Part One (due in SESSION 5- worth 15% of the 35%):
Create a word document that lists 20 agencies in the community that employs support workers or other para-professional social service workers.
If you have a particular interest (e.g. you want to work with women, or youth, or Aboriginals), your choice of agencies should reflect that preference. Organize these resources under subtitles according to the service offered (addiction, mental health, etc.)
The entry for each agency should include
Agency or program name
Addresses
Phone and fax numbers
Email address (if you can obtain one)
Services offered
Part Two (due in SESSION 5- worth 20% of the 35%):
From the above list, select at least six agencies that are of special interest to you. Include extra information (beyond what you included for the other 14) on each of the 6 you selected: This additional information should include:
Mission statement
Services offered
Intake procedure
Contact person
Other pertinent information
Approach each of the 6 agencies for an informational interview (this might be done over the phone, in person, via video conferencing platform or via email). The point of the informational interview is to find out about the agency or service in general, and also to explore potential practicum opportunities that may exist there for you. You may not be able to get informational interviews with all 6, you are graded for the attempt to arrange one, not whether or not you are successful. Be sure to document your attempt. Ask your instructor how he or she would prefer you do this (your method of approach may well depend on the culture of the agency in question).
Write a brief summary of the informational interview discussion, why the agency interests you, and the outcome of the contact. Indicate the name, job title, and contact information of the person you contacted. Make sure that the agencies or services contacted are suitable for your practicum and are in line with the scope of the program and your abilities. (If you have doubts, ask your instructor).
From Instructor:
I strongly suggest that you don’t try and call around to 6 agencies in your Community right now to get more in depth information. The helping services field is flat out short of workers and some are even shutting down – the important thing is to become aware of all the agencies in your community or the next one to you or the one next to that one.
Instead of calling the 6 agencies you can do more in depth search for information on them through google. Get information such as programming available, intake procedures if you can, the different contact people involved in the agency, what their vision statement is, referral process and so on.
This is going to be a document that you keep and update for yourself as you get into the field of helping
Include all agencies that may help others such as Churches, Food banks, Clothing/ work clothes vouchers and agencies, taxi/bus vouchers and programs, emergency food or shelter programs and agencies, crisis lines and support, Victim Services, Friendship Centers, Homeless Shelters, Family Support agencies, child support agencies, free counselling or private practice agencies, AA/ NA and Al anon, School counsellors, Sexual Assault centers, Harm Reduction agencies, look up public transportations in your area for bus services there are times when Social Services may pay for a bus ticket to transfer a client to a program, get creative and seek out all the places so you can truly help people, even for things like lost ID – where can someone go to get their photo ID card near you? Look for Addiction Programs short and long term places, just because they are not right where you are doesn’t mean the client can’t get to them somehow.
Working with youth and/or woman is what is in interest to me.
No sources needed it just wouldnt let me pick 0
