1.Describe at least one common client problem, issue, or gap in services or programs at your field agency, practice, or community setting.

I completed my hours at an outpatient mental health facility that primarily worked with the Department of Family and Children Services. Most of this entity’s referrals came from a state funded program. Very often the clinical associates would not be in control of the treatment plan for the client. Most of the interns provide early intervention and prevention services or parent education. When they receive the client’s services authorization it has a comment section that tells the social worker what skills or tools they would like provided to the client. In the event you complete all the recommendations, this agency allows the case manager to make the decision on whether to terminate services or not. I know this to be true because when I worked for Child Protective Services it was something leadership would constantly have us do, refuse the recommendation for termination of services. The thought would be to get a service provider in the home so that there was someone who could speak on seeing the client recently, when the case manager could not make it to the home, even if services were no longer beneficial.

Specifically, highlight what you see that tells you clients need something more than what the agency, practice, or community setting is offering.

I do not feel as if we are advocating for a client if we are forcing services, when we know they do not need them or that they have proven to be competent. There is a true need for resources, individual therapy, and behavioral therapy for a lot of the clients and their children. I advocated for a referral for behavioral therapy (that was already court ordered) for a client for 2 months before the children were referred. A lack of training mixed with a few long-term bad habits are turning this mental health agency into babysitters. If a clinical associate comes in contact with an individual who is involved with child protective services they should already have the knowledge that there is a “need” for this family. Sometimes that need is not parent education. Sometimes what is needed is information on housing or homelessness prevention. They may need resources that help with resumes. They may need assistance with childcare or medical assistance. All of my difficult cases needed resources. I can only remember 4 cases that truly needed just the parent education.

Identify a program that you think is necessary to address the problem, issue, or gap and explain why.

I know this would be cumbersome, but I believe after intake assessments, supervision should be completed with interns. I do not believe that once a week supervision is enough with a agency that provides in-home services or one on one therapy services. Interns should be taught how to identify a need and a treatment plan should be discussed with the site supervisor prior to the second session. Social workers should protect, enhance, and improve the integrity of the profession through appropriate study and research, active discussion, and responsible criticism of the profession. Additionally, they should contribute to the knowledge base of social work and share with colleagues their knowledge related to practice, research, and ethics (NASW, 2024).

Generate a question that you might ask about your identified need and to whom.

I would like to ask the “Clinical Training Coordinator” and the “Lead Clinical Supervisor” why there is no formal training involved when it comes to practice evaluation or treatment plans. Although I greatly enjoyed my experience, I was introduced to the world of social work for years before I went to my field agency. Many of the interns I met had never worked in the social work or case management field.

 2.CLIENT PROBLEM, ISSUE, OR GAP IN SERVICES

After reviewing a similar problem with my internship, after researching, in my opinion, my agency focuses on therapy more than the behavior issues and how to develop the proper methods and equally apply the methods occurring with the males, as they do with the females. My past agencies, where I completed my internship, focused more on therapy with female survivors than male survivors and how to reintegrate members back into society by focusing on both female and male gaps between prison and gaps between the difference in services and advocating by serving all member equally and not judging a book by its cover but rather how to bridge that gap between judgment, triggers and bridging that gap in services. 

CLIENTS NEED SOMETHING MORE

As human service workers, we must protect all members regardless of ethnic backgrounds, beliefs, outlook on life, etc. Incorporating services like this will help curve the future triggers that the agencies have seen in past male and female survivors who are participating in any therapeutic day program, therapy, and support groups. 

IDENTIFY A PROGRAM THAT YOU THINK IS NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, ISSUE, OR GAP AND EXPLAIN WHY

As social workers, it is essential to pinpoint triggers to lead each member to success. Human service members work with members to determine what members identify between history and the members’ current problems and how to refer members to group and individual therapy who are unable or feel overlooked regarding group therapy options. Suppose you look at data from the past to the present times. In that case, it seems to be a fluctuation problem with male perpetrator survivors that need services, whether they are it is due to being mandated by courts or seeking help for themselves / family. 

Generate a question about your identified need and to whom.

Male survivors are very overlooked, especially when it comes to support groups, job training, housing, and job placement. Males have little to no support groups like ( Men Healing Groups). As an advocate, I have seen male members overlooked as they are supposed to be okay with receiving support and therapy. As females receive housing instead, they are with or without a family. Females also receive a vast amount of treatment and support from agencies. Females have many groups to help with support, like life skills, grief and loss, sexual assault, drug addiction, and domestic violence therapy groups. Promoting such services will promote better advocating for survivors from the agency they decide to reach out to because they feel limited or lost and need therapy and advocating. However, due to limited resources and employees, it is not sufficient to successfully help each member properly with the right resources, which would help minimize the number of members lost in the system. My agency was lacking due to only having eight employees and groups of 15 to 20 members. It needs to hire more employees and not call it learning but just put the hard and extra work into the interns.