Agency Report 1

Capri Jackson Agency Paper November 20, 2013 SW 4441 Fall 2013 Professor A. Grant Wayne State University

Agency Report 2 This semester I have had the privilege to experience what it is like to be an intern. The agency in which I have been interning at over the past several weeks is that of a Health and Human Services organization known as Gilead Wellness Network, Inc. (GWN, Inc.) in Oak Park, Michigan. Gilead Wellness Network, Inc. is a non-profit organization that was founded in 2005. GWN, Inc. was built to help the disadvantaged communities here in the US, and especially in the Southeastern and third world areas (Nwaguru, 2005). In the communities that are served, and the underserved communities of the US especially, GWNs mission is to catalyze wellness through the promotion of appropriate health and human services strategies and programs (Nwaguru, 2005). GWN, Inc. is comprised of trained, duly licensed, conscientious and professional staff with combined experiences in excellent service delivery (Nwaguru, 2005). Most importantly, the staff is client-oriented focused, and always works to establish rapport and trust with the agency clients who make referrals to the organization (Nwaguru, 2005). GWN, Inc. has currently executed contracts with the State of Michigans Department of Human Services in Counseling (clinical, out-reach, and group) starting in April of 2009 and is still currently receiving referrals to date. This contract is statewide in scope which allows the organization to have a steady flow of client referrals (Nwaguru, 2005). GWN, Inc. provides a range of services to meet the needs of the surrounding communities of the Metro Detroit area. These services include home/health services, child & family services, senior services, and international medical outreach. In addition to those services, GWN, Inc. was approved by the State of Michigan in September of 2013 to start up their own Maternal Infant Health Program (MIHP). The services which are provided are guaranteed to offer clients with the commitment, satisfaction, and results they desire with their full cooperation

Agency Report 3 (Nwaguru, 2005). GWN, Inc. provides services to residents in Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, Monroe, and Macomb counties. This organization covers a wide range in the population that they serve which can vary from infants to senior citizens. The Counseling and Therapeutic Services portion of this organization focuses on males and females which include young children starting around age three and can range up to seniors age 65 and over. The Maternal Infant Health Program offers assistance to pregnant women during the duration of their pregnancy, and services to the infant up to the age of 1. My role within the agency is that of a student intern. My responsibilities require me to report the agency at least two days per week. During my time in the agency I am instructed by my field instructor of any necessary duties that need to be fulfilled. These duties typically vary on a day to day basis. Over the past few weeks I have been collaborating with the MSW intern in an effort to create a community resource manual for both the counseling services program, as well as the Maternal Infant Health Program. This manual has been very resourceful in assisting the staff with the necessary tools that are required in order to assist their clients needs. Oftentimes, I am asked to assist the office manager with creating intake packages for both programs so that they are prepared for staff when referrals are received. My most rewarding role within the agency is the service that I assist in providing to my assigned client under the supervision of my field instructor and that is counseling and therapeutic services. It is my responsibility to ensure that the client is progressing through the sessions by providing the client with feedback on behavior and ways to improve upon any difficulties that they may be having. My role during the client sessions allows me to engage the client by using a number of interventions that I feel are appropriate for the session.

Agency Report 4 There are a number of other disciplines represented within the organization such as the supervisor, office manager, office assistant, social workers and a nurse. My interaction with each discipline is different, some of whom I see on a daily basis, and others that I see sparingly or have never even met. My supervisor is very rarely in the office, but when he is present there is usually a meeting held between the two of us. These meetings typically include the discussion of my progress thus far in the agency and the review of any process recordings that I may have completed from previous sessions. The interactions that I have with my supervisor during the client sessions are very positive. I feel very involved in the planning process for my client and I am able to contribute my suggestions and receive the necessary feedback in order to move forward in assisting my client. The office manager is the individual who opens up the office each day and is required to complete a great deal of office duties that at times, causes her to become overwhelmed and frustrated. Due to her inability to cope with her mood changes, I often find that I do not interact with her very much other than a simple good morning upon entering the office and responding to any questions that she may asks in regards to my clients file. The office assistant is typically in the office on Wednesdays when I report to the agency. My interaction with her is very minimal and often, very subtle at times. I find that I remain to myself when I am in her presence as I have noticed that her conversations often consist of gossip and negativity. Although there are several social workers who go out into the field, I have only had the opportunity to be introduced to two of them. There has been very little room for interaction with either of them. They are usually rushing into the office to turn in documents or correct previously submitted documents, and pick up new cases. This has allowed very little room for conversation and often leaves me to wonder who these individuals are as a person and the possibly knowledge that I could possibly gain from

