Bridge BuildersBridge Builders

Amanda Dwyer, Kristin Swan, Jeremy Vanderpool

OverviewOverview

Focus on human service program and bridge the gap between Practicum I content

and the early stages of locating an internship for Practicum II

Why?Why?• Give back to Human Services

• Wish we knew then, what we know now

• Based on personal experiences and challenges from the class

• Relieve some anxieties about the course

content

• “Change agents who can connect their work in close communities with others can create a

force for broader change”

(Homan, 2008, p. 35).

StrategyStrategy• Survey all seniors and build a database for juniors

to reference

• Breakdown the quarter into a manageable timeline

• Create strategies to fulfill 20 practicum hours

• Offer self assessment to determine individual communication style

• Create a script for communicating with agencies

• Meet with current practicum I students to discover and/or affirm needs, concerns, etc.

Additional Additional StrategiesStrategies• Junior/ Senior mentorship

• Internship shadowing

• Offer incentives for completion/participation in survey

Geographic assistance to locate convenient and accessible sites

Include career centers interest inventory into course content

•

•

Breakdown of Breakdown of StrategyStrategy

• Assessment

• Timeline

• Fulfill 20 hrs

• Cold calling

• Survey

• Database

AssessmentAssessment

“And once the advice became practical and personal, it became memorable”

(Gladwell, 2000, p. 98).

TimelineTimeline“Powerful planning not only gives you

direction but builds commitment, enthusiasm, and confidence”

(Homan, 2008, p. 203).

Fulfilling 20 hrsFulfilling 20 hrs• Schedule an appointment with Practicum or Core

professor to discuss possible internships

• Attend Internship Fair

• Attend walkabout • Attend relevant WWU current event lecture

• Visit WWU’s Career Service Center

• Research, arrange, and administer informational interviews• Discussion

Fulfilling 20 hrs cont.Fulfilling 20 hrs cont.• Execute a job search of potential interest after

earning degree, follow up with informational interview at that organization for an internship

• Examine positions with transferable skills from positions already examined

• Job shadow potential placement supervisors

• Signing of placement paperwork with new supervisor

• Talk to a senior about their experiences

• Job shadow a senior

Cold CallingCold Calling

“If people don’t know you exist, they can’t do anything with you” (Homan, 2008, p. 215).

Initial survey for HSP Initial survey for HSP SeniorsSeniors

What were your initial interests before taking your first internship? 

Where was your first internship placement and where is it located? 

How did you come across this opportunity? 

Where was your second internship placement and where is it located? 

How did you come across this opportunity?

If applicable, where was your third internship placement and where is it located? 

How did you come across this opportunity?

Final survey for HSP Final survey for HSP SeniorsSeniors

Organization’sName

Location(City, cross streets or neighborhood)

How did you hear about this internship?

Internship #1     

Internship #2     

Internship #3(if applicable)

     

DatabaseDatabase

“A social network is a kind of super organism, with an anatomy and a physiology

– a structure and a function – of its own”

(Christakis and Fowler, 2009, p. 289).

Group AssessmentGroup Assessment

Strengths Challenges

• Road bumps along the way

• Coordinating full schedules

• Keeping the vision• Support and Encouragement

• Friendship and Humor

• Passion for the project

Strategy for Strategy for ContinuationContinuation

• Present work to all Practicum I instructors and allow opportunity to include it with their course work

• Get feedback from senior core on feedback sheet

• “That is the paradox of the epidemic: that in order to create one contagious movement, you often have to create many small movements first”

(Gladwell, 2000, p. 192).

Questions?Questions?

ReferencesReferencesChristakis, N. A., & Fowler, J. A. (2009). Connected: The surprising

power of our social networks and how they shape our lives. New York, NY: Little, Brown.

Gladwell, M. (2000). The tipping point: How little things can make a big difference. New York, NY: Back Bay.

Homan, M. S. (2008). Promoting community change: Making it happen in the real world (4th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.