Human Service Agency Visit - Essay Example

According to Army (2011), the “Army Substance Abuse Program mission is to strengthen the overall fitness and effectiveness of the Army´s workforce, to conserve manpower and enhance the combat readiness of Soldiers.” The difference between the two mission statements is that the Army mission is to ready the soldier for reintroduction to service. The mission and staff are funded by federal funds.

The Army’s objectives are to:
• Increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness.
• Provide services that are proactive and responsive to the needs of the Army´s workforce and emphasize alcohol and other drug abuse deterrence, prevention, education, and rehabilitation.
• Implement alcohol and other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies that respond to potential problems before they jeopardize readiness, productivity, and careers.
• Restore to duty those substance-impaired Soldiers who have the potential for continued military Service.
• Provide effective alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and education at all levels of command, and encourage commanders to provide alcohol and drug-free leisure activities.
• Ensure all personnel assigned to ASAP staff are appropriately trained and experienced to accomplish their missions.
• Achieve maximum productivity and reduce absenteeism and attrition among civilian corps members by reducing the effects of the abuse of alcohol and other drugs.
• Improve readiness by extending services to the Soldiers, civilian corps members, and Family members.

Mr. Dobson has a Master’s degree in Psychology and a license in mental health. He is working on a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy.

When I first walked into the ASAP office on Fort Lewis, it feels like any other building, however, there is a different feeling when you walk into Mr. Dobson’s office. The instant you walk into the room the atmosphere is relaxing. It is spacious and light, with a fountain running in the corner; the room is painted with nice, soothing colors.

Mr. Dobson said the army standard counseling sessions are 90 minutes long. He meets with active military and their family, retired military and federal civilian employees. He said the hardest thing about the job is trying to help someone or families that move every two to three years. Sometimes they don’t try to get help until right before they leave, this leaves a disconnect between services and the families and military can drop the ball.

Mr. Dobson expressed frustration with his job, saying that most of the time he felt like he was just putting a bandage on the situation.

Mr. Dobson stated the hardest issue for him to discern is to know if a client has issues of drug abuse. The army gives a prescription for all kinds of pain. Mr. Dobson stated that he was aware the soldiers go through a lot, so it is hard to determine which drugs are for physical pain and which are used for emotional pain.

Mr. Dobson begins with questions about the client’s family history of drug and alcohol abuse.  Were they abused as a child or adult? What kind of culture and society did they grow up in? Are they suffering from trauma that happened while in military service? (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder sometimes called, PTSD). These all play a big factor in how someone takes medication. This is a major issue in the military because of regular drug testing, and the policy one can be dishonorably discharged out of the military for abusing drugs.  Mr. Dobson doesn’t want someone to get kicked out before getting the help they need. (Norman Dobson, personal communication, May 12, 2011.)

In conclusion, I learned there are many complex puzzle pieces for every patient to comprehend. If I go into the federal government for a Human Services position, I now know I will need a lot of education and training. Learning what the mission, objectives, population, and problems are helped me assess whether this is a good career fit for me. Mr. Dobson was very helpful in explaining the issues surrounding the military service members. I know being in the military made me want to help my fellow soldiers even more, as I have been in their shoes. I now know I am on the right track.