Tiffany Green

HS 2990
Prof. Jones
February 3, 2020
Assignment #1

Intake:

During my training at my current practicum site, Front Steps Housing and Services I was

introduced to the intake process. I was trained on the information needed to complete an intake for

potential new clients. I completed several mock intakes with my supervisor. Front Steps Housing and

Services agency receives many self-referral calls for services. My supervisor appointed me with the

responsibility to receive all incoming calls about information to our agency and services offered. I am

able to give callers detailed information on the services offered at the agency for our community based

clients. I am able to inform callers on the qualification to obtain residency at Front Steps. After the initial

screening I am able to schedule clients with an appointment to complete an intake. During the intake

process, I gather basic information from the client to enter into the agency’s portal. The client is then

scheduled for an assessment with the onsite behavioral health counselor. During the intake process,

clients are able to get a better understanding of service that are available to them through the agency.

I created a spreadsheet to help me to track clients that call for information or assistance. I collect the

caller’s name and number and the services they are seeking, and intake date if applicable. This

information is also useful to the agency to track the number of self-referrals.

For my first intake the client presented for counseling services. During the intake the client

presented with several issues that needed immediate attention. After gathering the information needed

enroll the client to our community based services I was then able to assist the client more. I advocated

with The Centers for Families and Children, The Department for Jobs and Family Services, and the onsite

behavioral health counselor. I was able to assist the client to produce a letter of rental verification and
obtain a letter of diagnosis to apply for food assistance. I was also able to assist the client to obtain a

letter for a support animal. I completed most of this task with minimal supervision.

During the intake process I have learned that there is a huge need of help and it is simply

impossible to service everyone. The intake process has taught me about the agency. I know the

complete staff and their roles. This is important to know to better serve clients. I am aware on any day

of groups and services offered at the agency. Intakes have taught me to stay curious and have the

willingness to learn. When screening a potential client, I am actively listening to their concerns. I often

follow up with my supervisor to ask for advice or referrals to services. My role is important to assure the

client is directed to and receive the correct services. Intakes are also important with establishing a

relationship with clients.

Case management:

At my current practicum placement, I immediately started my training in case management. I was given

access to the agency’s online portal. Was able to review client’s files, service plans and updates on their

progress. I learned about clients before meeting them. This preview was helpful for me to determine

which clients I wanted to take on individually. Having access to records was an opportunity to view how

case notes were written and how individual service plans were developed by the client. I was given the

opportunity to ask questions and sit through multiple case sessions with my supervisor.

My first case session with a client was to review her current ISP. Before our session time, I read

the clients current goals and prepared several questions to ask during session. The client was on target

with all her goals. She was compliant with her leasing agreement and current on her rental payments.

The client was maintaining her budgeting goal and even reduced several bills. The client was looking to

enroll to an online university to complete a degree in accounting and finance. Her current goals did not

reflect an education goal. I was able to assist the client to create the new goal. The client hasn’t been

enrolled in school for several years, I was able to educate on the proper steps to successfully enroll.
Together we developed a checklist of important questions to ask while searching for a school. The client

expressed that I was very helpful to her. Assisting the client to create her new goal was easy because I

was knowledgeable on the process to enroll in school. I assisted the client to create SMART goals. This

was my first unsupervised case session and I felt capable in assisting the client. I gained a confidence

boost needed to work independently with other clients.

Within the several weeks preforming case management duties, I have learned that clients are

capable of achieving their goals. Clients are in charge of themselves, my role as a case manager is to

assist them to achieve their goal. It is not my responsibility to complete anything for the client but

instead empower them to strive for completion. Clients who want assistance are willing to help

themselves first. Case management is a tool accessible to clients. As an intern I am working every day to

sharpen my skill set for my future in this field.

Facilitation/ co-facilitation:

During my first semester at my previous practicum site Golden Ciphers Youth Development Center I was

responsible for group facilitation. On Tuesday afternoons I co-facilitated Black Butterflies diversion

group. The group was for adolescent girls and focused on prevention. My role was to have the

participants sign in, update their current goals and assist with the lesson for the week. After several

weeks my supervisor noticed an increase in participation from the group and asked me to facilitate the

group alone. I developed my lessons from the Keepin it Real curriculum. This prevention curriculum was

approachable to the population the agency serviced. At my current site, I am the facilitator for Friday

morning reflection. This group is open to all residents and we read from a meditation book. After the

passage is read, the group participants are posed with a question on how the passage applies to their

life. Participants openly share and engage in conversation with each other.
 My first time facilitating Black Butterflies, I created an interactive lesson on effective

communication. I created worksheet with scenarios for everyone to answer how they would respond in

that given situation. We used large poster boards to write out examples on using effective

communication. At the end of the group the participants created a short skit and applied their new

learned skills. The feedback from that group was positive and the participants asked to continue with

that lesson.

Facilitation has taught me that I am capable of being a leader. I have learned to create material

for all participants to engage. Being the leader isn’t always being center of attention. I am able to set

guidelines within the group for everyone to follow. After effectively reviewing the lesson, I am able to

allow the group to work independently or together for a common goal.