Complete
You have already identified one community organization within a service category that provides resources to individuals. The organization should be private, government, or non-profit; providing human service resources. You will schedule and conduct an interview with a social work case manager or administrator that manages social work case managers at the organization. You may complete your interview online or by phone. Therefore, you should begin early. Sending a brief list of topics to your interviewee prior to your interview would be beneficial so they can prepare and provide you with comprehensive responses.
Organization Analysis. Label and complete each section below to complete or organizational analysis.
Organization Overview: Provide background information for the organization under study. Describe what the organization is trying to achieve by noting the vision, mission, goals, and objectives. Include information on the flow of management by describing the organizational structure and staffing. If the organization is very large, focus on a particular department or unit providing services. Outline the available program and services and explain how these resources are marketed to clients and accessed by clients (i.e. – referral from other case managers, self-referral from internet/phone intake, etc.). What kind of impact does the organization make in the community? Specifically, how many clients are served annually? How many do they want to serve? Which population is targeted? In addition, describe eligibility criteria and restrictions. Describe the clientele who are served and other constituents who benefit from the organization’s services in the community. Finally, how are the programs funded? How are non-monetary (in-kind) resources procured by the organization?
Thinking Critically about Practice: Describe the dominant model(s) of case management adopted by the organization in serving clients. What roles do case managers typically hold in the organization and how are these roles integrated within the larger organizational context? What are the minimum hiring criteria for case managers (degree, licensure, professional experience, etc.) and how much training is required before working with clients? What processes have case managers considered effective and what barriers have they identified that restrict optimal case planning and management? Describe typical comments from clients: What do they like about the services? What do they complain about?
Diversity in Practice: Describe the diversity of staff and clients in this organization? Discuss how diversity plays a role in service delivery at this organization or within this population of clients. Write about your similarities/dissimilarities to this client population. How comfortable would you be to work with this client population? Identify and discuss at least one challenge or barrier you may experience while working with this population. How can you work to overcome this barrier/challenge?
Promoting Sustainable Practice: In this section, consider factors that promote the long-term sustainability of the organization, its staff, services, and constituent support. Some of the questions you might consider are: What are perceptions of this organization in the community (respected, controversial, unknown, etc.)? How are needs being met by this organization that is different from how other organizations meet this need? What might be some collaborative or partnership opportunities that have not been explored? How does the organization minimize the strain on professional resources (meaning, attention to staff turnover/burnout, continued education/training, recognition programs, and appropriate environmental conditions)? For the person you interviewed, what inspiring stories or events did he/she describe that helps keep him/her going – or – that unites staff/drives the mission of the organization? Finally, identify new ways this organization can diversify its approach to serving clients, providing resources, hiring/ training staff, being funded, or collaborating with other organizations and constituents in the community.
Organizational Assessment: Use systems theory to assess the overall well-being of the organization based on the information you gathered and your impressions. Assess inputs, processes, outputs, environmental interdependence, and stability (homeostasis). Also, identify the strengths and weaknesses of the organization, its’ programs/services, staff structure, funding strategy, and community presence. Make at least two recommendations on how the organization can improve.
Formatting: Your paper should be written in 12-point, Times New Roman font, single-spaced. The paper should be no longer than 5 pages.Items to Evaluate Points Checklist
Paper Outline
Organization Overview: 20 points
• Description of vision, mission, goals, (and objectives)
• Organizational structure and staffing
• Programs and services
• Clientele and constituents
• Funding/ resource support
Thinking Critically about Practice: 20 points
• Model of case management
• Roles of case managers
• Policy/ process/ practice barriers and challenges
• Feasibility/appropriateness of practice outcomes
Self-Awareness of Diversity in Practice: 20 points
• Organization’s diversity portfolio (staff/clientele)
• Reaction to diversity strategy
Promoting Sustainable Practice Contexts: 20 points
• Staff training and preparedness
• Resources and support
• Identifying collaborative partners
Organizational Assessment: 20 points
• Statement of organizational well-being
• Areas of needed improvement/ Recommendations
Final Grade: 100
