Course Syllabus: HMS 205
HMS 205 Human Services PracticumI
Students observe human services activities in community-based human service agencies without remuneration. This is an opportunity for the application and development of therapeutic oral and written communications skills with clients/patients, their support systems, and with human services workers. Course requirements include one (1) lecture contact hour, and twelve (12) field practicum hours per week.
(5 Credits)
Prerequisites: HMS 102, or instructor permission
Instructor
Wendy Charlebois
Human Services Program Instructor
Great Basin College
Elko Campus
1500 College Parkway
Elko, NV 89801
Phone: (775) 753.2466
Fax: (775) 753-2160
Office location: EIT Building, #129
Administrative staff member: Dianna Byers (775) 753-2301
Office Hours
By appointment.Note: Students should use the course email to communicate with the instructor concerning brief issues. For complex questions or concerns, please call the instructor.
Required Textbooks/Materials
1.Required text: The Human Services Internship, 3nd edition, Pamela Myers Kiser, Brooks/Cole, ISBN 13#: 978-0-495-09226-1
2. Regular, reliable internet access and a current word processing program
3.Documentation of background/health clearances as required by practicum sites.
Course Description
This course is comprised of didactic, introspective, reflective, and interactive approaches to the delivery of human services in a variety of community agency settings. The physical, psychological, spiritual and social aspects of human functioning will be addressed. Students are required to visit community service agencies for a minimum of twelve hours per week (180 hours per semester). Additionally, students share and process their clinical experiences. Most agency sites have background and/or health screening requirements, which must be obtained at the student’s expense.
Course Goals
The following goals will be met through course objective
- To offer opportunities for developing effective communication skills by interacting with human service professionals.
- To provide opportunities to enrich theoretical understanding by observing client-provider interactions in agency settings.
- To allow for the processing of experiences and to develop professional self-reflection abilities.
Learner Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1)Identify and provide services that support clients/patients with kindness, patience, caring and that reflect understanding of issues common to the human condition.
Measurement: Evaluations, focused observation records
2)Engage in professional, therapeutic interactions between helper and client/patient, family members, and other health and human services providers.
Measurement: Evaluations, focused observation records
3)Act with respect and appreciation for human individuality, and for people of diverse cultural backgrounds, and acknowledge the rights and dignity while rendering professional services, including keeping client confidentiality.
Measurement: Evaluations, focused observation records
4) Develop a basic therapeutic intervention plan based on the problem-solving process and the assessment of client/patient needs, implement interventions, evaluate outcomes, and redirect and revise ineffective solutions.
Measurement: Evaluations, focused observation records
5)Demonstrate accurate, clear and precise verbal and written communications skills. Use basic office equipment and clerical documentation/filing systems.
Measurement: Evaluations, journal, focused observation records
Methods of Instruction
Each course week contains detailed instructions in terms of completing and/or submitting assignments, which may include the following learning methods:
- Practicum experiences
- Performance evaluations
- Individual conferencing
- Didactic instruction
- Audio/visual material presentations
- Guest speakers/peer interactions/community events
- Written/reading/focused independent study assignments
- Oral presentations/discussions
- Course evaluations
Explanation of Grading Policy
The following grade percentage scale will be used:
Letter Grade / PercentageA / 94% to 100%
A- / 90% to 93%
B+ / 87% to 89%
B / 83% to 86%
B- / 80% to 82%
C+ / 77% to 79%
C / 73% to 76%
C- / 70% to 72%
D+ / 67% to 69%
D / 63% to 66%
D- / 60% to 62%
F / Below 60%
Class weeks begin on Mondays, and end on Sunday nights at 11:59 PM. Suspected violations of GBC academic honesty policy will be reported. Incompletes will only be granted per GBC policy. See current catalog for details. Written work is expected to demonstrate college level grammar, usage, spelling and punctuation, including email submissions. Contact the instructor or preceptor prior to any due dates in order to receive excused late submissions in emergency situations.
Attendance Policy
Per GBC catalog, “You must participate in classes regularly if you intend to obtain the full benefits of instruction.” Students are expected to demonstrate this in terms of regular attendance. Unexcused absences and/or late arrival to practicum assignments are related to professional performance expectations, and may result in loss of points/grade reductions or an inability to complete course requirements.
