Report on Field Placement

Report on Field Placement Amy Salomone SW 4441 Wayne State University

Report on Field Placement Mission/purpose of the agency I intern at Turning Point, which is a domestic violence and sexual assault shelter. The mission of the agency is to provide programs and resources that enable survivors/victims of domestic violence and sexual assault regain control over their lives and become more empowered. Overview of the population served Turning Point works with female survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault within the Southeast area of Michigan. In many cases, this includes the male and female children of the survivors, as they may also be victims of domestic violence as

well. Turning Point has also helped to counsel family members of the survivors that may also being having a hard time with the situation, such as, the mother of a survivor that may feel guilty about not seeing the signs of violence and helping their child sooner. Your role within the agency I am an intern in the Community Advocacy Program (CAP) department of the agency. Within CAP, we are given two clients/survivors each semester and we act as their advocate for 12 weeks. For this period we provide emotional support, crisis management, and help gather resources based on their long and short-term goals. As an advocate in CAP, I do not have a typical internship. I do go to the agency 2 days a week for 8 hours a day; I create my own hours by working with my clients in order to meet with them once a week. I also get hours when I am working on behalf of the client, such as, searching online for resources. Sometimes I find this stressful because I have to worry about the amount of hours I have to get done as required by the university.

Report on Field Placement Recently, I have helped my client get out of the home in which her

landlord/mother was harassing her and got the client into shelter; I also helped her get out of the hospital after her mother signed a mandatory involuntary psychiatric petition against her; as well as helping her find a way to Tennessee in order to appear at a custody trial for her children. Although it has been a very full 2 weeks, this shows the diverse issues we help our clients with within CAP. Other disciplines represented within the organization There are numerous other disciplines within the agency. Others departments include support services, which is a general area of agency that helps organize events within the agency. This department also runs programs that help benefit the survivors, such as, group therapy, fundraising events, and other special events ran by Turning Point. I have referred my client to many of the services organized by the support services department, such as, trauma groups. The shelter aspect of Turning Point provides a safe haven for survivors and their children. They are given room and board to get away from their batterer and refuge to try and piece their lives back together and start again. My client has currently retuned to shelter after a rough patch. I have been able to get an inside view of what shelter is, and although it is certainly not a fun place to be staying, it had been instrumental in helping clients get away from their batterer and get out of their dangerous situation. Another department within the agency is the childrens department, which works with the children of the survivors. This department provides childcare and support to the children that are also coming out of situations of domestic violence. These children are provided with a security, whether it is through play, counseling, or just providing a safe environment. In

Report on Field Placement many cases, Turning Point employees and volunteers provide another, or in some cases,

the only person a child can confide in. Since my client is currently fighting for custody of her children I have not had much interaction with this department. The volunteer services department is extremely important. This organizes the tasks, and amount of individuals, that volunteer for the agency. Volunteers are involved in almost every department of the agency; if it were not for volunteers the agency would not be as successful as it is. Our volunteers provide an invaluable amount of service and support to the domestic violence and sexual assault survivors and their families. However, CAP does not allow volunteers because the work needed to advocate for the client can be intense and complex; therefore, only interns are allowed to work within this area. Next, the crisis hotline provides crisis intervention to victims and survivors that call. Turning Point provides this service as an open ear for those that need help. Volunteers and employees work in this department, and provide invaluable support to those in need. Lastly, Second Hand Rose is the resale shop run by Turning Point. Many people in the community are kind enough to drop off donations to be sold in the shop. Proceeds from Second Hand Rose go to help the efforts of Turning Point, whether it is for more programs for survivors or buying items needed at shelter. These extra funds help Turning Point provide the services so desperately needed by the clients. In the past, I have gotten my client Second Hand Rose vouchers in order to get the tangible items. This helps them immensely, so they can get items they need for discounted or free.

