For the most part I love the way that the Juvenile Justice Department at the Girl Scouts is run. Everyone including the fellow staff members, supervisors, department heads and senior staff members are very flexible and willing to work through problems with and accommodate their employees. The downside to this flexibility is disorganization and lack of effective communication. I believe that if these two concerns were addressed that the work week would run much smoother and a lot of wasted time could be salvaged and we could get a lot more done. For instance, we have a list of duties that all program specialists are to complete every week in addition to individually assigned tasks. We never know what has or hasn't been done because no-one has come up with an effective way to relate this information to each member of the team. Another problem is lack of direction from our supervisors. When given a task, a lot of the time I am very confused and have to ask several questions or just figure out a way around the problem. Although this has taught me to be resourceful it gets to be quite frustrating.
In order to tackle both these problems, I propose that our office implements a a system of task sheets. This sheet would have a due date for projects and a full description of the task to be completed. The employee fills out the task sheet daily, including notes or special instructions for fellow staff members, until the project is completed and places it in a common Program Specialist file. Every day each staff member can check on the progress of projects and can lend a hand where necessary. I learned this organization method from my student jobs, working for the Department of Student affairs on the Downtown Campus. I received clear instructions from my superiors and was able to provide them with exactly what they wanted in a timely fashion.
This strategy would enhance communication by first of all giving clear and concise directions and keeping all parties in the loop of what is going on. In order to implement this idea, I would introduce it at the next staff meeting, gauge the responses and take into consideration the input of fellow staff members. Then with improvements, I would begin the procedure the week following the meeting.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
The Interview
On friday monrning I sat down with Carol in a secluded room and I conducted my interview. She seemed a little uncomfortable with some of the questions and explained to me that she was currently experiencing some of the problems addressed by some of the following questions. I think that I already knew that and that's why I chose her for this assignment. It was very eye opening and I got to see her more as a person than as a supervisor. I enjoyed hearing her answers and pulling from her wisdom and experiences.
L: What types of challenges do you face on a daily basis?
C: Mostly managing the staff, they can be a bit lax when it comes to policies and procedures. Also inspiring the girls in the program to stay on the right track. It gets frustrating ad disheartening when they re-enter the system.
L: How do you deal with internal politics?
C: I do Yoga, go for a walk, vent to superiors in the council like Barb to brainstorm on alternatives and ways to best handle the situation.
L: What do you like about your position?
C: I love working with the girls plain and simple. I do it for the girls.
L: What do you feel can be done to make your job easier?
C: Training other staff members in all office procedures and programs so that we are never short staffed and so that everything doesn't fall on my shoulders when something goes wrong.
L: Do you work better in a group setting or on an individual basis?
C: On certain things like paper work, I work best by myself. When it comes to programming, I love working with others, having them jump in with their knowledge and ideas.
L: Do you find yourself ever bringing your work home? I have that problem especially when I am concerned about the actions or situations of one of the girls.
C: I do that too. Sometimes the girls call me at 2:00 in the morning and I can't just say that I'm off work so I can't help you. Sometimes I have to call the police or take someone to the hospital. You have to learn to draw the line though. Home is my sanctuary and I try to leave what I can at the office.
L: What is your ideal work environment?
C: Functional and effective communication is really important and a strong boss/leader.
L: How does your personality help or hinder communication with others?
C: My passion both helps and hinders. Sometimes it can be misunderstood and I think my tone has a lot to do with it. On the other hand I think that it also inspires others, staff and the girls.
L: How has your education prepared you for your position with the Girls Scouts?
C: I studied Sociology, so I think that is has enabled me to better understand people. I take into consideration more when I deal with a person like culture, background, community and home environment. I think that it has made me less judgemental and more accepting.
L: Do/ did you have a mentor at this organization? How has that helped you?
C: I had a few different people that I have looked up to and modelled my behavior after like Ruby Q and Stephanie. They're not here anymore but I admired the way that they could handle every situation and knew where to find resources. They guided me and helped me to adjust to this new environment when I first started.
L: Thank you so much for doing this. I know that it was a bit uncomfortable for you at times but I got a lot of great information. You were very helpful.
C: No problem, I hope that you got everything that you needed.
L: What types of challenges do you face on a daily basis?
C: Mostly managing the staff, they can be a bit lax when it comes to policies and procedures. Also inspiring the girls in the program to stay on the right track. It gets frustrating ad disheartening when they re-enter the system.
L: How do you deal with internal politics?
