HSE 7-2

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Running head: HSE 101 FINAL PROJECT

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HSE 101 FINAL PROJECT

Human Services Profession and Agency

Student Name

Southern New Hampshire University

Human Services Profession and Agency

Human Services Profession

The agency I would like to work for is Easter Seals New Hampshire. I would like to start off understanding the role of the human service professional more on a local level before broadening my career to working in other countries. I eventually want to do work with an agency such as Cross-Cultural Solutions that help under developed countries, however I don’t believe I have the skills or experience to work at that level yet. I would like to work with an agency such as Easter Seals New Hampshire because they have a long history helping people and their families and have several support services to individuals, families, and the community. I believe working for an agency such as Easter Seals would help me to gain a wealth of knowledge and learn how an organization operates to help improve people’s lives.

According to Easter Seals New Hampshire (2015), multiple services are provided to help individuals, families, and communities focusing on those living with disabilities and special needs. Services include working with Autistic individuals in areas such as: sensory integration, speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and teach social skills. Camp and recreation services are offered to individuals and families with disabilities. Children and family services offer childcare and referral services, family support service, foster family programs, pediatric outpatient services, and assess early childhood development. Community based services consist of residential services, day services that help people with disabilities find work, and whole life services that focus on clinical supports. There are dental centers that offer various dental care services to the public and military and veteran services to help with employment, mental health issues, financial issues, substance abuse, and deployment support. There are residential and education services and senior services such as; adult day care, adult rehabilitation, and in home assistance. In addition, there are special transit services that offer transit to those with disabilities and for the elderly. The substance abuse service offers treatment programs. Finally, the workforce development offers job training, development, and employment placement for people with disabilities. They provide cleaning services and assists youths in obtaining the skills they need to be successful (Easter Seals New Hampshire, 2015).

There are many different professionals and nonprofessionals that work for Easter Seals. There are the people in leadership roles such as the board of directors and the executive staff. There are human resource personnel, senior vice presidents of the various programs, IT professionals, human service professionals, social workers, advocates, community liaison, therapists, partners in the health care field, partners in the teaching professions, corporate sponsors, volunteer staff, and even national representatives. Together as a team, everyone affiliated with Easter Seals supports or works to help improve the lives of people living with disabilities or special needs.

History and Current Trends

According to Easter Seals New Hampshire (2015), Edgar Allen lost his son in an accident. The medical industry did not have the services needed to save his son. So, Edgar sold his business and began a fund raising campaign in order to raise money to build a hospital in his town. Edgar soon realized children with disabilities were shunned from public view. This realization prompted Edgar to establish the National Society for Crippled Children in 1919. The birth of the “seal” came when the organization launched its first Easter “seals.” The logo on the seal was a lily, which represented a sign of spring. The seal became nationally recognized and support quickly grew for people with disabilities. Due to the popular recognition of the Easter ”seal,” the organization changed its name to “Easter Seals” in 1967. The mission of Easter Seals is to help people and their families living with disabilities.

The history of the human services field is similar to the history of Easter Seals in that human services developed out of the need to help individuals or populations to live a better life (Woodside & McClam, 2015). The difference with Easter Seals is that the agency specifically works to help people and their families living with disabilities. Whereas, the human services field seeks to help populations in need that may or may not be living with a disability.

Current trends impact the work of Easter Seals, which revolve around striving to make a better life for those living with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities have many needs such as: medical and dental issues, mental health concerns, social and environmental needs, family support issues, transportation needs, financial concerns, work related needs, adult rehabilitation and home assistance needs. These same needs relate to the human service field. For instance, individuals that may need help from human service professionals may be young children or young teens that have no parental guidance. Young pregnant teens may be shunned from their family and may be in need of shelter, food, and healthcare. Homeless people depend on shelter from inclement weather and may rely on food banks for their only meals. Human service professionals working in shelters or food banks can offer support to the homeless and provide contacts within the community to help them find the support services they need. There may be elderly individuals that need financial assistance with prescription medications and health care or new immigrants coming into the United States from other countries that need assistance with adjusting to cultural, society, or language issues. All of these individuals in one way or another need help in their lives.

Theories, Values, and Ethics

In order to help and protect clients, human service professionals adhere to a code of ethics to guide them in their ethical behavior when working with clients, their colleges, and the community. The code of ethics would impact my actions of providing services at Easter Seals in that as a human service professional I hold a responsibility to encompass the ethical codes of respecting confidentiality, privacy and work towards obtaining the proper training and knowledge necessary to help the clients at Easter Seals. As a human service professional, I would inform clients of the purpose, set goals, and limitations of the professional/client relationship and respect the overall integrity and privacy of the client. In addition, I would be responsible for staying current with the laws at a local, state, and federal level in the communities in which the agency is located. I would act as an advocate to change regulations that conflict with the ethical rights of a client and stay on top of social issues within the community. I would have to recognize the right of the client to accept services or refuse them. In addition, it would be important to collaborate with colleges remembering to keep consultations confidential and work towards solving any conflicts that arise. Finally, I would stay educated on culturally diverse populations and sociopolitical issues.

