Assignment 1: Key Performance Indicator Assignment: Biographical Human Development Paper
The purpose of this project is to meet the Key Performance Indicator tasks for Human Growth and Development. A key part of our work as counseling professionals is to develop a number of skills including self-awareness and appropriate self-disclosure. This assignment facilitates self-awareness by exploring your own lifespan development within the context of the human lifespan and developmental theories covered in the course. This assignment also encourages appropriate self-disclosure. Please feel free to disclose as much or as little as you are comfortable sharing in a professional context.

Instructions: Write a 5 to 7-page research paper in APA format that describes your own lifespan development. Focus on influences that you believe impacted your life, both positive and negative. In this paper you are to

(1) demonstrate your knowledge of human development by synthesizing and integrating theories of development and learning with events and influences in your life,

(2) specify a developmental issue/task for each life stage as defined by the developmental theory you choose,

(3) develop a plan for the future of how you might expect to cope with future life stages.

(4) discuss how your life experiences inform how you will approach your work with future clients.

(5) Include a short wellness plan to help you prevent burnout and compassion fatigue.

Please cite at least 5 references. The references must be peer-reviewed journals or professional books. Please use APA style when formatting your paper. I will hold these papers in confidence. Below are a few items to consider while writing your paper about each stage. Not all of the items below will apply to you.

a. What was happening in your family, your community?

b. How might these occurrences have affected your family members?

c. What prevailing socio-cultural factors that impacted your family' (and your own):

i. Identity development

ii. Gender expectations

iii. Sexual identity development

iv. Trauma and abuse

v. Grief and loss

vi. Family development

vii. Addiction

viii. Spiritual development

ix. What changed as you and your family progressed through the various developmental stages?

x. What theories pertain to the specific developmental ages and unique cultural contexts?

xi. How will you use wellness to cope with the next stages in life?

Additional details on completing this KPI assignment can be found in the attached rubric.

A rubric for this assignment can be found at the end of the syllabus. Students must receive at least a 70% to receive a passing grade. A student who scores less than 70% of the grade on the KPI assignment must complete an Individual Remediation Plan with the instructor. Failure to successfully remediate the KPI assignment will result in a F (Fail) grade in the course.