Students are required to attend twelve (12), unpaid clock hours per week (for a total of 180 hours) of field experience at an approved practicum site. Missed field hours must be made up at times that are acceptable to the practicum site. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for make-up hours, missed coursework, and/or assignments, and/or to obtain missed instructional content. Some practicum sites require specific security clearances, fingerprinting and/or background checks. Such requirements are administered/managed/reviewed directly by the host agency. Students must work directly with agency personnel regarding obtaining the necessary clearances prior to beginning a field practicum experience. (Please review the Human Services Program Handbook available from the instructor and on the GBC website.)
Additional information
Due to the sensitive nature of the subject matter, students are expected to present thoughtful reviews of the material, and to offer scholarly commentary. Students are to maintain the confidentiality of others, including classmates, preceptor site personnel and clients, and guest speakers, as appropriate. During this course, students are expected to demonstrate respectful, ethical behaviors, as outlined in the GBC Catalog, when participating in GBC activities on or off campus, in interactive video sessions, and/or in online discussions.
Course Content/Assignments by Week
Check web campus for more detailed instructions week by week. Reading assignments will be added as we go.
Once a date and time can be agreed upon the class will meet weekly via an internet classroom. This is mandatory.
Week 1 and 2
Topics: Course syllabus and program handbook overview including the following issues: general introductions, site selection information, background/health clearance, behavioral and attendance expectations, grading policies, goal-setting process, evaluation process, weekly conferencing, and requirements for completing forms/assignments.
Assignment/Activities:
Identify practicum site options. Choose a site. Contact site. Obtain necessary background and health clearances. Locate and contact practicum site. Arrange for first site visit/agency orientation. No written assignment. Obtain required textbook.
Read: Human Services Program Handbook and the entire course syllabus
Topics: Conference
Conference: The purpose of conferencing with the instructor and/or other students in the course is to problem-solve logistics and set specific learning goals/objectives. This can be accomplished by contacting the instructor at any time, on an as needed basis, but contact should be initiated by the student at least one time per week. The instructor will assist you with arranging for a mutually advantageous times/contact methods for weekly conferencing, depending upon the demographics, assignments, and locations of other students in the course.
Assignment: Write 1 page describing your initial contact/site visit #1 observations on the site visit assessment/FOG I form (below). Include names of site supervisor/personnel, hours of operation, attendance times, and contact information for your practicum supervisor for use should you need to reschedule. Incorporate information from the assigned readings in the textbook into your FOG form report every week.
Read: Preface and introduction to textbook, pages xiii-xix, and Internship myths, pp. 3-7
Week 3
Topics:
Assignment: Complete site visit #2 assessment form/reading responses on the FOG I form
Read: Read: Preface and introduction to textbook, pages xiii-xix, and
Textbook, Chapter 1
Week 4
FOG
Read: Textbook,Chapter 2
Week 5
Assignment: /FOG
Read: Textbook,Chapter 3 and 9
Week 6
/FOG
Read: Textbook,Chapter 5
Week 7
/FOG
Read: Textbook Chapter 6
Week 8
/FOG
Read: Textbook,Chapter 7
Week 9
FOG
Read: Textbook, Chapter 8
Week 10
FOG
Read: Textbook Chapter 9
Week 11
/FOG
Read: Textbook, Chapter 10
Week 12
FOG
Read: Textbook,
Week 13
/FOG
Week 14
/FOG
Read: Textbook Chapter 10
Week 15
/FOG
Week 16
Assignment: Complete site visit #15FOG
Read: A journal article related to a client issue noted in this week’s agency visit
Complete course evaluations
Assignment Information
1.FOG forms/journal assignments are due by the end of each practicum week. One FOG form should be completed for every week,. Students are to document learning goals, objectives, and to reflectively record learning experiences in terms of identifying and meeting learning goals/objectives by using the FOG form--attached below. Responses based on the readings should be reflected in the last section of FOG form. For maximum benefit, the student should bring a blank FOG form to the clinical site, complete as much of the information on-site as possible during each visit, and submit completed FOG forms to the instructor weekly. There are a minimum of 15 FOG submissions required. More are highly encouraged and expected. The average scores for submitted FOGs will be used to compute 50% of the final grade for the course. The use of an actual FOG form is not required, and may be submitted electronically as a journal-type narrative, but all FOG data must be reflected in FOG sequence. In order to enhance learning, the course instructor or preceptor may assign additional learning activities.