The ethical standards that would be more challenging to implement would be related to social issues within the community. This is due to the fact it would take work advocating for the necessary changes that may need to occur within the agency socially that conflict with the ethical rights of the client. The ethical codes related to confidentiality and privacy would be less challenging, as I believe it is very important to protect the client’s right to privacy and confidentiality and agree that information may only be shared with the consent of the client unless the client was going to cause harm to themselves or to others.

The theory I would institute at this agency is the Motivational Theory to help ones self. For example, I would help to motivate an individual in obtaining work. I believe anyone with a disability has the right to work. It would be important to set goals based on the individual’s strengths and follow-up with the action plan set into place.

Role in the Helping Process

Based on my research, I would like to take on an advocate’s role in advocating for important issues specifically related to the individual or family living with disabilities. First, I would sit down and develop a relationship and build trust with each client at Easter Seals. I would then help the client to look at their situation and focus on their strengths. We would then develop goals together to help solve their problem. If necessary, I could go before a congressional committee to assist the client with disabilities. I would also encourage the client to take action. For example, helping a disabled client obtain work may involve supplying the client with contact numbers of employers looking to hire based on the individual’s strengths. I could advocate to hire the individual with disabilities, as an employer cannot discriminate based on ones disabilities. It would be important to encourage the client to make the phone calls necessary to setting up interview appointments or updating a resume. Once the client obtains work, it would be important to offer support during the stressful adjustment to working in a new job and follow-up as needed. As the client becomes more comfortable in their new position and their needs are met, I would motivate them in looking ahead to the future and start withdrawing from the helping process (Excellent change, 2010).

Career Opportunities

An entry-level position I would be interested in pursuing at Easter Seals would be the Community Liaison position. According to Easter Seals of New Hampshire (2015), this position requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, three years of working with at-risk seniors, and must have strong skills in communication and collaboration (Easter Seals New Hampshire, 2015). In order to pursue this position, I would have to go on to obtain my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. I would also need to gain experience with working with seniors and gain more experience in working within the community. Currently, I work in the health care profession. Over the years, I have gained strong communication and collaborative skills needed for this entry-level position. Responsibilities in this position, requires assessing the needs of the at-risk seniors, coordinating care, finishing reports, participate in meetings, committees, conferences, and education providers. In my current profession I have gained crucial skills in assessing needs of individuals, attend meeting, participate in committees, attend conferences, document patient care, and educate patients and the public on important health related issues. I feel this position is obtainable if I pursued my Bachelor’s in Social Work and volunteered more often within the community.

Summary of Learning

Throughout history the human service field has worked to help individuals, families, and communities meet their needs. As a Registered Nurse (RN) and student at Southern New Hampshire University, I have learned about the different roles of human service professionals and nonprofessionals. I have also learned about how different agencies operate and the impact of service delivery. In my everyday life, I will be able to take the knowledge I have learned and use it to help my patients and my community.

As a RN, I come in contact with many different professionals in the human service field. There are health educators, mental health counselors, doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and human service professionals and nonprofessionals. Often times, I encounter patients with substance abuse issues or behavioral disorders. Through my research in this class I have discovered there are services in the Rockingham County area I reside in that can help patients with substance abuse issues. A couple agencies are: The Center for Life Management and Community Partners. I understand I can take an active role in the referral process and can refer patients to agencies like these to patients in need. I have learned about community-based services including outreach and wrap around services. I now feel more confident in reaching out to the community. In fact, I would like to work closely with the outreach programs in our local community in order to help improve the health and wellness of individuals and the community at large.

Acting as an advocate for clients, I have learned to go through the steps in the helping process. I will have to look at the unique needs of the population and any environmental influences. In addition, I will have to know the laws at the local, state and federal level within Rockingham and Hillsborough County. It will be important to develop cooperative working relationships with agencies within the community and learn the resources available (Woodside & McClam, 2015).

As I work in my current profession as a RN and in my community, I will abide by the principles of the Code of Ethics in order to guide my ethical behavior. I plan to continue on learning and educating myself so that I may go on to build my profession and ultimately help improve the lives and welfare of individuals, their families, and my community.

References

Easter Seals New Hampshire, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.easterseals.com

Excellent change, 2010. Stages in the helping process. Retrieved from https://mortenove.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/stages-in-the helping process

Woodside, M., & McClam, T. (2015). An introduction to human services. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. Retrieved from: http://coursemate.cengage.com/CPReader/View/9781285749884/default.aspx?eISBN=9781285749884