Introduction to Social Work

Guidelines:

Address each part of each question.

Include the question number and the question.

Follow each question with brief narrative responses.

Keep questions and responses in order and do not overlap responses.

Provide a heading and reference page as appropriate to identify sources of information (agency websites, agency brochures, interview, policy and procedure manuals, etc.).

1. Provide a brief description of the agency. Include the name of the agency, address, phone number and contact person.

2. What specific needs does the agency attempt to meet? How does the agency identify these needs (observations, client surveys, existing research, etc.)?

3. How do clients initially learn the agency has services to help them meet their needs (i.e., referrals, commercials, word of mouth)? Are the clients voluntary or involuntary (court-ordered)?

4. What are the stated goals and objectives of the agency? Are the goals and objectives clearly defined? From your perspective, are they reasonable? When members of the staff were interviewed, were they able to articulate the agency goals and objectives? How does the agency measure the effectiveness of its program(s)?

5. What are the demographics (age, sex, social economic status, and ethnicity) of the population(s) served? About how many people does the organization serve (tens, hundreds, thousands)? What geographic area(s) is/are served? Are the demographics of the agency's workforce representative of the clients it serves? What languages are spoken by the agency staff?

6. What is the agency's specific written policy for managing its clients' confidential information? Are there circumstances when confidentiality can be breached? If so, explain. During the interview, was the agency staff able to articulate the agency's policy on confidentiality?

7. What services does the agency provide? Does the agency provide outreach services? If so, how are outreach services conducted?

8. What are the eligibility criteria? Do the agency clients have to pay any fees? If so, how much are the fees?

9. What types of human services workers are employed at the agency? What are the requirements (education, degree, certificates, licenses, experience, etc.) for each human service worker position?

10. Does the agency have a cultural diversity training program for its workers? Describe the content of the cultural diversity training program. Is this diversity training adequate? If not, why?

11. What is the agency's funding source(s)? List funding sources in order of the size of each source's contributions? What requirements does the funding source place on the agency?

12. What guidelines, laws, requirements, or restrictions are placed on the agency by Federal, State or local governments in its day to day delivery of services and operations?