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