ask the supervisor how he/she envisions working with me.

12. Site Experience Gained More Experience at...  Working with communities  Community Education  Working with Groups (staff groups)  Working with individuals and families  Case Management and Advocacy  Working with reluctant clients Gained No Experience with…  Community Organization  Political Engagement

13. If I was employed at my agency  Create emergency funds to help middle class or working individuals or families in need.  Mobilize community task groups to meet individuals or families where they are in the community.  Create more resources for mental health and homeless populations  Equip staff to be more culturally sensitive and in dealing with senior citizens. Strengths  Patient  Critical thinker  Compassionate  My knowledge of programs and services  Knowledgeable of community resources Improvements  Professional assertiveness  Overly analyzing things  Tone of voice

14. Communication  Avoid informal communicating  Use more formal channels of communicating  Learning how to articulate and talk about my professional experience  Able to modify choice of words when dealing with different populations  Don’t initiate conversations but once engaged will open up to the group Levels of Intervention  Individuals  Families  Groups  Communities

15. Professional Writing & Oral Reports Writing Examples  Managing daily client log  Creating a Thanksgiving Word document distribution list  Office closure notice  Calculating employee time sheets Oral Reports  Intern introduction to staff  One-on-One meetings with supervisor

16. 8 Steps to Resolving Ethical Issues Dilemma  Some of the staff at my site were assisting client's and not following sign in time orders. This was done in order for them to take their breaks on time or to avoid having a interview that would take longer to conduct. Potential Issues  Clients could experience longer wait times  Employees will began to think they don’t have to respect policies and procedures  Cause clients to become upset and irate Review Ethical Guidelines  Policy and Procedure states that we asset client’s in the order they signed in Applicable Laws and Regulations  See Policy and Procedure manual

17. Consultation with staff  Continued to reiterate “this person was first”. Tried to help monitor the client registration log. Consider Consequences  My supervisor could reveal to staff that I brought it to her attention  Tension among intern and staff Action Plan  Discussed the situation with my supervisor during our weekly face-to-face meeting Outcome  The supervisor and the lead worker began to closely monitor and changed the break schedule so that the staff workers would be available to assist clients in the order in which they signed in.

18. Cultural Differences Differences  Socioeconomic Status  Demographics  Attitudes  Work experience  Household size My Cultural Insights  Low-income individuals and families often seek out more financial help  Many African American families are living at or below the federal poverty line  State service centers benefit greatly by being situated in low-income neighborhoods  More financial literacy needs to be done in low-income communities  More work opportunities need to be created  Increase education opportunities for minorities

19. Population’s Served Cultural Insights  Low-income individuals and families expect to receive emergency assistance  Depend on state service centers for financial resolution  Find creative ways to abuse the system  Some individuals and families are really in need Cultural Challenge  Not being able to help everyone in need  Communicating with client’s with “tunnel vision”  Addressing hostile or angry clients My Ability  Adaptable  Past experience and knowledge of community resources

20. Internship Completion Appreciate  The opportunity to learn more about delivering emergency services  Being able to share community resources  Learning more about the role of state service center s  Setting good examples  Learning what “Not” to do as an Administrator Regrets  Passive attitude  Working with unprofessional and unethical staff My Needs for Professional Growth  More supervisory experience  Leadership responsibilities  Articulate my thoughts and concerns  Non-profit vs. State vs. Private sector

21. Highlight of Goals  Continue to work and gain experience working with low-income populations  Graduate with my Master’s degree  Find a better job working in Administration at the highest level with-in a agency  Gain relevant knowledge and resources that can continue to help low-income communities  Help to develop better programs and services around education and financial literacy for minorities  Create more opportunities to expose youth to positive surrounds  Behavior change and culture change

22. Career Plan Short Term Goals- Two Month Plan  Graduate with Master’s degree on January 25, 2015  Build a stronger resume at the completion of this course  Job search in the private sector or in the nonprofit sector  Continue to work with business partner to start up our S.T.E.M program Long Term Goal- Five to Ten Year Plan  Job stability  Increase education among youth through S.T.E.M activities  Peruse a second M.S. in or around Social Work  Make myself more marketable in the job market Steps  Observe and learn from others  Read more  Self study about grant writing  Get involved in community events and committees

23. Cultural Immersion Project Target Population:  Middle class Caucasian men and women Indirect Immersion:  Watched a film “Fun with Dick and Jane” Direct Immersion:  Interviewed a Caucasian women who is a registered nurse from the middle class population What I learned:  Caucasian middle class men and women value saving and early financial planning  Most have some kind of education background or are career oriented  Rather depend of family first before seeking financial help from others  Struggle to pay and maintain bills and could benefit from State Service Centers

24. Thank You Any Questions?