Professional Development and Professional Goals - Essay Example

Professional Development al Affiliation Part I: Professional Goals Profesional Introduction My major professional goal is toadvance my career as a Graduate Human Services professional. With a constantly changing world, the societal needs of the populations are also changing. Taking up a graduate course in human services offers me an opportunity to gain knowledge and practices that are up to date in my field. In addition, taking up online classes is great because the lessons are only designated for particular days in a week and this means that I do not have to overwork myself with intensive weekend sessions. This leaves more time for personal life and personal study (University of Washington Professional and Continuing Education, 2014). Professional and Academic Background My enrolment in graduate online learning is also very timely in my life because I am young and possesses significant work experience as a Human Services professional. My aspirations to climb up the career ladder comes after going through high school at Wingate high school followed by college Monroe College where I majored in human services and counselling. Much credit goes to my high school life where I realized my interests in impacting change in societal needs and engaged in various volunteer activities. I found myself inclined to assist the homeless and those lost in domestic abuse. As I joined college, I made up my mind to study a program where I will not only assist the needy through my services, but also assist them with counselling and mentorship that could engage them to actively seek change in their lives. During my volunteer work and after my course completion, I have managed to work with numerous employers, most of whom have been very supportive, translating my work into a record of past high productivity and effective performance as a human service professional. Besides my employers, my peers are very supportive and believe that being a graduate human services will not only be crucial in my industry today but also in the future. Goal Statements and their relation to Academic Research My major goal is to become a Human Services professional who will be in the forefront in assisting as many women and girls as possible in escaping from abusive backgrounds, while ensuring that homeless people are included in government funding to secure homes them. Besides learning, my academic research will boost my ability to use analytical skills in the work immediately, thus minimizing instances of forgetting what was taught while observing accuracy and relevance of research data used (Longfellow, 2012). I believe that by engaging in online collaboration and discussions, I will learn from the experiences of other working adults as well as share my experiences to benefit others during my contribution in conversations. Reflection of Walden’s mission statement E At Walden, the mission statement is to create a community of professionals with the capacity to transform selves as scholars and positively influence the society. As a graduate student, this mission guides me to first gain relevant knowledge, and use it as a human service professional to transform others. Attainment of Advanced Degree Related to goals Through this course, I believe that I will gain significant knowledge and experience from the program’s emphasis on practical and real-world skills and knowledge. Part II: Educational Background and Research Proficiency My formal and informal learning experiences greatly support my course as a graduate student in human services. As an undergraduate student taking counselling and human services degree, numerous courses fit into my career goals and aspirations. Academic Coursework in the Social and Behavioral Sciences The human services, systems course enabled me to understand systems and institutions that have evolved in response to social needs and the impact of social issues on families and individuals that the systems and institutions are designed for. Additionally, the course on case management and interviewing improve my understanding and role as a case coordinator or manager, especially since the course emphasized case conceptualization, problem recognition, goal assortment, and review (Woodside & McClam, 2014). Academic Course and Other Fields The course in human services administration also contributed immensely in my knowledge and experience as I gained knowledge and skills in organizational theory in relation to human services settings, supervision, funding, consultation, and training. Volunteer Work In addition to academic course work, I have gained intensive experience from volunteer activity as a family interventionist in a mental health agency where I worked with colleagues from various fields and patients from different races, backgrounds, and ages. Professional Presentation, Seminars, Training, and Workshops In order to fit into my current employer, agency, I received professional training on multiculturalism in counselling and human services and was also involved in a research that involved collecting data to offer crucial leads on how to improve the services at the agency. This improved my confidence levels in dealing with patients and intervening during crisis. However, I still have to improve in promoting collaboration when working with teams within the agency. I believe there is room for improvement of teams such that each member has a specific and well defined roles that prevent conflict of interest. Past Research, Publications, and Teaching Assignments In the past, I have engaged in research required for coursework hence, this was never published. I would also love the opportunity to teach as a university instructor to despite never having taught previously. Access to Research Materials To produce research for publication as my masters thesis, I have acquainted myself with several online databases like Cinhal, Proquest, and Medline. I also have full access to Walden university library. Strengths and Weakness In this