Respond to at least one colleague by comparing your agency observations about problems, issues, and needs with theirs. Provide respectful feedback on your colleague's program idea or need-related question.

MY POST:

Describe at least one common client problem, issue, or gap in services or programs at your field agency, practice, or community setting. (If you are not currently in a practice setting, you may draw on your past work or practicum experience.)

The organization where I completed my internship provided assistance to both male and female trauma survivors as well as perpetrators, however there is a significant disparity in the services provided to male and female clients. Female and male survivors are kept away from one another when they attend the same support groups or group therapy in an effort to safeguard clients from being triggered. Compared to male victims and perpetrators, female survivors have access to a far wider variety of support and therapy groups, including those focused on domestic violence, sexual assault, grieving and loss, life skills, and finding safety. Male clients who identify as perpetrators or with a history of domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking are directed to the single group that is offered to them or to individual treatment; they are not given the same group alternatives.

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

The majority of the male survivors and perpetrators who have contacted this agency to request services over the years have done so because of court-mandated requirements. This has led this agency to extend its services to male survivors in an effort to provide them with some measure of healing, but it is not enough to meet their needs. Despite more male clients asking for assistance, the organization feels constrained in what it can do owing to finances and the fact that this is still a relatively small proportion of their overall female clients. There are not yet enough male perpetrators or survivors for the organization to grow.

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

I believe that there should be at least one additional group for men that focuses on sexual assault or domestic abuse against men and is kept apart from the perpetrators so that each group may be precisely customized to the requirements of each member. In order to reduce the stigma associated with the cycle of abuse against men, I also think the organization should employ more men who are eager to engage in community outreach. I think that one of the biggest obstacles to male abuse victims getting treatment is the stigma attached to it, whether it be sexual assault or domestic abuse. Only one male and roughly seven female staff work for the agency. It would be fascinating to observe how the organization, as it grows, may rethink its strategy to better engage men in the community by altering its website, community outreach, community involvement, and services offered.

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

One question that I have for the Governor of Mississippi is what kind of community involvement would enable service providers to successfully deal with male abuse victims or perpetrators to assist them lessen the shame and stigma associated with abuse and encourage them to voluntarily participate in therapeutic or healing programs Needs assessment, a typical review that often takes place in the planning stage prior to launching a program, might help them in rebuilding their agency's programs to better serve both populations (Dudley, 2020).

References

Dudley, J. R. (2020).Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do(3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Colleague's Post:

Hospital emergency departments experience an alarming number of homeless patients that are unhoused (Franco et al., 2021). Providing services to the homeless population is essential to strengthening families and our communities nationwide. Providing housing services supports one part of the need of the homeless population (SVDP, 2023). The other parts require that they receive adequate medical, mental health, job skills, and educational training (Franco et al., 2021). St. Vincent De Paul (SVDP) is a Baltimore, Maryland-based non-profit organization that assists shelter-placed clients with locating a home, moving into the home, purchasing basic home furnishing, and providing rental support (SVDP, 2023). A typical problem multiple clients experienced was the need for employment that was paid enough to provide long-term housing stability. The agency helped clients gain employment through their employment services division. Several clients needed adequate education or job skills training to qualify them for higher-wage employment opportunities. Therefore, the clients had to rely on SVDP for continued rental support. Haber & Toro (2004) explain that the homeless population may have had challenges in school due to intellectual disabilities and an indirect result of housing instability.

Clients were allowed to participate in the SVDP housing program for a maximum of two years. If the client did not find suitable employment within that time frame, they were removed from the housing program and placed back into a shelter. The self-esteem and motivation of the clients appeared shattered, and they expressed feeling defeated from having to start over again. Because they struggled with healthy well-being before entering the program, moving back into the shelter worsened their mental state. As a case manager, it was not easy to accept that the program had several guidelines that could not be altered to meet the client's needs.

SVDP should develop an educational component to the housing program, including a partnership with a Trade School and Community College. This component would give clients additional support to better prepare them for better job placement and successful independent living. It reduces the probability of them returning to shelter placement or public streets. North American Trade School (NAT) in Baltimore, Maryland, offers several trades and provides students with financial aid and employment opportunities upon graduation (NAT, 2023). Baltimore Community College (BCC) in Baltimore, Maryland, has many degrees, trade programs, and courses, including an Adult Basic Education (ABE) program that can provide a solid education and help clients develop social skills (BCC, 2023).

A question posed to the SVDP Housing Program Director is, what is required to develop a memorandum of understanding with a local trade school or community college to assist SVDP with educating clients to reduce the number of homeless families in the Baltimore City, Maryland area?

References

Baltimore Community College. (2023). Adult Basic Education / GED Program.

https://www.bccc.edu/Page/43Links to an external site.

Franco, A., Meldrum, J., & Ngaruiya, C. (2021). Identifying homeless population needs in the Emergency Department using Community-Based Participatory Research. BMC Health Services Research,21(1), 428. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06426-zLinks to an external site.

Haber, M. G., & Toro, P. A. (2004). Homelessness Among Families, Children, and Adolescents: An Ecological-Developmental Perspective. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 7(3), 123-64. https://www.proquest.com/docview/821818801/1D5A7C0E676849D3PQ/2?accountid=14872Links to an external site.

North American Trade School (2023). Job Placement Services.

https://natradeschools.edu/job-placement/Links to an external site.

St. Vincent De Paul. (2023). Homeless Services.

https://www.vincentbaltimore.org/what-we-do/homelessness/Links to an external site.