C: I do Yoga, go for a walk, vent to superiors in the council like Barb to brainstorm on alternatives and ways to best handle the situation.
L: What do you like about your position?
C: I love working with the girls plain and simple. I do it for the girls.
L: What do you feel can be done to make your job easier?
C: Training other staff members in all office procedures and programs so that we are never short staffed and so that everything doesn't fall on my shoulders when something goes wrong.
L: Do you work better in a group setting or on an individual basis?
C: On certain things like paper work, I work best by myself. When it comes to programming, I love working with others, having them jump in with their knowledge and ideas.
L: Do you find yourself ever bringing your work home? I have that problem especially when I am concerned about the actions or situations of one of the girls.
C: I do that too. Sometimes the girls call me at 2:00 in the morning and I can't just say that I'm off work so I can't help you. Sometimes I have to call the police or take someone to the hospital. You have to learn to draw the line though. Home is my sanctuary and I try to leave what I can at the office.
L: What is your ideal work environment?
C: Functional and effective communication is really important and a strong boss/leader.
L: How does your personality help or hinder communication with others?
C: My passion both helps and hinders. Sometimes it can be misunderstood and I think my tone has a lot to do with it. On the other hand I think that it also inspires others, staff and the girls.
L: How has your education prepared you for your position with the Girls Scouts?
C: I studied Sociology, so I think that is has enabled me to better understand people. I take into consideration more when I deal with a person like culture, background, community and home environment. I think that it has made me less judgemental and more accepting.
L: Do/ did you have a mentor at this organization? How has that helped you?
C: I had a few different people that I have looked up to and modelled my behavior after like Ruby Q and Stephanie. They're not here anymore but I admired the way that they could handle every situation and knew where to find resources. They guided me and helped me to adjust to this new environment when I first started.
L: Thank you so much for doing this. I know that it was a bit uncomfortable for you at times but I got a lot of great information. You were very helpful.
C: No problem, I hope that you got everything that you needed.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Shadowing
On Wednesday, I shadowed Carolina who is one of the Program Coordinators for the Juvenile Justice program at the Girl Scouts. Her job encompasses a wide array of responsibilities, including but not limited to completing paper work including budgeting items, girl scout registration, office orders, developing and coordinating the programming for about 4 groups of girls included in under the Juvenile Justice umbrella of programming, over seeing the interns and other program specialists, attending various workshops and seminars and doing miscellaneous jobs that need to be completed e.g. gassing vans and calling girls for program.
She began her work day promptly at 8 am. She organized her appointments and started off with any paper work that she needed to have completed. I then helped her box the donated items that the girls from Adelante Jovencitas collected the night before during their community service "Can or Treat program". We then hopped into one of the Girl Scout vans and drove to a warehouse to pick up some diapers that Carol had ordered for the upcoming "Baby Camp" weekend next March. After we stacked the boxes in the back of the van, we headed back to the office, to pack carts for the program at Durango Juvenile Jail. We left for the jail at 11 am and were cleared to enter at about 11:40 am.
We entered a large room decorated with Halloween drawings, colorings and crafts with about two visible floors. In the center of the room was an opened area where about 12 girls dressed in the same grey sweater, blue pants and blue tennis shoes sat in a semi circle with their heads down. Carol asked the officers if we could begin program and then started talking and joking around with the girls. She pitched out Adelante Jovencitas program to the girls, encouraging them to join when they were out. She showed me how to take attendance and register the new girls. She then continued with an icebreaker. She asked the girls each to share something that they liked about themselves. When the girls were all done sharing, We passed out plates and makers for the plated designing activity. Both Carol and I went around and monitored the girls progress and discussed their craft with them. When they were done, we collected our materials, answered the girls questions and packed up to leave. We then drove back to the office.
When I got back to the office, I stacked the diapers in the store room, while Carol and Melissa started making calls for our DIVINE and Girl Scouts Beyond Bars programs on Thursday and Saturday. At about 5pm we got ready to go home. It was a pretty long day but I enjoyed it. I learned jail procedure and all the rules associated with interacting with the girls. Carol and I also had a lot of time to talk about the different programs and I discussed with her the issues that I was having adjusting to some of the demands placed on me by my internship. She educated me on how to handle certain situations and disclosed to me that she would be handing off the Durango program to me in a few weeks. I was very excited but a little scared also. I really do love this kind of work and empowering this population of young women. I can only hope that they will benefit from the work that we do.
