Report on Field Placement Setting

Report on Field Placement Setting Brian Meadows Wayne State University SW 4441 November 13, 2013

Report on Field Placement Setting

Mission/Purpose of the Agency Common Ground Sanctuary is a safe 24 hour, nonprofit shelter that provides 3 week residential counseling to youths in crisis between the ages of 10 and 17. The mission of Common Ground is to provide a lifeline for individuals and families in crisis, victims of crime, persons with mental illness, people trying to cope with critical situations and runaway and homeless youths. The purpose of the program is to provide life-skills and counseling to the clients and their families, give the clients and their families support, and ultimately reunite the family. Guiding principles that are valued at Common Ground Sanctuary include the following: inherent dignity, diversity and worth of all people; professional compassion, effective and efficient service to all people; community-based, grassroot partnerships in program innovation and development; the development of collaboratives to strengthen resources in our community; and the delivery of services through professional, para-professional, peer-mentoring and volunteer staff. Overview of the Population Served Common Ground Sanctuary serves youths between the ages of 10 and 17. The youth come from various backgrounds, cultures and areas of the state. Typically, the clients come to Common Ground because they are having trouble in school, difficulties at home or dont have anywhere to go because their parent/ guardian doesnt want them at home or they are literally homeless. The youth can suffer from behavioral, mental and/or emotional problems. These are sometimes the cause of the issues the youth faces at home with family, at school with peers, and/ or with friends. While the clients have encountered quite a bit of adversity leading up to their stay at Common Ground, they are very nice and sweet kids who are just looking for somebody to

Report on Field Placement Setting

talk and listen to them. That treatment goes a long way in helping the feel comfortable around others and with themselves. Role within the Agency My role within the agency is a very flexible one. I interact with and supervise the clients on a daily basis and provide them with an outlet to talk about anything they want to, play games, watch movies and help them around the house with chores or group activities. I answer phones when I can and that can lead to just providing information about the agency, transferring calls to others in the house or at administration, filling out contact records that may lead to an intake being scheduled, and referring individuals to services that better fit their needs if were unable to adequately support them. I record my observations in the clients log on a daily basis. The information recorded includes what was said or done during group, on a walk, while playing game or interacting with other clients. These observations can be helpful in assisting the counselors by providing them with information that can lead to positive and constructive solutions to a clients problems. I also sit in on intakes when one is scheduled on a day I am there. Sitting in on an intake is shadowing a residential specialist or peer mentor while they gather pertinent information about the client and their parent/guardian. So far, I have only shadowed a parent intake, but hope to shadow a youth intake soon. Another one of my duties is conducting groups, whether they are serious or recreational group. An effective group session is when the clients do a majority of the talking and are participating actively in group. Serious groups are structured activities that allow the clients to be open about their feelings and/or thoughts in a creative manner, while recreational groups are playing games that allow the client to express themselves, taking walks downtown or to the park, and going to places like the zoo or

Report on Field Placement Setting

movies. While I have to wear many different hats while working, it is a very rewarding experience and I learn quite a bit everyday about not only the clients, but myself as well. Clients Accessing/Entering the System Clients can enter Common Ground Sanctuary only after an intake has taken place and the youth has been cleared to stay at the Sanctuary. When the intake is scheduled, the worker must inform the youths parent that they must bring the following: 3 weeks of clothing; name and addresses of the youths school; Doctors, therapists, psychiatrist, and residential contact information; the youths social security number; medications; and medical insurance card. The youth is not allowed to bring any electronic devices with them. In eligible youth are those under the age of 10 and over the age of 17, wards of the court or state, convicted of a crime against a person and/or using a weapon, and not taking their prescribed medications. The basic requirements for admission into the program include being in the age range, consent from the legal guardian must be attainable, admission must be voluntary on the part of the youth, the youth must be willing to participate in individual, group and family counseling, the youth agrees to follow the house rules, and those who are currently on psychotropic medication must have prescribed medications upon admission. The intake for the youth is divided into two parts: the parent and youth portions. The parent portion starts with the description of current problem and precipitating event, developmental history, family history and various other forms including medical and consent. Once all of the forms have been filled out, the information is presented to the Intake Director. If the client is staying, we take all of the forms back to the parent, make sure the parent has filled out and signed the forms that were left with them and collect those, have the parent sign the client handbook and have the parent say good bye to the youth. While the parent portion of the intake is being conducted, the youth portion is being conducted. The youth

Report on Field Placement Setting

discusses what they feel has brought them in and goes over the client handbook with the workers. When the youth portion is completed, the youth will be instructed to sit in the waiting area while the information is reviewed with the Intake Director and the parent portion is completed. Once the good bye has taken place between the youth and parent, the youth is searched. After the search is complete, the youth is brought in to meet the staff and other clients, showed around the lower level of the house, informed that they are to get their own breakfast in the morning an showed where all the fire extinguishers are located. Clients Progressing through the System While the client is at Common Ground Sanctuary, they will be assigned daily chores and cannot participate in any recreational activities until their chores are completed. These chores include cleaning and organizing the living room, dining room and kitchen. Clients must make their beds daily and must be done showering by 10 a.m. Clients are allowed to go to school during the day throughout their stay, but are not required to. It is advised that they do not attend school because they could miss out on important groups throughout the day. The clients must attend and participate in all groups throughout the day and attend all meals, even if they dont eat anything. The clients do have homework time every day for an hour and a half. Tutors come in and assist the clients with work they have been assigned from school. If the client does not have homework from school, then worksheets will be distributed so they are working on something. The clients meet with their counselors Monday through Friday and participate in family counseling once a week. Clients usually find that living at the sanctuary is pretty laid back and enjoyable if they follow the rules and do what is expected of them on a daily basis. The youth usually leave appreciating the things that they learned and experienced during their time at Common Ground.

Report on Field Placement Setting

Leaving/Terminating the System When the client is nearing the end of their stay at Common Ground Sanctuary, a plan of action is discussed between the client, counselor and parent/guardian. This is advised so the client knows if they are going home to their parent/guardian, applying to a Temporary Living Program, or going to stay with other family. This time is also used to prepare the client for life outside of the sanctuary and the event that their plans after the program do not pan out as quickly as anticipated. When the client is preparing to leave, a closure group takes place where the clients and staff on duty say goodbye to the client and express positive feelings to them. Once the client leaves, they can still receive aftercare counseling, outpatient counseling, in-home counseling and parenting workshops. Community Commitment Common Ground Sanctuary is an agency that is involved in the community in various ways. One facet of their community involvement is the street outreach program. This program serves the homeless by providing referrals to shelters and services that can assist them, while also reaching out to youth and talking to them about safe sex and distributing protection for those who choose to participate in being sexually active. The program also provides a safe environment for those who need it for a short period of time, job skills, crisis assistance and much more. Common Ground also has the Say Yes Theatre Troupe that performs skits that reflect issues that teens, young adults and families go through including bullying, teasing, peerpressure and much more. Common Ground Sanctuary is committed to helping the community in various ways that promote healthy living, positive thinking and above all else, hope.