GrassrootsCommunityBuilding

SOWK 210

COMMUNITY SERVICE –LEARNING PACKET

This packet contains:

  1. Guidelines for Service Learning Experience
  2. Community Service-Learning Site Approval Form
  3. Community Service Learning Contract
  4. Student Evaluation Form of Learning Experience
  5. Volunteer Evaluation of Supervisor
  6. Community Service Learning Journal
  7. Service Learning Opportunities
  8. Community Service-Learning Time Log

GUIIDELINES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE

The goal for students in this service-learning experience is to gain familiarity with the social service delivery system of a particular agency/organization and the role of the social service provider. The following guidelines for structuring the volunteer community service experience:

  1. Gain familiarity with the philosophy, history, mission, and services of the agencies.
  1. Gain familiarity with the consumers of services and the issues and challenges faced by them.
  1. Gain familiarity with the role of the social worker/social service providers within the agency.
  1. Develop awareness of relevant social issues, to include (policies, client issues, resource issues, cultural diversity, values and ethics, etc.) that provide challenges for the agency or the consumer.

Potential activities may include:

  1. Observation of social service provider
  2. Group facilitation
  3. Intake assessments
  4. One-on-one interactions with clients
  5. Development of activities, field trips, etc. for clients
  6. Attend meetings (staff meetings, client meetings, etc)

COMMUNITY SERVICE – LEARNING EXPERIENCE SITE APPROVAL

Name:______

Agency:______

Agency Address______

Agency telephone number:______

Agency contact person (supervisor)______

Agency type (public welfare, private, residential, etc):______

Service schedule (start date):______

(days/times):______

Type of experience expected (duties, activities, etc.)______

Additional Comments:

Instructor Comments:

______

Date

Instructor



Dear Colleague:

Thank you for your willingness to work with a VirginiaStateUniversity student who is fulfilling the service-learning requirements for the GrassRootsCommunityBuilding course. This course is offered through the Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice Department and is an introductory course for social work majors. Students in other majors may enroll in this course as an elective course. We have found that this course is a natural complement to coursework for psychology, sociology, and education majors.

Each student is required to complete a minimum oftwenty-five hoursof volunteer community service in a social service agency. The students select an agency from a list provided by the instructor. With approval from the instructor, the student may arrange a volunteer community service experience at a site not listed. The student is required to complete the volunteer experience by the 13th week of the semester. As part of the volunteer service experience, the student will:

  • sign a community service learning contract;
  • maintain a time sheet provided by the instructor;
  • maintain a journal following in which she/he will address activities /experiences, new learning, challenges, future plans, etc.;
  • develop an integrative paper; and
  • make a class presentation.

The content of the final paper is two-fold. First, the student is asked to describe and reflect on their experience, and secondly, integrate the experience with relevant social issues that impacts the agency. I also ask the students to:

  • interview at least one staff member or volunteer and incorporate that information into the final paper and
  • provide a verification and evaluation form to be completed by the service-learning supervisor.

In an effort to aid the student in having an optimal experience in her/his introduction to social service delivery, I have compiled a partial list of suggested guidelines and activities to consider in structuring the volunteer service experience (please do not feel limited to these suggested areas):

  • Gain familiarity with the philosophy, history, mission, and services of the agency.
  • Gain familiarity with the consumers of services and their issues and challenges.
  • Gain familiarity with the role of social work/social services within the agency.
  • Develop awareness of relevant social issues, to include: (policies, client issues, resource issues, etc.) that provide challenges for the agency or the consumer

Potential activities may include:

  • Observation of social service provider(s)
  • Participation in social service delivery activities
  • Group facilitation
  • Intake assessments
  • One-o-one interactions with clients.
  • Development of activities, field trips, etc. for clients.
  • Attend meetings (staff meetings, client meetings, etc.)

Again, I want to thank you for the contribution of your time and experiences in helping our students develop an awareness of the social service delivery system. I hope that the experience will be as meaningful and helpful to you and the agency as it is for the student. Please feel free to contact me at ______if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Instructor

COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING CONTRACT

The student agrees:

  • To be punctual and to attend a the scheduled times for the time of my volunteer activity and to notify the supervisor if I am going to be late or absent
  • To consider as confidential all information concerning clients
  • To make my work the highest quality and to be receptive to supervisory direction;
  • To conduct myself with dignity, courtesy, and considerations;
  • To notify the instructor of any problems, emergencies, safety hazards, concerns, or suggestions regarding my activities;
  • To complete all assignments relating to my service learning project;
  • To arrange my own transportation to and from this activity unless other arrangements can be made.