course, I come in with intense experience on human services given my six years of work at the Bright Star Agency. However, I also bring in the limitation of being poorly acquainted with the systems and technical skills required to learn online, and I have very little experience using online learning management systems. Conclusion In summary, this course is not just a great opportunity for me to advance my career, but also an opportunity to learn the current trends and practices within the human services field and apply them in practice. Part III: Plan of Study and Program of Study form Overall Learning Goals My learning goals include improving on my research and evaluation skills, understanding the ethical and legal issues in human services, and gaining financial management and management skills (Hansenfeld, 2010). Through the graduate course in human services, the curriculum offers practical knowledge on successful operation of human services leaders such as supervision, strategic planning, and research and evaluation and I am willing to aquire this skills to improve on my work delivery and performance. References Longfellow, W. H. (2012). Evangeline with Notes and Plan of Study. United States: Tredition. University of Washingtonm Professional and Continuing Education. (2014). Navigating Grad School as a Working Professional. Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://www.pce.uw.edu/newsroom.aspx?id=6216 Woodside, M., & McClam, T. (2014). An Introduction to the Human Services. United States: Cengage Learning. Assignment #2: Additional Insights On The Importance Of Using Peer Reviewed Articles Importance of Using Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles Using such articles in one’s work, therefore, means that the article’s content is has been properly vetted, hence constitutes information of high quality and significance to a given field. Consequently, the quality of work produced by citing peer reviewed journal articles is very high and academically acceptable. Analyses Of The Works Of My Colleagues Like one of my colleagues, I agree that when an article is peer-reviewed, it means that such an article adheres to the editorial standards that make it acceptable for publication. Another colleage admits that peer-reviewed articles use crucial and effective research strategies that students and other scholars can make use of in their own research. These strategies are reliable because they have been subjected to comprehensive and high standard peer review process that eliminates any instances of bias, false assumptions, and inappropriate theories that may arise from poor research methods. As peer reviewers go through research papers, they ensure that the best level of validity can be proven from any data and information and this means no invalid conclusion, or incorrect assumption prevails in the paper content. Description of the Peer-Reviewed Journal Article I Selected In the article by Brubaker, Amatea, & Torres-Riven (2013), I carefully examined and distinguish scholarly from non-scholarly sources, especially based on the credentials of the peer reviewing panel. Clearly, this paper adheres to the rules of peer-review articles as is not from obscure journals that are associated with a lower bar for acceptance. On the contrary, the Journal of Addition and Offender Counseling is highly regareded in the field of addiction and counselling. Additionally, this jurnals does include world class experts in addiction and offender reviews, thus making the content less reliable. In identifying peer-reviewed journal articles, I will be keen to also check the place of publication and review (Weller, 2001). The authenticity of the peer review panel also contributes greatly in eliminating reviewer’s bias that may favor a given direction by defining clear review policies. References Brubaker, M., Amatea, E., & Torres-Riven, E. (2013). Barriers and Supports to Substance Abuse Service Use Among Homeless Adults. Journal of Addictions and Offender Counseling, 34, 81-99. Weller, A. (2001). Editorial peer review : its strengths and weaknesses. Medford: Information Today. Assignment #3: My Online Learning Experience An Explanation of Two Strategies From my Colleagues I agree that effective time management skills and effective and appropriate communication are great approaches towards online learning. With proper time management, online learners manage to have sufficient time to read the syllabus, plan their study times, connect with fellow student, and ask questions. How I will Apply These Principles In my learning, the syllabus presents the best game plan or road map of success (Palloff & Pratt, 2007). Managing time to ensure that there is sufficient time to read is crucial since it will work well in finishing assignments on time, engaging in discussions, and clarifies instructions making them familiar and easy to figure out. Additionally, managing one’s time means that one can plan for their study times by ensuring that they are regular and successfully accomplished. Additionally, the more time one has to go through the syllabus, the more questions they ask for clarification of unclear concepts, either in the classroom or when connecting with their friends or online classmates. In addition, proper communication enables online learners to seek assistance whenever they need from teachers and their colleagues. With proper communication skills, it is also possible that a student will grasp even the non-verbal cues and effectively use the tools provided for the class to communicate. Post a Suggestion My suggestion is that no matter the strategy one has, online learners must seek to have the right technical skills (Palloff & Pratt, 2007). Take for instance a person who carefully plans their time to study. Lack of basic technical skills to navigate the online learning site or download items could result to unproductive use of time planned for something else. Additionally, for a person with good communication skills, but has no knowledge on how to use the provided communication