She began her work day promptly at 8 am. She organized her appointments and started off with any paper work that she needed to have completed. I then helped her box the donated items that the girls from Adelante Jovencitas collected the night before during their community service "Can or Treat program". We then hopped into one of the Girl Scout vans and drove to a warehouse to pick up some diapers that Carol had ordered for the upcoming "Baby Camp" weekend next March. After we stacked the boxes in the back of the van, we headed back to the office, to pack carts for the program at Durango Juvenile Jail. We left for the jail at 11 am and were cleared to enter at about 11:40 am.
We entered a large room decorated with Halloween drawings, colorings and crafts with about two visible floors. In the center of the room was an opened area where about 12 girls dressed in the same grey sweater, blue pants and blue tennis shoes sat in a semi circle with their heads down. Carol asked the officers if we could begin program and then started talking and joking around with the girls. She pitched out Adelante Jovencitas program to the girls, encouraging them to join when they were out. She showed me how to take attendance and register the new girls. She then continued with an icebreaker. She asked the girls each to share something that they liked about themselves. When the girls were all done sharing, We passed out plates and makers for the plated designing activity. Both Carol and I went around and monitored the girls progress and discussed their craft with them. When they were done, we collected our materials, answered the girls questions and packed up to leave. We then drove back to the office.
When I got back to the office, I stacked the diapers in the store room, while Carol and Melissa started making calls for our DIVINE and Girl Scouts Beyond Bars programs on Thursday and Saturday. At about 5pm we got ready to go home. It was a pretty long day but I enjoyed it. I learned jail procedure and all the rules associated with interacting with the girls. Carol and I also had a lot of time to talk about the different programs and I discussed with her the issues that I was having adjusting to some of the demands placed on me by my internship. She educated me on how to handle certain situations and disclosed to me that she would be handing off the Durango program to me in a few weeks. I was very excited but a little scared also. I really do love this kind of work and empowering this population of young women. I can only hope that they will benefit from the work that we do.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
My Future Career
My immediate career goals include going to graduate school for Social Work specializing in family and children studies and going into the Peace Corps depending on which opportunity presents itself first within the next year. With a Master's degree and relevant experience in the Peace Corps, I am hoping to build up to a successful career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, providing counselling services to families and children, working with at risk youth and perhaps becoming a motivational speaker on diversity awareness and appreciation and social justice.
My internship presently offers me the opportunity to gain experience working with at risk young women, developing programming and being a positive role model. For example this week, I am planning and facilitating a program on substance abuse. Instead of simply lecturing the girls on the types of drugs out there and why they are bad, I intend to approach this topic from the point of view of the anthropologist, a deeper and more complete examination of the problem that is substance abuse. I want to discuss with the girls why they are at risk for substance abuse, why people use, who it affects, and where to get help. I believe that experiences such as these will improve my public speaking and programming abilities and teach me how to connect and interact professionally with clients. My internship is also educating me on how to work well with others and how to problem solve. I believe that these skills will help me to eventually become a competent Social Worker.
I would very much like to continue my work with the Girl Scouts and I am hoping to grow within the organization. I love the team work atmosphere, and I am very passionate about the work that we do. I am a bit perturbed at times by the disorganization and lack of direction that I receive in the work that I do but that is all part of working in the area of social services and I have learned very quickly that I have to be extremely flexible to function in this kind of environment.
My internship presently offers me the opportunity to gain experience working with at risk young women, developing programming and being a positive role model. For example this week, I am planning and facilitating a program on substance abuse. Instead of simply lecturing the girls on the types of drugs out there and why they are bad, I intend to approach this topic from the point of view of the anthropologist, a deeper and more complete examination of the problem that is substance abuse. I want to discuss with the girls why they are at risk for substance abuse, why people use, who it affects, and where to get help. I believe that experiences such as these will improve my public speaking and programming abilities and teach me how to connect and interact professionally with clients. My internship is also educating me on how to work well with others and how to problem solve. I believe that these skills will help me to eventually become a competent Social Worker.
I would very much like to continue my work with the Girl Scouts and I am hoping to grow within the organization. I love the team work atmosphere, and I am very passionate about the work that we do. I am a bit perturbed at times by the disorganization and lack of direction that I receive in the work that I do but that is all part of working in the area of social services and I have learned very quickly that I have to be extremely flexible to function in this kind of environment.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Connect Concentration Areas to Applied Study Site
The majority of the classes that I have taken throughout my college career have been extremely eye opening and educational. I feel that many of the concepts that I have been introduced to within my concentration areas and even within my general studies courses in one way or another can be applied to my internship.