The serviced agency and supervisor agree:

  • To orient the student to the overall operation of the agency, its role in addressing social issues and needs
  • To designate a qualified person to supervise the student’s time, activities, and evaluation;
  • To introduce the student to appropriate staff and to orient him or her to their tasks and roles;
  • To provide adequate and ongoing supervision to the student:
  • To contact the instructor should a problem arise with the student’s performance;
  • To assist the course instructor in assessing student learning performance by completing an evaluation for supplied by Social Work Department.

______

StudentDate

______

Agency Representative Date

______

InstructorDate

COMMUNITY SERVICE-LEARNING TIME SHEET

Student’s Name______

Name of Agency______

Agency Address/Phone ______

Date / Service-Learning Activities / Time in/out / Hours Served / Supervisor’s Initials

TOTAL # OF HOURS FOR SEMESTER______

SERVICE-LEARNING SUPERVISOR VERIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT

To be completed by service-learning supervisor

EVALUATION OF STUDENT SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Agency Name______

Supervisor______

Period Covering______

Hours of Service (as documented by the timesheet)______

Volunteer Name______

Please rate the student on her/his service learning experience:

Skill Area / Excellent / Good / Satisfactory / Needs Development / Not Applicable
Work Behaviors
  • Attendance

  • Punctuality

  • Completes assignments

  • Demonstrates appropriate work behavior

Interactional skills
  • Relationship with clients

  • Relationship with colleagues

Problem –solving
  • Willingness to learn

  • Takes initiative

  • Use of supervision

Self-awareness
  • Recognizes areas for growth and accepts feedback regarding work behaviors

Understand & maintain agency’s mission and goals

Additional feedback:

______

Supervisor______Student Volunteer______

Date______Date______

STUDENT EVALUATION OF SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE

To be completed by student

Name of Agency______

Agency Addresss/Phone______

Student’s Name______

Description of Community Service Position (e.g., tutor, crisis worker)

______

______

Semester/year______Number of hour’s completed______

Please rate the agency on the following criteria:

SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCE / Clearly Superior / Very Good / Adequate / Unsatisfactory / Not applicable
Opportunities for experiential learning
  • Orientation

  • Interest and concern of agency in students doing volunteer work

  • Quality and appropriateness of assignments

Opportunities for learning
  • Opportunities for training and education

  • Knowledge of the skills needed to determine career direction and goals

  • Support and cooperation from agency administration and other staff

Opportunities for personal growth
  • Self awareness

  • Self-confidence

  • Time management skills

Opportunities to learn about social work in areas of :
  • practice

  • ethics & values

  • community resources

Opportunities to work with wide range of:
  • Individuals

  • Families

  • Groups

  • Communities

Adequacy of physical facilities
Supervision was available, clear and supportive

Overall, how would you describe your service-learning experience?______

______

______

Suggestions for improvement in future service-learning opportunities at this agency

______

______

Student Signature______

VOLUNTEER’S EVALUATION OF SUPERVISOR

Agency Name______Date______

Student Name______

Supervisor’s Name______

Clearly Superior / Very Good / Adequate / Unsatisfactory / Not applicable
  1. Supervisor’s teaching techniques, skills, general approach to assisting students

  1. Supervisor’s effectiveness in relating to learning experiences.

  1. Quality of working relationship with supervisor

  1. Depth, diversity, and range of agency assignments

  1. Amount of regular meeting time with supervisor

  1. Availability of supervisor at other than scheduled meeting times

  1. Willingness to listen when problems occur

  1. Interest shown in student’s progress

  1. Recommend this supervisor to other students

Additional Comments (recommendations for improvement)

Community Service Journal

Name______Date______

Agency______Period covering______

Address______Hours this period______

Telephone______Cumulative Hours______

Plans for the week:

Special positive or negative experiences:

Most significant accomplishments:

Questions:

Special insights (yourself, clients, agency, community):

Additional Comments

SERVICE-LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

List service learning opportunities available in your community here