Agency Report 5 interacting with them. I have had absolutely no contact with the nurse. She is usually out in the field and faxes or emails her documents into the office. There was a point where I had no idea that this agency even had a nurse, until the Maternal Infant Health Program was up and running. The Counseling and Therapeutic Services Program and the Maternal Infant Health Program are both referral based programs. This may include self-referrals or referrals made by a local DHS office. When self referrals are made, the individual will usually call the office seeking more information about our services and the resources that we have to offer. When the referral is made from DHS, the DHS worker is required to fax over a DHS 880-Form for the Counseling and Therapeutic Services Program where the clients information is listed and the reason they have been referred for assistance. Once a referral is received the next step is determine what type of medical coverage the potential client is receiving. Both programs require that all clients are currently receiving Medicaid. If a client does not have insurance, then the office staff assists in trying to help the individual apply for Medicaid. It is usually the self referrals that require this type of assistance, as most of our DHS referral clients are almost always receiving Medicaid at the time the referral is made. Throughout the remainder of this paper, I will be discussing the intake process, along with the progression and termination process of the Counseling and Therapeutic Services Program, as I have very little experience with the Maternal Infant Health Program. Once the client has been cleared of receiving Medicaid, the next step is to assign the case to a social worker. At that point in the time, the social worker is required to come into the office to retrieve all of the necessary documents, and it is during that time that they schedule an appointment with the client. During the appointment scheduling, the social worker makes the client aware that they will be required to participate in a maximum of 12 sessions (unless there is an approved

Agency Report 6 exception to continue services once those 12 sessions have been met). The only time that the client does not receive additional sessions is when they are receiving services through the Maternal Infant Health Program within the agency. From my own experience, the intake process is usually dedicated to gathering information from the client where a series of questions are asked and noted on the Needs Assessment and Initial Treatment Plan form. After the first visit, all of the subsequent visits are planned based on the information in which the social worker was able to gather during the initial visit. Each time that the social worker goes out to meet with the client, they are required to have the client sign the monthly session chart. This chart allows the agency to track the visits and verify that both the social worker and client were present. This chart is also used for billing purposes to ensure that the worker is seeing the client for the number of monthly sessions that are required. The monthly session chart is attached to the 884-form which is submitted for monthly billing. During each visit the social worker is also required to complete a progress note. The progress note allows the social worker to notate how the client was feeling, the focus of the session which would include any goals, objectives and remarks, and the type of intervention that the social worker used during this session. At the end of each month, the social worker is then required to compile their progress notes to produce a monthly report on the progress of the client. The report is known as a Counseling Services Assessment and Treatment Plan Report which is turned in for billing purposes and faxed to the DHS Worker. During each session the social worker will receive an update on the clients progress from the previous session and at that point determine which intervention would be feasible for using during that session. Over the course of the sessions, the social worker evaluates the clients progress. These evaluations allow the worker to gauge where the client is and whether or not

Agency Report 7 additional sessions may be necessary. Prior to the final session the worker informs the client of their progress and if they have successfully completed the necessary requirements to be terminated from the program. The termination session is similar to that of all other sessions, but the only difference is that this requires the social worker to complete a termination report which is sent for billing purposes as well as the DHS worker. Upon termination, the client is provided with feedback and allowed to express any questions or concerns they may have. This also allows the worker to provide the client with any additional contacts and resources they feel may be needed once the termination process has been completed. In conclusion, the agencys commitment to the community and surrounding areas it serves requires entails a great deal of compassion. This is often achieved through the outreach in which the agency provides. If the agency is unable to assist a client with a certain need, they will go above and beyond to find someone who can assist the client. This shows the client that the agency is committed to assisting them in their time of need. The agency has a very positive reputation, which allows for the continuance of referrals from DHS workers. Not only do they assist in helping their clients, but they also attempt to help those who may not be receiving services from the agency, but simply are in need of other resources that the agency can possibly assist them with. Overall, I truly enjoy the opportunity of being able to work within this agency and gain the experience of what it is like to work with clients and be amongst an office staff.

Agency Report 8 Bibliography Nwaguru, C. (2005). Gwn, inc. brochure. Retrieved from http://www.gileadwellnessnetwork.org/