E-Portfolio for AHS 8100

KRISTEN WILSON
GLOUCESTER COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Prior to starting assess interest in government

work

Holistic view of Human Services

Challenge of going from program to government

Specific Interests

Mental Health
Youth Services

Strengths
Weaknesses

Chapter 2 Getting Acquainted

The Gloucester County Department of Human

Services is responsible for coordination of planning

activities and administration of the commissions and
boards which serve in an advisory capacity to the
Board of Chosen Freeholders

(Gloucester County New Jersey 2015)

Chapter 2 Continued
NPOs that receive county/state/federal funding are

bound by the requirements.

Even when they know better than the funder, they must
comply.

GCDHHS serves at the pleasure of the Board of

Chosen Freeholders.

Education and advocacy on the government level will better

serve the needs of residents.

Chapter 3 Developing Ethical Competence

Difference in handling

ethics from a direct

service staff person to an
administrator.

Chapter 4 Learning to Learn from Experience

Diverger learning style

Concrete Experiencer
Reflective Observer

Importance of holistic, big picture thinking

Integrative Processing Model

Gather data
Reflect
Identify theory and knowledge
Examine dissonance
Articulate learning
Develop a plan

Chapter 5 Using Supervision

Preferences:

Creative control

Provide an overview, then allow me to work on my own

Holistic view
Appropriate delegation

Experience with new Mental Health Administrator

Chapter 6 Communicating in Your Internship

Employment Experience

Individuals, families, groups, and communities

Internship Experience

Working with the same community and also groups

No direct services at all
Hoping to gain experience with political engagement and
advocacy

Chapter 7 Developing a Cultural Competence

Internship Experience:

Socioeconomic (2009-2013)

Median household income $74,524

Persons below poverty level 8.1%

Gender
Education (2009-2013, age 25+)

High school graduate or higher 90.9%

Bachelors degree or higher 28.4%

(United States Census Bureau 2015)

Chapter 7 Continued
Estimated Population of Gloucester County as of

2014 290,951

Persons under 5 years 5.5%

Persons under 18 years 22.9%
Persons 65 and up - 14.1%
Female persons 51.4%

(United States Census Bureau 2015)

Chapter 7 Continued
Racial/Ethnic Diversity of Gloucester County:

White 83.9%
White (not Hispanic/Latino) 79.4%
African American 10.8%
American Indian/Alaskan Native - 0.2%
Asian 3%
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander - 0.1%
Two or more Race 2%
Hispanic/Latino 5.7%

(United States Census Bureau 2015)

Chapter 8 Writing and Reporting within your Field Agency

Presentation to the Gloucester County Human

Services Advisory Council

Domestic Violence Awareness

Strength

Knowledge of the topic

Provided with a PowerPoint

Weakness

Anxiety
Word fillers

Chapter 9 Taking Care of Yourself

Vicarious trauma and burnout
External Stressors

FT employment, FT school, internship, the rest of my life!

Use of calendars and planners

Internal Stressors

Generalized and Social Anxiety

Self Care

Deep breathing
Quiet meditation
Boundaries
Not responding to emails after hours

Chapter 10 Ending your Internship

Appreciation for the macro view of human services
Civics Lesson of the Day from my supervisor
Future plan:

Continue to foster relationship with GCDHHS

Importance of involvement in local government

Chapter 11 Planning your Career

Short term plan (1st quarter of 2016)

Fostering relationships in community and GCDHHS

Completing the Disaster Response Crisis Counselor trainings
in March
Submitting my resume and letter of interest in employment
with GCDHHS

Long term plan (ongoing throughout 2016)

Look into need of Civil Service Test

Keep in contact with my site supervisor
Networking
Reassess/revise in 2017

Questions? Comments?
THANK YOU