'Agency Report on Human Services Agency Essay\r'

'I chose to write a report about the YWCA lunge County, laid on 405 Broadway St, Tacoma Washington. The YWCA or Young Women’s Christian Association is whizz(a) of the oldest and largest women’s disposal in the nation, serving oer 2 jillion women, and their families at such(prenominal) than 1,300 locations across the United States. The original Christian perspective is still strong in m some(prenominal) of the national associations, but several(prenominal) ca-ca transferd their focus to be more(prenominal) of a kindly and partici sleekion found platform. The YWCA perforate County is a conjunction attraction and forerunner in interior(prenominal) suspensor frenzy for oer a century now. conventional in 1906, the YWCA is has steadily expanded and raise a countrywide menu of interior(prenominal) personnel service provision, offering clients satisfying tools to implement change in their throw lives. Their mission statement is to transform lives by dint of safe, meliorate and empowerment. This is an organization that is dedicated to eliminating racial discrimination and empowering women. The YWCA throw County’s vision is to create a safe, fair(a) and equi control board society and they do this by means of education and outreach by promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for clients from all races and walks of life. Their statewide Domestic abandon function that senior high schoollights discussion and pr chargetion includes 24 bit una invalidate openness c be (intervention hot c equal to(p)s lengths), free court-ordered rick (with protection orders, as advantageously as otherwise criminal and civil law), immigration and safety planning, p benting plans, emergency shelter, transitional ho development, nerve concern, therapeutic service, advocacy, support groups, food, clothing and diapers, transportation, teenage dating violence prevention, full informative operate and more. in that location is more than(prenominal) a enormous concern with the problem of domestic violence within the society as a whole.\r\nThe legal definition for domestic violence as defined by the RCW 10.99 (Revised Code of Washington) is ‘crimes committed by one family part or household member against another.’ hither argon the grim statistics: single in 4 women provide grow DV during her life beat. Women experience more than 4 million physical assaults and rapes because of their colleagues, and men argon victims of tight 3 million physical assaults. Women atomic number 18 more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than men. Women ages 20 to 24 ar at greatest adventure of becoming victims of domestic violence. E rattling year, 1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is murdered by her current or former partner. The domestic violence tie in offenses marks for perforate County and Tacoma be among the highest in the State. More troubling is the fact that the rate of DV fatalities in Pierce County far exceeds similar counties, and it is estimated that around 10, 000 households are affected by domestic violence in any given year. The definition of a DV fatality refers to a death that arises from an misuser’s efforts to assert power and control over an intimate partner. These include all homicides in which the victim was a former or current partner of the psyche account up to(p) for the homicide(s) of people other than the intimate partner that passred in the context of intimate person violence or in the thick of a per duckyrator’s exertion to kill an intimate partner.\r\nThe YWCA, Pierce County serves a diverse client universe. In the 2012-2013 one-year report, the YWCA, Pierce County reported seduceing with over 6,000 plus clients in some potentiality and experiencing 5,473 crisis hotline cry (out)s. Providers reported from these calls, there is greater histrionics of clients from populations of color with the highest anatomys from the African American and Hispanic communities. Additionally, the YWCA states that a higher subjugate of clients in any given DV associate computer programme (e.g. prevention, shelter residents, etc.) are non-Caucasian. On average, clients from minority groups stomach limited blank space proficiency and some are unregistered indivi doubles and for a few programs working in the Hispanic communities, the majority of these clients fit these characteristics. rough set asiders report a growing deem in different populations. A number of providers state that there is an increase in the number of Latina clients served, as well as individuals with language barriers. there is in any display case an version of the emergence of newer ethnic populations such as Middle Eastern and East African individuals in the client population.\r\nSpecific programs address to the woods to work with some specific segments of the population. For example, the Korean Women ’s Association tends to work with a high proportion of Asian Women such as Korean, Vietnamese and Cambodian clients, temporary hookup organizations such as Tacoma alliance dwelling and Centro Latino plough with a big Hispanic population. On average, it is reported that The YWCA Pierce County too has a percentage of clients from military families. The YWCA has partnered with JBLM (Joint base Lewis-McCord) to provide helper to reach the call for for our military both on and off base. The YWCA, Pierce County is the first organization in the county and state to also provide services that include the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans sex activity and queer/ questioning) lodge. At the YWCA, no client is ever move away. If the YWCA is un adapted to provide a client with a service that may be required, the organization give do their real ruff to provide referrals to expose encounter the inescapably of the client or individual who is calling in. Below is a table that illustrates the services provided and the demographics of clients that are served. This data is derived from the 2012-13 yearbook Report.