Report on Field Placement How Clients Access/Enter the System, Eligibility, Intake Policies, and Procedures

Clients enter the system in a number of ways. They may come to the agency only seeking counseling. Clients seeking counseling from our therapists need only to be survivors of domestic violence or sexual assault. Then they are able to make an appointment to see one of the therapists on staff and receive the counseling they seek. The eligibility for shelter is a little different. It is dependent on the situation and the availability of space within the shelter. Survivors seeking shelter are put on a list, which ranks the lethality of their particular situation. Turning Point tries to accommodate as many clients as they can, and those they cannot accommodate are referred to other shelters that can possibly help them. If there is space available there is an intake process in which the survivor must agree to the shelter rules and sign a contract ensuring they understand, such as, chore assignments. Once they are in shelter, how long the client will be staying depends on their needs; for example, if the client has found they are eligible for government housing, then they no longer need shelter anymore. Also, the number of others seeking shelter, or the demand, also effects which clients are able to stay. The status of the client staying in shelter is re-evaluated every week. In CAP, we use current and former clients that are, or have been, in the shelter at Turning Point. They are asked whether they want to take part in the program and involvement is based purely upon their agreement and desire to have an advocate for the next 12 weeks. All services rendered to the clients, no matter what department they are in are recorded in the agency computer system, so that that the hours of services and other vital information can be recorded.

Report on Field Placement How clients Progress through the System There is no set progression through the system at Turning Point. Every client and their circumstances are unique; we never see the same case twice. The client is in complete control of their journey. Of course, we try to get them back on their feet by providing resources, services, and support; however, it is up to them to take control of their lives and decide which goals and issues they are going to address while they are utilizing the agency. Therefore, it is true that the client will get out of the agency what they put into it. Countless survivors have just given up and returned to their abuser because it is too difficult to start over on their own, or it is easier than doing the work. However, if they are willing to do the work then they will reap the rewards of becoming more empowered, independent, and hopefully, living free of the abusers power and control. How clients Leave/Terminate the System Clients at Turning Point are complete control of their decision-making; this is what we refer to as empowerment. They are able to partake in as many or as little of the programs or services provided by Turning Point. The client makes all decisions for

themselves even if the decision puts them at risk. For instance, if a client were to go back to their batterer we do not condone this, but we understand that this is their decision and they have consciously made up their mind. Turning Point will still support the client and provide services as much as we can in an attempt to keep them safe. Clients continue with Turning Point for as long as they want. Some clients come into counseling once and leave never to be heard from again; the same is true of shelter. One day the client may pack up their bags and leave without telling anyone and give no

Report on Field Placement way of contacting them. Again, this is their choice and if they choose to discontinue services, or leave the premises, this is their decision and we do not try to convince them to do otherwise. In CAP, clients are able to drop out of the program at any time without completing the whole 12-week period. After the 12 weeks is up the relationship between the survivor and the advocate is terminated. This is why it is so important to discuss termination throughout the duration of the program. This shows respect for the client by preparing them to accomplish tasks on their own without the help of the advocate. Agency's Commitment to the Community and Surrounding Areas Turning Point provides services not only to survivors and their families in Macomb County, but we also have clients in Wayne and Oakland Counties as well. In many cases, services are provided to the community in order to create a fundraising opportunity for the agency. For example, the Tara Grant Walk/Run provided a recreational activity for those in the community to take part in as well as provided funds for the agency. Allowing community members to partake in activities that indirectly

provide services to the clients helps community members feel connected to the cause, and feel good about the help they are providing. Another example is Trunk or Treat; this event is put on by Turning Point every October. Trunk or Treat provides a safe and controlled environment for children in the community to Trick or Treat. In return, Turning Point asked for donations from those that are sponsoring and decorating a trunk in order to help the agency thrive.

Report on Field Placement Conclusion In conclusion, Turning Point is a great agency to intern for, I have learned so much since I started. I began at the agency feeling unprepared to care for clients of my own despite the amount of training that was provided. But each week I learn and grow, and feel more comfortable with my role as an advocate in the CAP program. When listening to my peers talk about their internships I feel extremely lucky because I am learning and experiencing so much every day, and every week that no one else gets to experience. Turing Point is a unique agency that focuses on the empowerment of survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and I am fortunate to perform my fieldwork at this location.