This required Portfolio assignment will give you experience observing and interacting with people outside of the classroom.
It has been designed to provide you with the opportunity to develop skills, synthesize knowledge, and integrate learning in a real world setting. This assignment accomplishes that goal by challenging you to:
• Identify resources that are available in your home community
• Contact individuals in your community who serve as early responders in emergency or crisis situations
• Create a Decision Tree tool that could be used in times of crisis to respond efficiently to a specific emergency situation
The purpose of this assignment is to provide you with the knowledge necessary for creating a Decision Tree linking community resources during emergencies and in times of crisis. Decision Trees are used to quickly identify the resources available in your community and to establish a protocol for contacting these resources when making decisions and referrals on behalf of clients.
Human service workers need to know who to contact and what protocols to follow in case of emergencies (ICE). When working with the public, workers often encounter a variety of circumstances where interventions on behalf of clients become necessary and need to happen quickly. The Decision Tree should help in quickly answering the question of what to do next.
Below is a list of potential services, organizations, agencies, and contacts that may be available in your community. Also consider that you may need to contact family, schools, churches, and other resources that seem reasonable at the time.
• Domestic Violence Hotline/Shelter
• Rape Crisis Hotline/Shelter
• Special Needs shelters
• Pet friendly shelters
• Crisis Team/Facility – mental health
• Crisis Team/Facility – substance abuse
• Child Protective Services
• Emergency Medical Evaluation Team
• Emergency Transportation
• Adult/Elderly Protective Services
• Suicide hotline
• WICK – baby formula provider
• Emergency Pharmacy
• Food Bank/Pantry
• First Responders – Police, Fire, Medical – (Ambulance, FACT Team,)
• Disaster Preparedness Department/Hotline
• Storm Management
• Humane Society
• Translation agencies/volunteer translators
• Guardian Advocates
• Victim Advocates
• Red Cross
• Salvation Army
• Meals on Wheels
Create a Decision Tree in an Excel format or using Microsoft SmartArt (see example on last page). This project is designed for practical application. The Decision Tree can be used in real-life situations and should be designed so that it can be used for various service interventions.In addition to your Decision Tree, include the contact information for each site and documentation of your interviews.
You will conduct a study of the community resources for the field of Human Services. If you are majoring in a different discipline (i.e., I/O or Criminal Justice) you may choose to create a Decision Tree according to your discipline of study.
Step 1: Identify a potential crisis or emergency where you would have to intervene on behalf of a client. For example, a client tells you that she is afraid to go home due to abuse she has been suffering in the home.
Step 2: Identify organizations, shelters, social service agencies, and first responders in your community that could be potential referral sources for this situation.
Step 3: Identify the contact person or department for each of these resources. Be sure to include phone numbers, emails, faxes, and addresses for each.
Step 4: Contact in person or by phone each resource on your list and ask the questions below. Be sure to document each response. Document any important additional information you glean during your information-gathering calls or visits. Be sure to document all of your attempts to reach each agency and organization.
• What is the best way to access the organization’s services?
• Is this the best number to call?
• What are the extents of the services offered?
• What are the criteria for clients to receive these services? Who is eligible?
• How does the organization provide continuity of care to clients? What additional services will be available or offered to clients once they become involved with this organization?
• Will you be able to have contact with your clients once they are involved with this service/organization?
• What is the organization’s policy on client follow-up?
• What role do you or your agency play in responding to emergencies?
Step 5: Once you have made contact with at least seven resources, organize a chart of these resources in a hierarchal order so that you will best be able to respond to the emergency situation that you are investigating. You will have to develop a plan of action and put the first step you need to take at the top with each of the next steps in order of how you would carry out the plan of action. You should have at least three tiers of contacts in your Decision Tree.
Step 6: Documentation – be sure to include a place on your spreadsheet or graph where you can include any required follow–up documentation and notes. You may also put this information in a separate document.
This chart is an example (may not be included in the actual exercise). Excel or SmartArt can be used – using Word >Insert>SmartArt Graphics
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