Field Final Paper Completed

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Navarro College *

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MISC

Subject

Sociology

Date

Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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5

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MACRO Field Paper Instructions I. Give a brief description of agency and services provided. This nonprofit organization assists low-income families and individuals in the surrounding area who have become homeless due to divorce, domestic violence, unemployment, health problems, etc. To receive housing assistance, clients must first reside in a local homeless shelter, where they are then placed on the CAS list. This list is intended to refer individuals to agencies that provide housing assistance. Programs within the housing sector include Rapid Rehousing (RRH) and the Emergency Housing Voucher Program (EHV). The RRH program offers twelve months of rental assistance and utility allowances based on the individual's income. EHV is a two-year case management program for individuals receiving emergency housing vouchers. Case managers are responsible for comprehensively understanding the needs of their clients, providing them with basic necessities, and offering training opportunities to assist them in becoming more self-reliant. Its prevention services include the Housing Stability Services Program (HSS), utility assistance, and rental assistance. In the HSS program, participants receive funding to help with moving-related expenses, such as application fees, deposits, and administrative fees. While this program does not provide rent assistance, it is beneficial for those in the process of relocating. The agency has a housing navigation team that finds housing units for clients. The role of housing navigators is to locate apartment complexes that accept vouchers and assist their clients in applying for a rental unit. Furthermore, Under 1 Roof has established partnerships with several faith-based agencies and partners, such as Housing Forward, Dwell with Dignity, and many more, to provide long-term solutions to those experiencing homelessness. II. Summarize assessment information. 1. Provide a summary of the agency’s clients’ demographics. Demographics consist of ethnicity, race, education, knowledge; age, gender, and social economic status provide an estimated percentage for each item. Under 1 Roof offers support services to homeless and low-income individuals and families in the Dallas and Collin County community. Under 1 Roof serves a client demographic that consists of the working poor and those who live below the federal poverty level as of 2021. In U1R, 50% of the clients are families, 78% are African Americans, 60%
are females, and almost half are children or youth ( Support under 1 roof on NTX giving day ) According to Under 1 Roof's 2021 report, it served 503 households with a total of 979 individuals including children ( Support under 1 roof on NTX giving day ). Support under 1 roof on NTX giving day . NTX Giving Day. (n.d.). Retrieved April 9, 2023, from https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/Under-1-Roof 2. What are the most common needs of the clients that come to the agency? For instance, if the agency has a closing closet, food pantry, rental assistance, etc., which service is utilized most by clients. Although all of the organization's services are in high demand, the agency receives a high volume of calls for its prevention services, particularly rental and utility assistance. Regarding housing assistance, the referral-based nature of Under 1 Roof means individuals do not go through an application process through the agency, but rather a multi- step process that begins with a case manager at a homeless shelter. Individuals will not be eligible for our services if these steps fail to be completed, which can be difficult for those who are not willing to staying in shelters or who cannot find a shelter with space available. In contrast, applying for rental assistance does not require a referral, and can be completed and submitted online. As the process of applying for rental and utility assistance is relatively quick, there tend to be high volumes of calls and applications each month. 3. Explain the effect of socioeconomic status on client. Support your argument with research regarding the effects of socioeconomic status on human development, education, and/or health. An individual's or group's socioeconomic status is related to their position within an established social structure, reflecting their social class and status. People's socioeconomic status can have a profound impact on their lives in a number of ways. Although the two factors may not seem related, studies have found that "Socioeconomic status ... is a powerful predictor of ill health. Studies have found increased morbidity and disability in individuals who are socioeconomically disadvantaged" (Kivimäki et al., 2020). Kivimäki, M., Batty, G. D., Pentti, J., Shipley, M. J., Sipilä, P. N., Nyberg, S. T., Suominen, S. B., Oksanen, T., Stenholm, S., Virtanen, M., Marmot, M. G., Singh-Manoux, A., Brunner, E. J., Lindbohm, J. V.,
