Running head: COMPETENCY-BUILDING ACTIVITY- KNOWING THE ENVIRONMENT

Competency-Building Activity- Knowing the Environment

Concordia University

HS 550 Issues in Human Service Administration

Brittany Serpico

14 September 2013

Competency-Building Activity- Knowing the Environment

When viewing the political, economic, social, and technological factors most likely to affect the clients in the new program Generation Connection, one needs to focus on both the elders and the students. I’ve interviewed Brad Berens, the Executive Director of AVCOA (Antelope Valley Committee on Aging), with whom I’m helping form this new program. The first question I asked was “what does he think are the political, economic, social, and technological factors that would be most likely to affect the clients?” The second question I asked was “how can we assess the needs and strengths of the program’s community?” Thirdly, I asked, “what factors of culture and diversity would have the greatest effect on our clients and the program?” Berens gave a thorough explanation, which is summarized in the body of this paper.

In regards to political factors, the program will be considered a model worthy of expanding and duplication. While the program will be small to begin with, its impact would not be lost on local and county governments and departments, most notably Adult Protective Services who receive referrals on self-neglect cases which in some cases could be addressed by this program (Berens, 2013). Community volunteerism is something that local governments discuss and like to brag about. “School Districts too, would want duplication in each high school” (Berens, 2013). Brad continues the topic of political factors in regards to the students:

The program breaks down stereotypes of ageism commonly held by young people, consider the resentment of some young people thinking the oldsters are using up their “social security”. As the boomers (and later Baby boomers “echo”) continue to age, societal issues will surround issues like the resource management of health care, (i.e. expense of a transplant for an older person vs. life expectancy).

When referring to economic factors, seventy-five percent of our clients live at or below the federal poverty line with the remaining twenty-five percent living at or below the California Economic Security Index for Seniors (Berens, 2013). The clients benefit from in-home help that they could not otherwise afford. Not only will the elder clients benefit, but also the students would be helping gain experience and knowledge to help them advance in their future careers.

In regards to social factors, the clients we are focusing on are homebound, isolated, and without social networks. The social component, especially intergenerational, positively will affect the well-being of the clients and students. “The interaction improves overall health, eliminating to a degree depression in the client which improves overall health” (Berens, 2013). In regards to the students, they learn the value of life well-lived, which becomes motivational to them and expands their knowledge, first-hand, of altruism. “The values of older people are inculcated and as a group, the students will dialogue on the difference the program has impacted them” (Berens, 2013).

In regards to technological factors, the only thing we could think of is that students could bring laptops for life history documentation of the elder. Also, use documentation to record “results in the phenomenal aspects of the electronic age as they teach the elder the wonder of the net and social media” (Berens, 2013). Often times when I am out in the field working with clients, the elders often have questions about their computer at home and I am able to give them advice and assistance if needed.

Assessing the needs of the client is pre-determined by a formal assessment performed by the professional staff, including myself, a Case Manager. We already have a wait list of clientele from the Home Delivered Meals (HDM) program and soon to be a wait list on the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP). The strength of the program will be formally determined by the re-assessments of our clients with the client being stabilized according to activities of daily life (not witnessing a further decline) (Berens, 2013). “In a more formal sense, I anticipate targeting joint clientele of AVCOA and Hi Desert Medical Group where the medical component is tracked for stability too” (Berens, 2013). Another indicator may also be the reduction of hospital readmissions per client (Berens, 2013).

Culture and diversity challenges would include the recruitment of students who are culturally appropriate to the client in terms of language, shared culture for ease of being able to relate to the elder (Berens, 2013). Final life histories would have to be written in the client’s primary language in addition to English to satisfy the living document for client and family as well as the scholastic aspect of a final paper to the student’s instructor (Berens, 2013). In terms of culture and diversity, the act of serving rural areas where typically no resources are available should also be considered. “There are inherent issues of culture and diversity simply in play because of geographic isolation over and above the common issues of ethnicity” (Berens, 2013). The issue of economics (generally lower income people in rural areas) also lends itself to the culture of the area (Berens, 2013).

Interviewee’s Information:

Monday, September 9, 2013

Brad Berens (Executive Director)

Antelope Valley Committee on Aging (AVCOA)

(661)942-6244

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