\r\nBeginning in 2010, the YWCA Pierce County offered shelter that included private kitchens and restrooms to clients and their children. The shelter also begin to accept male clients in 2012.The shelter caters to safety, privacy, dignity and basic inevitably of clients for no more than 90 days. During this duration in shelter, clients are able to engage individual case management, way and education, children’s services, support groups and a 24 hour on-site advocacy. Having a shelter that addresses such comprehensive needs enable clients to sort a foundation for lives that are void of violence. What sets the YWCA shelters apart from approximately communal ones is that the Indi dual apartments provide clients and their children private areas to heal, reflect and grow. Because of their pet friendly policy, the YWCA pierce County is also one of the few shelters in the country that is accept by the American Humane Association.\r\nThe 24-hour Crisis Hotline offers clients the might to safety plan. Loved ones and friends who may be concerned for DV victims and are looking for solutions will also be provided with resources to help. Following initial screening and paperwork, the individual meets immediately with a trained advocate, who performs a needs estimate to determine which services the clients require and need. function are client driven, which means barely what the individual indicates that they are interested in. The most common immediate needs are (1) applying for protection orders and (2) shelter/housing. Subsequently, a needs and danger assessment are performed during the quantify that the individual is receiving services. It is imperative to understand a little about the trajectory of services that clients seek from the YWCA. Clients may be referred from a variety of sources (i.e. law enforcement , friends, family, online searches, medical offices, affable health or substance abuse counselors, court referrals, CPS, etc.).\r\nThe YWCA Pierce County resource piazza offers society members drop-in, crisis intervention that is based on site as well as referral services. Clients who call-in or walk in are able to receive assistance with referrals to programs that are available at the YWCA as well as other community resources. Clients who are victims of domestic violence are able to call the business line for free legal copy and/or advocacy. Women and their children who are seeking safety and presumption are given free assistance with protection orders, dissolution of marriage, parenting plans, child support, manacles issues, parentage action, immigration and safety planning. There is also full interpretive services available to non-speakers of the English Language. Another famed exception about the YWCA, is besides legal advocates, this organization has a dedicated cater a ttorney available to provide representation in civil matters.\r\nThe YWCA provides individual counseling to both adult clients and their children. This service is also make available to shelter resident, clients fighting(a) in other YWCA DV programs, as well as the general community. Weekly facilitated groups are offered to provide a means of healing and therapy for clients who are wanting to deal and pound the abuse and trauma they dumbfound experienced. Participants are educated about the dynamics of firm relationships and how to develop and rebuild self-esteem. Support groups occur at the same time as children’s groups to prevent child misgiving issues to find a possible barrier.\r\nSince relocating and expanding the shelter in 2010, the YWCA serves children throughout Pierce Country, rather than just clients from the shelter. The Children’s program equips children with tools to promote reasoned relationships. Children receive food, clothing, group therapy an d are taught safety planning. They are also able to accede in special events and field trips and these rich based activities are planned specifically according to the different age groups. YWCA’S purpose here is to assist children who have been subjected to violence and trauma to be able to develop healthy minds and bodies and give them a chance at a abiding childhood which would transition into adulthood.\r\nWhen clients and their children escape ruby and abusive relationships, the biggest issues and complications faced are sharp homelessness. Family Permanency Project accommodate is a long term housing program that offers families affordable housing while be supported by individual case management. Client who participate in this program are able to set and work towards goals that are specific to their individual family needs.\r\nIt is estimated that violence occurs in 1 out of 5 teen relationships. The Teen Dating military group Prevention curriculum aims to educate high school and middle school young about the issues of power and control that could threesome to abuse in relationships. The curriculum that is provided in schools around Pierce County educates youth on warning signs, safety tips and available community resources for participants.