Ferrie, J. E., & Vahtera, J. (2020). Association between socioeconomic status and the development of mental and physical health conditions in adulthood: A multi-cohort study. The Lancet Public Health , 5 (3). https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468- 2667(19)30248-8 4. Define culture and its significance in social work. Based on the definition of culture, define and explain a minimum of two cultural factors that affect the clients. Culture refers to a system of behaviors that includes thoughts, traditions, values, and beliefs of a particular racial, ethnic, religious, or social group. The term is often used to describe a complete set of practices handed down from generation to generation. Social workers often interact with people from different cultural backgrounds, which makes culture an important aspect of their work. To be effective, social workers must strive to understand the cultures of those they serve and to support them in a culturally sensitive and respectful manner. A cultural factor I have observed with several clients is their spiritual beliefs. In some cases, belief systems influence how people view and interpret situations. A person's religion can occasionally be a source of comfort, especially if they are going through troubling times. This is something that should be recognized and respected. Cultural factors like customs and traditions should also be taken into account, as some social workers may have to accept cultural traditions while maintaining their professional boundaries. In some cases, navigating the situation could be challenging, but social workers need to know their limits in order to establish a quality professional relationship with the client. 5. What are the agency’s strengths? Limitations? During my time here at Under 1 Roof, I have noted the leadership style adopted by the field supervisor as a strength. As well as being considerate to her staff and interns, she is also willing to shoulder some of the workload when necessary. Throughout the entire staff, new ideas are always welcome and openly discussed. Moreover, I would also say that their commitment to the cause is one of their most significant strengths. Together, they have partnered with a variety of nonprofit organizations to make even greater strides toward a better community and a better world. In regard to the limitations, I've seen instances where their workforce is understaffed. However, this
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limitation plays an integral role in the interns' learning experience, as we are taking on some of the case manager's workload, giving us valuable real-world experience. 6. How is your agency impacted by policy? Name and show how one specific policy has had or could have had a meaningful effect on the agency. Policies influence the organization's programs and enable the agency to achieve its mission more efficiently. Additionally, government policies affect incentives for individual and institutional giving. As a result of a law passed by Congress, the Section 8 affordable housing voucher program was created. The program provides low-income families with affordable rental housing. This policy determines both how Under 1 Roof will serve its clients and what services their clients can access. III. Summarize goal planning, the intervention plan and the actual intervention. 1. Does the agency have a strategic plan or long-term goals? If so, when did it start and when does it end? What goals and objectives were developed? Who developed them? Currently, Under 1 Roof is participating in the MDHA's Dallas Real-Time Rapid Rehousing Initiative. An overarching goal of this initiative is the successful rehousing of 2,700 individuals experiencing homelessness. Being a member of this program requires Under 1 Roof to take on a fixed number of clients to contribute effectively to MDHA's housing goals. The housing objectives started in October 2021 and are scheduled to end in October 2023. 2. Do the goals and objectives need to be changed? If so, why? To meet Housing Forward's overall program objective, my field supervisor determined that they would need to increase the number of clients for the Rapid Rehousing case workers. Housing Forward's goal cannot be changed automatically. The Rapid Rehousing program's future and funding depend on whether they meet these goals. 3. What other resources are available in the community with the agency? A number of resources are available in the community where Under 1 Roof is located. An aspect of Under 1 Roof that I found to be particularly useful was the resource spreadsheet created for case
managers and interns who may require additional resources for their clients. Among the resources on this spreadsheet are links to shelters, mental health centers, food pantries, and other support services that can be found all throughout Dallas and Collin County. 4. Does the agency collaborate with other agencies? If so, who? Provide a specific example of a collaboration the agency has. As part of Under 1 Roof's mission to fight against homelessness, it is partnered with a number of nonprofit organizations, one of which is Dallas Furniture Bank. A major focus of this agency is providing furniture that meets the basic living needs of families and individuals who are transitioning from homelessness to independence. In addition, Dwell with Dignity is a partner organization comprised of interior designers and volunteers dedicated to creating soothing and inspiring homes for families experiencing homelessness and poverty. To illustrate this point, Dwell with Dignity recently did a home reveal for a client of Under 1 Roof. As part of the service, the house came fully furnished and equipped with any basic living necessities the family might require. IV. Provide 2-3 recommendations for the agency to better assist their clients going forward Having more resources available to assist the Spanish-speaking population is one recommendation that I would make for this agency. I frequently encounter Spanish speakers requesting housing or rental assistance who have difficulty navigating the housing system and understanding the application process. There have been times when I have received calls from callers who could not utilize the website because it was only in English. As a whole, I recommend being mindful of any language barriers that may make seeking help more intimidating.