heather e. brown. my feelings and concerns excited, anxious and fearful concerned about what i might...
TRANSCRIPT
Heather E. Brown
MY INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE
WILMINGTON SENIOR CENTER
My Feelings and Concerns• Excited, anxious and fearful
• Concerned about what I might discover about abilities
Primary Learning Interests• Develop partnerships
• Resource development
• Referral process
• Older Adult challenges
• Develop my confidence
My Strengths• Passionate and eager to learn
• Likes new challenges
• Ability to relate to others
CHAPTER 1GETTING STARTED
My Weaknesses• Second guess myself
• Fear of making mistakes and of judgment
Most Important Issues as I Plan Internship Experience• Projects that develop skill sets in area of interest
• Only designing marketing materials
Most Exciting Learning Plan Aspects • Networking
• Helping Center develop marketing templates
Most Challenging• Getting over my fear of making mistakes
CHAPTER 1GETTING STARTED
Elements of Agency Context Most Learned• Importance of understanding who agency serves
• Correlation of socioeconomic status on client health
• Political effects on nonprofit organizations
Agency’s Context• Most members are from surrounding city neighborhoods
• African American women
• High School education
• Members and clients are economically disadvantaged
• Older Americans Act helps provide agency funding
• Services reflect national and local community trends
economic stability and Aging-In-Place initiatives
How Has View of Agency Context Changed• The Center offers more than just bingo
CHAPTER 2GETTING ACQUAINTED
Ethical Issue• Did not really run into ethical issues
• Broader prospective
• Emulate administrators who “do it all”
Insights• Great respect for Site-supervisor
• Talented and seems to “do it all”
• Potential issues with Executive Director who” does it all”
• Leave agency vulnerable in absence
• Learned how to not be an administrator
My response• Discussed potential issues with Site-supervisor
• Recognizes the potential for issues gave an example of how it had already impacted Center
CHAPTER 3DEVELOPING ETHICAL
COMPETENCE
What I Want & Need• Trustworthy and respectful
• Empowering, knowledgeable and communicates well
• Encourages professional growth and gives Feedback
Particular Challenges• Based on past experiences with Supervisors
• Untrustworthy
• Disrespectful and condescending
Growing My Supervisory Skills• Internship helpful with identifying what is effective and not effective
• Continue to develop assertiveness
• Develop supervisory communications skills through course work and practice
CHAPTER 4USING SUPERVISION
Gathering Objective Data• Discussed transportation and access issues with Site-supervisor
• Researched and developed report and presentation for Board of Directors
• Board member asked an unexpected question about referenced data
Reflecting
• Felt unprepared
• Possibly made a mistake
• Remained calm and provided a response
Identifying Relevant Theory and Knowledge• Looked back over the data referenced
• Realized information used could be more accurate
• Conducted additional research to answer Board Member’s question
CHAPTER 5INTEGRATIVE PROCESSING MODEL
Examining Dissonance• Recognized the validity of the question
• Uncomfortable with not seeing the data used as incomplete
• My need provide accurate data to support findings
Articulating Learning• Discussed validity of the question with Site-supervisor
• Presented Site-supervisor with new data and asked to address the Board
• Wrote an e-mail to Board with new findings
Developing a Plan• Future presentation and report data will be given more scrutiny
• Prepare for questions during a presentation
Everyone doesn’t wait for Q &A
CHAPTER 5INTEGRATIVE PROCESSING MODEL
My Experiences• Interviewed a married couple who are clients
• Working with groups (committees & collaborations)
• Community Education – Health Fair & Grandparent Tutoring program
How Would I Expand Work to Encompass All Levels of Intervention• Work on Committees with agency directors
• Discuss with agency Executive Director ways to be more involved
Strengths• Empathy
CHAPTER 6COMMUNICATING WITH CLIENTS
Needs• Improve Active Listening
Evolution of My Communication Methods and Skills• Learned to think before speaking
• Become better at recognizing what NOT to say
Most Interesting Areas of Intervention• Case Management and conflict resolution
CHAPTER 6COMMUNICATING WITH CLIENTS
Encountered Cultural Differences• Most members and clients are African American Older Adults
• Education levels differences
• Physical ability
• Members and clients grew up living in the city
• Agency’s culture is different from my employer’s culture
Culture and Social Location Insights• Gained insight into power differentials
• Professionals in higher economic status
• First name basis to remove power differentials
CHAPTER 7CULTURAL COMPETENCE
Greatest Cultural Challenge• Friends and family with biases and prejudices
• Discussed basis of biases and prejudices
Assess Current Skill Level• More culturally self-aware
• Still lack knowledge about various cultures
My Goals• Learn more about cultures and diversity
• Remain open to understanding similarities as well as differences
CHAPTER 7CULTURAL COMPETENCE
Internship Experiences• Oral reports about Grandparent Tutoring program
• Developed a written report and presented to Board of Directors
Goals• Become a better grant writer
• Practice and look for opportunities to write grants or fund requests
CHAPTER 8WRITING AND REPORTING
Sources of Stress• Increase in unwanted responsibilities
• Multiple deadlines
• Balancing work, school and family life
Self-Imposed Stress• Worry about making mistakes
• Not assertively expressing myself
• Thinking I shouldn’t need help
CHAPTER 9TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF
Methods to Manage & Reduce Stress• Eat healthy, get plenty of sleep and exercise
• Spend time with family and friends
• Set boundaries – know when to say “no”
Pitfalls to Avoid• Recognize that someone else’s issue isn’t mine to solve
CHAPTER 9TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF
What I Appreciate Most About Internship Experience• Being given an opportunity to learn
• Having a generous Site-supervisor
• Being given tasks that aligned with learning plan
• Supportive Environment
Internship Regrets• Didn’t ask for grant writing opportunities
CHAPTER 10ENDING THE INTERNSHIP
Feelings & Wants• Just getting started
• Thankful
• More confident
• Continue learning from Site-supervisor
Continued Personal & Professional Growth• Pursue a mentor
CHAPTER 10ENDING THE INTERNSHIP
Short-term Goals• Graduate
• Prepare for Interviews
• Look for employment opportunities
Long-term Goals• Nursing Home Administrator license
• Become an Administrator of an organization that works with older adults
What I Need to Learn To Accomplish Goals • Complete final two courses
• Complete Administrator-In-Training program
CHAPTER 11PLANNING MY CAREER