tools, then this will result in too much time wastage seeking for assistance. References Palloff, R., & Pratt, K. (2007). Building online learning communities : effective strategies for the virtual classroom. San Francisco: Willey/Jossey-Bass. Assignment #4: Service Strategies Service Strategies that Might be Helpful to John In the presentation, Chahana has accused John domestic assault and remanded. Upon his release, he lives with his sister and is anxious and sad. At the macro level, I will seek to create a great inter-professional partnership, such that the client can have access to necessary requirement such as housing, finances, therapy, and the current employers.. On the macro level, case management to facilitate improved coordination that will assist in eliminating instances of poor services or ineffective resource utilization due to fragmented care (Hansenfeld, 2010). My role as a human service professional is to empower people and when working with disempowered populations, I have to keenly evaluate the implication of population labelling on empowerment effectiveness. In addition, I am responsible for ensuring that the organization I work with obtains community support through identifying shared values and ensuring that the community does not take the organization for granted making it lose legitimacy. On the contrary, I will lead the organization in continually identifying any unresolved issues such that the commitment to the organization is redefined to align with the society’s understanding of the issues. This process is known as cyclical legitimacy process. Additionally, when staff understand the cyclical legitimacy process they become away of the commitment to the community and seek to have the organization’s positive impacts retained by the community. I am also responsible for serving the community with conciseness, fragmentation, and diversity because I need to spend as little time as possible on one task and to adopt proficient superficiality (Hansenfeld, 2010, p. 103). References Hansenfeld, Y. (2010). Human Services as Complex Organizations. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Assignment #5: Developing my writing In human service provision, I have learnt that human service the first goal involves the identification of issues such drug and substances in families, societies, and among individual. With such information, it is then possible to apply human service intervention strategies such as identification of associated risk factors and protective factors that can prevent chronic instances of drug and substance abuse (Mandell & Schram, 2012). In addition, such information facilitates testing, dissemination, and promotion of the use of evidence-oriented addiction prevention and early intervention strategies. Since these strategies focus on preventing the client from episodes of addiction, they will work well on the micro level since they are based on assisting the individual. Furthermore, a strategy to identify risk and protective factors to avoid chronic addictions will also be useful amongst addiction patients. Since some persons have multiple problems to be addressed during helping relationships, it is necessary to have a strategy that accommodates paying for such services so as to guarantee timely and comprehensive services. Since clients in need of human services live amongst families or communities or both, meso level strategies will play a crucial role. Another goal would be to assist eligible affected individuals and families such that they can access relevant health and social services (Mehr, 1998). One strategy to meet such a goal would be to reinforce outreach and involvement activities such as inspiring programs that support case management to recognize individuals and families in need of human services, or promote activities such as outreach workers who will work as case managers (Mehr, 1998). Another goal at the meso level would be to empower community and state partners such that there is improved response to families and individuals affected by addiction (Mandell & Schram, 2012). This would mean developing a strategy that involves working with involved parties such as county officers and community organizations so as to retain a policy focus on addiction. Attaining such a focus would involve sharing information amongst members and encouraging the spread of such information using newsletters or other communication modes (Walden University, 2014). At the macro level, one strategy to assist eligible affected individuals to access human services is to improve the review process for identifying eligible persons. This would mean changing policies such that they promote inclusion of, say, addiction assistance programs among all units permitted to conduct suitability and enrollment obligation for prevailing programs. In addition, the operation of prevailing programs that serve addicted persons with the aim of improving service provision to the addicted persons should be examined. Service improvement could be through the identification of barriers and challenges experienced by states and developing action plans to elevate prevailing resources’ access. In order to guarantee that the services provided to clients are high quality, service providers’ training and technical assistance to clients is essential including those with chronic addictions. Some activities involving highlighting promising and best practices for use in implementing strategies include workshops, peer-to-peer learning, and discussion sessions. In addition, a strategy to develop, distribute and use blueprints and toolkits would enhance service delivery. References Mandell, R., & Schram, B. (2012). An introduction to human services: Policy and practice . Boston, MA: Pearson Education. Mehr, J. (1998). Human Services: Concepts and Intervention Strategies. London: Allyn and Bacon. Walden University. (2014). Developing a Paper: From Discussion post to Course paper. Retrieved from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/415.htm#schedule.­­­­­­­ Read More