Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

Service Learning Pre-Activity

Reflection
Katharine Koop, RN

September 14, 2016

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SERVICE LEARNING PRE-ACTIVITY REFLECTION

Service Learning Pre-Activity

Reflection

Katharine Koop, RN

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

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SERVICE LEARNING PRE-ACTIVITY REFLECTION
Service Learning Pre-Activity

Reflection

CHALENG (Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking

Groups) is a service provided for veterans who are literally homeless, living in shelters or living

in their car to help meet their needs by identifying the challenges and providing a plan of action.

During this service learning project I hope to gain a better insight of how the homeless veterans

became homeless. I also hope to be part of the solution to their problem by helping provide the

education and tools they need in order regain their independence in a more dignified manner by

helping them regain housing. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, “Over

140,000 volunteers gave more than 11 million hours in service to America's Veterans” (U.S.

Department of Veteran Affairs, 2015). My expectations are that in collaboration with other

members of the CHALENG group I will be able to make a positive difference in the lives of

some of the homeless veterans.

Unfortunately individuals seem to stereotype veterans as either homeless and/or having

mental problems, drug problems and no direction. The other stereotype attached to veterans is

that they are war heroes. Personally I have not stereotyped veterans one way or the other. I am

aware the for some veterans who have not done as well as others post their military service, but I

do not put them into categories as I understand that all individuals go through different thing in

their lifetime and each handle them in their own manner. I am not here to judge anyone whether

if they or homeless or live in a mansion.

An article in the Military Times discusses a survey regarding stereotypes that stick to vets

where approximately 50% of the individuals who were surveyed were shown a photograph of a

homeless man and felt that he was probably a veteran. That is a harsh reality of veterans being
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stereotyped. “Only about one in ten survey respondents described a picture of a successful

businessman as likely a veteran” (Shane III, 2014). There are also biases attached to veterans

because of their military background. My bias regarding veterans is they are skilled, trained and

disciplined; therefore, they should be hirable and receive higher consideration than non-military

applicants. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “veteran unemployment was at 4.1

percent in February 2016 versus an overall national unemployment rate of 4.7 percent” (Recruit

Military, 2015).

The information needed about the homeless in order to be a part of servant leadership in

the CHALENG group will be obtaining information about the homeless veteran populations age

group, their involvement/experience in the war and the era, what their goals are and what

services they need. In order to obtain the necessary information to give the best service I will

seek information on the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans background and statistics site.

I will also seek information through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The employees

and experienced volunteers will also be a good resource to obtain in formation along with

speaking with the veterans themselves regarding their needs.

The concept of Servant Leadership is a multitude of principles incorporated to provide

the best quality services within an interdisciplinary team and being dedicated to giving yourself

as a servant to those in need. Robert Greenleaf developed the concept of servant leadership, then

suggests that “caring for others has moved from personal involvement to becoming something

that is mediated through institutions, which are often large, complex, powerful, impersonal and

sometimes incompetent” (Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, 2010). As a servant leader, I

will apply my dedication to the homeless veterans in order to ensure their needs are being met.
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Professionalism is conducting oneself in a manner of honesty, being trustworthy,

respectful, being accountable and maintaining transparency. During the serving learning

experience professionalism will be imperative in order to proper assess the needs of the homeless

veterans. If they don’t trust the servant leaders who are working with them it will be difficult to

intelligible serve their needs as they will likely not be able to be forthcoming with someone they

do not trust.

Being homeless provides barriers for optimal health, because the homeless population is

more susceptible to disease. They do not have the means to have good hygiene; their diet is

unlikely to be healthy and sleep is likely interrupted, as well as keeping up with a healthy daily

regimen. Since their basic needs are compromised, so is maintaining optimal health outcomes.

I expect to learn how to better serve a more vulnerable population and have better

understanding of what the veterans have been through and how they ended up homeless. I would

like to touch them in a manner that gives back to those who served our country and let them

know they are appreciated and not forgotten. I will encourage them to tell their story and teach

me what it was like to serve our country. I respect our military and would like to share with them

that they are important no matter what they are going through.
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References

Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, (2010). What Is Servant Leadership? Retrieved from

www.greenleaf.org/whatissl

Recruit Military, (2015). Want to Hire Veterans? Check Your Biases and Misconceptions.

Retrieved from https://recruitmilitary.com/employers/resource/480-want-to-hire-

veterans-check-your-biases-and-misconceptions

Shane III, Leo, (2014). Some stereotypes stick to vets, survey shows. Retrieved from

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/veterans/2014/10/21/some-stereotypes-stick-to-vets-

survey-shows-/17664251/

U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, (2015). VA Voluntary Service. Retrieved from

http://www.volunteer.va.gov/