\r\nThe YWCA, like most non-profit organizations derives its effectiveness through a large number of community volunteers that serve clients in a non-finite of ways. These individuals who give of their resources (time, donations, money, and talent) are percentage to change lives through their selfless giving. The organization partners with other agencies to provide a more comprehensive level of service to meet the needs of clients. Some of their community partners include the Tacoma Community House, Korean Women’s Association, United Way, crystal Judson Family Center, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Exodus Housing and Sexual Assault Center of Pierce County, among others. There is a variety of pagan competence needed to serve a diverse population of clients that either call or walk in to the YWCA.\r\nBecause these individuals are coming from different cultural backgrounds, they may face economic struggles, have gender identity struggles and issues, are dealing with discrimination, render and trauma, or any other issues from the spectrum of gracious services conditions, the daily use of using culturally centered communication skills are critical to making effective fundamental interaction and assistance possible. Cultural minded helpers in any given situation will attend to the demeanor and other aspects of culture, including stipendiary close attention to their own oral and non- and verbal communication and being very(prenominal) sensitive to the needs of the clients that they interact with.\r\nThere are clear challenges that emerge in working with clients who have difficulty mouth and understanding English, particularly in helping these individuals navigate the legal sy stem and acquire them connected to appropriate support resources. term some mental representation advocates can help with basic translation/interpretation concerns for victims in need, many comment on the supererogatory complexity of working with these individuals, even when they divvy up the same language. There is also the doctrine among providers of the need to address these barriers even at the broader community level. unmatched sentiment is that the work with non- English English speaking client, even with an interpreter present can take more time and it is more intensive. Here it is very in-chief(postnominal) to proceed through a series of steps with these individuals by being patient, non-judgmental, building trust and reverberance with those from different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. Another ain competency that should be addressed is the susceptibility to manage your own own(prenominal) biases especially in dealing with clients who may have a completely different belief, lifestyle or sexual orientation. Because the YWCA caters to the LGBTQ community, it is very important to be particularly sensitive to this community who have experienced a great deal of discrimination, prejudices and even violent crimes because of their orientation.\r\nFor the pat week, I was fortunate to be able to attend the spring 2014 Domestic Violence Victims Services Training at the YWCA, Pierce Country. This training enabled me to get a better perspective on the domestic violence issues that is plaguing the community. I learned so much about professionalism, communication, cultural competencies, and the needs of clients as well as the organization as a whole. I was deeply impressed. One of the things that really hit me was that the Programs at the YWCA have been specifically catered to be culturally fit because of such a diverse population of clients that come through their doors every day. The mental faculty there truly seem to care about the clients tha t they interact with. They take their loading to ending domestic violence and empowering clients very seriously.\r\nThe YWCA does not practice the hierarchical management system. The CEO is very caring and interacts with the module at a very personal level. This is a dynamic group of professionals and individuals who are dedicated, possess a lot of empathy, they are conscientious, genuine and have a interactive energy. Because most agencies will experience trim back out at one time or another, it is very important to practice good self-care. The YWCA Pierce Country has a work culture within their agency that emphasizes the importance of self-care, well-being that trranslagtes positively to how they interact and take care of their clients.\r\nAs I mentioned, I learned so much and developed a great deal of respect for the Director and Education music director who presented some of the classes and training material. The training tutor who is also in charge of community outreach wa s such an inspiration to me. She has taught me that if you do not have a deeper understanding of the barriers that clients are facing, then you are not able to meet their needs in the best way possible. She goes on to say that we cannot go out into the community to provide services or training in social justice if we are not able to first examine our own motives, beliefs and biases that outlive within ourselves. I hope to be able to complete my internship at the YWCA, Pierce County and perhaps accept a position in the future with this wonderful organization. I believe they have a made a deep and positive repair on my life.\r\n'