My Internship Experience Wilmington Senior Center

1. My Internship ExperienceWilmington Senior Center Heather E. Brown

2. Chapter 1Getting Started • My Feelings and Concerns • Excited, anxious and fearful • Concerned about what I might discover about abilities • Primary Learning Interests • Develop partnerships • Resource development • Referral process • Older Adult challenges • Develop my confidence • My Strengths • Passionate and eager to learn • Likes new challenges • Ability to relate to others

3. Chapter 1Getting Started • My Weaknesses • Second guess myself • Fear of making mistakes and of judgment • Most Important Issues as I Plan Internship Experience • Projects that develop skill sets in area of interest • Only designing marketing materials • Most Exciting Learning Plan Aspects • Networking • Helping Center develop marketing templates • Most Challenging • Getting over my fear of making mistakes

4. Chapter 2Getting Acquainted • Elements of Agency Context Most Learned • Importance of understanding who agency serves • Correlation of socioeconomic status on client health • Political effects on nonprofit organizations • Agency’s Context • Most members are from surrounding city neighborhoods • African American women • High School education • Members and clients are economically disadvantaged • Older Americans Act helps provide agency funding • Services reflect national and local community trends • economic stability and Aging-In-Place initiativesHow Has View of Agency Context Changed • The Center offers more than just bingo

5. Chapter 3Developing Ethical Competence • Ethical Issue • Did not really run into ethical issues • Broader prospective • Emulate administrators who “do it all” • Insights • Great respect for Site-supervisor • Talented and seems to “do it all” • Potential issues with Executive Director who” does it all” • Leave agency vulnerable in absence • Learned how to not be an administrator • My response • Discussed potential issues with Site-supervisor • Recognizes the potential for issues gave an example of how it had already impacted Center

6. Chapter 4Using Supervision • What I Want & Need • Trustworthy and respectful • Empowering, knowledgeable and communicates well • Encourages professional growth and gives Feedback • Particular Challenges • Based on past experiences with Supervisors • Untrustworthy • Disrespectful and condescending • Growing My Supervisory Skills • Internship helpful with identifying what is effective and not effective • Continue to develop assertiveness • Develop supervisory communications skills through course work and practice

7. Chapter 5Integrative Processing Model • Gathering Objective Data • Discussed transportation and access issues with Site-supervisor • Researched and developed report and presentation for Board of Directors • Board member asked an unexpected question about referenced data • Reflecting • Felt unprepared • Possibly made a mistake • Remained calm and provided a response • Identifying Relevant Theory and Knowledge • Looked back over the data referenced • Realized information used could be more accurate • Conducted additional research to answer Board Member’s question

8. Chapter 5Integrative Processing Model • Examining Dissonance • Recognized the validity of the question • Uncomfortable with not seeing the data used as incomplete • My need provide accurate data to support findings • Articulating Learning • Discussed validity of the question with Site-supervisor • Presented Site-supervisor with new data and asked to address the Board • Wrote an e-mail to Board with new findings • Developing a Plan • Future presentation and report data will be given more scrutiny • Prepare for questions during a presentation • Everyone doesn’t wait for Q &A

9. Chapter 6Communicating with Clients • My Experiences • Interviewed a married couple who are clients • Working with groups (committees & collaborations) • Community Education – Health Fair & Grandparent Tutoring program • How Would I Expand Work to Encompass All Levels of Intervention • Work on Committees with agency directors • Discuss with agency Executive Director ways to be more involved • Strengths • Empathy

10. Chapter 6Communicating with Clients • Needs • Improve Active Listening • Evolution of My Communication Methods and Skills • Learned to think before speaking • Become better at recognizing what NOT to say • Most Interesting Areas of Intervention • Case Management and conflict resolution

11. Chapter 7Cultural Competence • Encountered Cultural Differences • Most members and clients are African American Older Adults • Education levels differences • Physical ability • Members and clients grew up living in the city • Agency’s culture is different from my employer’s culture • Culture and Social Location Insights • Gained insight into power differentials • Professionals in higher economic status • First name basis to remove power differentials

12. Chapter 7Cultural Competence • Greatest Cultural Challenge • Friends and family with biases and prejudices • Discussed basis of biases and prejudices • Assess Current Skill Level • More culturally self-aware • Still lack knowledge about various cultures • My Goals • Learn more about cultures and diversity • Remain open to understanding similarities as well as differences

13. Chapter 8Writing and Reporting • Internship Experiences • Oral reports about Grandparent Tutoring program • Developed a written report and presented to Board of Directors • Goals • Become a better grant writer • Practice and look for opportunities to write grants or fund requests

14. Chapter 9Taking Care of Yourself • Sources of Stress • Increase in unwanted responsibilities • Multiple deadlines • Balancing work, school and family life • Self-Imposed Stress • Worry about making mistakes • Not assertively expressing myself • Thinking I shouldn’t need help

15. Chapter 9Taking Care of Yourself • Methods to Manage & Reduce Stress • Eat healthy, get plenty of sleep and exercise • Spend time with family and friends • Set boundaries – know when to say “no” • Pitfalls to Avoid • Recognize that someone else’s issue isn’t mine to solve

16. Chapter 10Ending the Internship • What I Appreciate Most About Internship Experience • Being given an opportunity to learn • Having a generous Site-supervisor • Being given tasks that aligned with learning plan • Supportive Environment • Internship Regrets • Didn’t ask for grant writing opportunities

17. Chapter 10Ending the Internship • Feelings & Wants • Just getting started • Thankful • More confident • Continue learning from Site-supervisor • Continued Personal & Professional Growth • Pursue a mentor

18. Chapter 11Planning My Career • Short-term Goals • Graduate • Prepare for Interviews • Look for employment opportunities • Long-term Goals • Nursing Home Administrator license • Become an Administrator of an organization that works with older adults • What I Need to Learn To Accomplish Goals • Complete final two courses • Complete Administrator-In-Training program