Within my Anthropology concentration, I have been exposed to the culture and lifestyles of peoples around the world. I have learned to appreciate and embrace diversity in all of its forms. I have become aware of my own ethnocentric attitudes, those of others around me and in my society and I try to dispel those attitudes in my girl scouts through programming that encourages open minded attitudes and celebrates diversity. The Girl Scout organization in itself values diversity in the work place, in its employees, members, clients and in the services that it provides.
The courses within my music concentration examined the history of various genres and how those genres blended and evolved into what we enjoy today in addition to basic music principles. What I have taken away from this is the idea that in order to effectively understand and change the present and future, you have to study the foundation and history of how things got that way. At the Girl Scouts, we are supplied with and encouraged to read text on teens with a variety of issues and problems and educate ourselves on passed programming in an effort to better understand our girls and supply them with the best resources, information and skills.
My Social Work course has introduced me to the concept of client empowerment where by you supply the individual(s) that you are working with, with the tools to improve their situation but ultimately success or failure is in the hands of the client. At my internship, through programming we provide the girls with information on many issues that we feel are relevant to them, from college preparation, to substance abuse prevention. We believe that education and knowledge is empowering. We can only hope that they choose to take the path that positively enriches their lives.
My Social Work class has also stressed the importance of professionalism in the way you dress, converse and interact with clients in order to maintain an atmosphere of respect and trust. This is essential to my work with the Juvenile Justice program. I always need to be aware of what I say and the way that I act when I am around the girls. I have to know where to draw the line by not disclosing too much personal information and also by not taking my work home with me. It has been extremely difficult for me but I am finally grasping that concept.
Within my Anthropology concentration, I have been exposed to the culture and lifestyles of peoples around the world. I have learned to appreciate and embrace diversity in all of its forms. I have become aware of my own ethnocentric attitudes, those of others around me and in my society and I try to dispel those attitudes in my girl scouts through programming that encourages open minded attitudes and celebrates diversity. The Girl Scout organization in itself values diversity in the work place, in its employees, members, clients and in the services that it provides.
The courses within my music concentration examined the history of various genres and how those genres blended and evolved into what we enjoy today in addition to basic music principles. What I have taken away from this is the idea that in order to effectively understand and change the present and future, you have to study the foundation and history of how things got that way. At the Girl Scouts, we are supplied with and encouraged to read text on teens with a variety of issues and problems and educate ourselves on passed programming in an effort to better understand our girls and supply them with the best resources, information and skills.
My Social Work course has introduced me to the concept of client empowerment where by you supply the individual(s) that you are working with, with the tools to improve their situation but ultimately success or failure is in the hands of the client. At my internship, through programming we provide the girls with information on many issues that we feel are relevant to them, from college preparation, to substance abuse prevention. We believe that education and knowledge is empowering. We can only hope that they choose to take the path that positively enriches their lives.
My Social Work class has also stressed the importance of professionalism in the way you dress, converse and interact with clients in order to maintain an atmosphere of respect and trust. This is essential to my work with the Juvenile Justice program. I always need to be aware of what I say and the way that I act when I am around the girls. I have to know where to draw the line by not disclosing too much personal information and also by not taking my work home with me. It has been extremely difficult for me but I am finally grasping that concept.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Organizational Structure - Multidisciplinary or Interdisciplinary?
In my opinion, overall, the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus Pine Council operates in a more interdisciplinary than multidisciplinary manner. The organization is divided into teams rather than departments and these teams are organized like a matrix rather than a hierarchy in that no team is viewed as more essential to the success and functioning of the company and the teams all rely on each other in some way. The teams are as follows, the Executive Services Response Team (ESRT) whose focus is organizational leadership, the Public Identity Response Team (PIRT) who is responsible for handing all matters related to the public identity of the Girl Scout establishment, the Volunteer Services Response Team (VSRT) who organize the many volunteers that contribute time to the company, the Area Teams who work to retain and increase Girl Scout membership and the Direct Services Response Team (DSRT) who are responsible for programming and which is the team that I am a part of. These teams work individually of each other to achieve yearly and team goals and this can be seen as multidisciplinary because they all provide a variety of different services but work within the same organization. However, these teams cannot exist or function without each other. They all contribute to the general mission of the girl scouts and draw on each other's skills, knowledge and experience. For instance, the DSRT could not develop, coordinate and facilitate programs for the organization if the Area teams did not work to recruit and retain girl scouts. In this way the teams are all connected in a very important way to each other and this link supports an interdisciplinary framework.
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