Boys and Girls Club of Chester Internship Experience

1. Boys and Girls Club of Chester Internship Experience By Casondra H. Jackson-Goldsborough

2. Getting Started as an Intern • Both excited and nervous • Excited due to internship/course being the last requirement towards graduation • Excited because I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel • Excited because the internship is an opportunity for me to learn new skills and best practices to • improve current management skills • Nervous about achieving the goals outlined in my learning contract • Nervous how to effectively balance school, work and family expectations

3. Agency Context most Learned • Transition of the Boys and Girls Club of Chester • Program history, mission, staff, services, and funding sources • BGCC’s daily operations • BGCC demographics • Affiliate of National Boys And Girls Club of America • Intern view of agency context • BGCC is driven by National Boys and Girls Club of America goals and expectations • BGCC is guided by community identified need for afterschool programming for youth • ages 6-18 • Operates due to diverse funding ( i.e local, state, federal, and foundations) Getting Acquainted

4. Developing Ethical Competence • No unethical dilemmas present during the internship • Unethical practices in Re-Entry system: • Education process • Employment opportunities • Community acceptance • Policy • Bring awareness to re-entry committee of unethical behavior • Advocate

5. Using Supervision How have I handled responsibility? What you need when entering your first supervisor job? What I want and need in my supervisory relationship? Trust Responsibility Opportunity to develop current management skills Direction Guidance/Support Self-motivated Independent Task-oriented Team-player Asking for help when needed Orientation Clarification Guidance and Support Confirmation Trainings/In-service Risk taker Good listener and communicator

6. Supervision Challenges How did you handle the challenges? Self determination Asked colleagues for support and guidance Schedule meeting with supervisor • No supervision challenges faced as an Intern • Prior supervision challenges • Little to know direction or support • Lack of communication • No opportunity to learn new skills or techniques

7. Learning to Learn from Experience (IPM) • Reflecting and Identifying Relevant Theory and Knowledge • Reflecting stage forces me to review how I have handle a situation and not allow my person views or opinions to cloud my ability to handle a situation ethically and objectively • Identifying Relevant Theory and Knowledge provides the resources, trainings and best practices used to effectively deal with our ever changing issues within the human service field • Openness to recognize your mistakes and build upon them • Sharing internship experience with a new intern

8. Communicating with Clients • Work experience • Chester Youth Collaborative Youth Council (1 ½ years) • Chester YouthBuild (17 years) • Elwyn Institute (8 years) • Level of intervention most experience • Equal opportunity to work with individuals, families, groups and communities in all three places of employment • Intervention areas of most interest • Individual and family • Level of intervention with the least experience • Community (Funders)

9. Developing Cultural Competencies • Limited cultural difference experience in intern • Population served • African American or Hispanic • Poor Social-Economic conditions • Limited employment opportunities • High crime and school dropout rate • Challenges • Limited knowledge, exposure, and experience with diverse populations • Goals • Attend trainings and workshops to improve Cultural Diversity awareness • Volunteer or attend Cultural Diversity events

10. F:\Juvenile Re 3.docx • Overview was used as speaking point with Judges, Probation Officers,Director of Community Liaisons Community and Neighborhood Collaborative, Department of Public Affairs, Delaware County Probation and Courts, Widener Violence Prevention Coalition, and city of Chester Mayor John Linder • F:\probation_officer_questions.docx • F:\Re-entry questions.pdf • Questionnaires presented with Juvenile Re-Entry Project Overview depending on the meeting audience • Strengths of my report is to provide an awareness and purpose for the Juvenile Re-Entry project • Weakness of written and oral reporting • Lack of confidence in writing skills and delivery of oral presentation • Improvements and strategies towards goals • Practice writing more reports • Seek additional writing support • Presnt one oral presentation a month Writing and Reporting Within Your Field Agency

11. Taking Care of Yourself • What are my external and internal stressors? • External stressors • Readjustment of internship hours due to unexpected work obligations • Reliance on others for data and resources to complete intern task • Balance of school, work and family obligations • Internal stressors • Lack of sleep • Feeling overwhelmed due to intern, class and work responsibilities • Stress Management • Rest and relaxation • Improve time management skills • Try not to take on more than I can handle

12. Ending Your Internship • What do I most appreciate? • Field supervisor’s support, guidance, and confidence in my ability to endure and success • Network opportunities with Chester city officials, potential funders, and government agencies • Increase knowledge, appreciation and understanding for what is required to write a grant • A greater appreciation of the Executive Director role and responsibilities • Opportunity to impact Juvenile Re-Entry in the city of Chester • Regrets • Scheduling practicum course during demanding work schedule • My feelings, wants and needs after the internship is to continue learning and improving my administrative skills • Be open to new ideas, approaches and trends with in the human service field

13. Future Goals • Long-term goal • Currently undecided between upper or lower management opportunities and level of involvement and commitment • Short-term goal • Continue working in the human service field where my passion for helping other and leadership skills can make a difference in someone’s life. • Five to ten years from now • Maybe Executive Director of own Juvenile Re-Entry program • If not, still working in a organization helping others

14. Thank You 537400070272975190.weebly.com