2.A complete set of evaluation forms are to be completed for each site at least once per month during the practicum course. Students must complete a self evaluation and request a preceptor and instructor evaluation at least once per month during the practicum period. Additionally, the student must request/facilitate a student evaluation by the preceptor by providing the preceptor with the evaluation forms as needed, when needed, at least once per month during the practicum period. Weekly evaluations are encouraged but not required. Blank copies of these forms are located in the Human Services Program Handbook. Copies can be made in the GBC Health Sciences Department during office hours by contacting the instructor or Dianna Byers, department support person for Health Sciences and Human Services, at 775-753-2301. The evaluation forms include:
1.Student self evaluation
2.Preceptor evaluation of student
3.Instructor evaluation of student
It is the student’s responsibility to generate evaluation forms, to ask the preceptor to complete them, and to turn in forms to the instructor. If a student attends more than one site visit during any week, additional forms should be submitted for both/all sites attended. A minimum of one set of evaluations is required for each practicum experience. The total evaluation score from each form will be averaged with all other student evaluation form totals to compute 50% of the final grade for the course. The instructor cannot attend every practicum site to make continuous student observations, so the instructor’s evaluations will be derived from a combination of direct observations, interactions with the student during the weekly classroom sessions, class participation, evaluations of the student’s contributions to classroom discussions, demonstrated student knowledge and skills, and from feedback derived from practicum supervisions, site personnel, peers, and/or clients.
Students receiving less than a “C” level evaluation will be asked to write a learning contract for performance improvement that will be re-evaluated as determined by the instructor and the preceptor. Students may be asked to change sites and/or other remedial measures may be taken in order to enhance student learning and/or to meet the needs/requirements of the preceptor/agency site, at any time.
3. Time records: It is a student’s responsibility to track and compute time spent in the practicum. On, during, or following each practicum, students request that preceptors verify the student’s time record. The student will total the hours, obtain verification signatures, and turn in completed time records to the instructor. A copy of the time record is located in the handbook. Students may also be required to keep additional time records if so requested by the agency/preceptor.
Rubric for Written Assignments and Presentations
90-100%
Exceeds expectations in all areas
Addresses all elements of assignment with high degree of accuracy and clarity
Demonstrates high levels of critical thinking and practical application of theoretical concepts
Exhibits high degrees of reliability and respect for others
80-89%
Meets most expectations
Addresses mostelements of assignment with accuracy and clarity
Applies theoretical material in several areas or in most applications
Exhibits reliable and respectful behaviors
70-79%
Meets some expectations
Demonstrates understanding of material with minimal insight
Some required information/elements not addressed/some inaccuracies
Minor conflict/unreliability issue that is corrected/resolved/resolving
60-69%
Meetsfew expectations
Most required information is missing/is inaccurate and/or many elements unaddressed
Demonstrates unreliable or disrespectful behavior
Below 60%
Meets very few or no expectations
Many inaccuracies
Disrespectful or unreliable behavior
0 %
No submission
Wrong assignment
Undocumented use of another's work/violation of academic honesty policy
Unethical behavior
Grading Criteria: Percentage of final grade:
FOG records/assignments50%
Average of preceptor/instructor/student evaluations 50%
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish current verification of disability. The Director of Services for Students with Disabilities (Julie Byrnes) will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and services. For more information or further assistance, please call 775.753.2271.
Guidelines for Selecting a Site/Preceptor for the Practicum
Community agency experiences provide you with opportunities to accomplish the following:
- Explore human services careers;
- Apply theoretical course material to practical situations;
- Develop and practice “people” skills in helping professions;
- Gain a better sense of yourself as a professional;
- Observe practitioners serving clients;
- Receive mentoring by practicing human service professionals;
- Build your resume through direct experiences.
Locating a placement site which is an appropriate fit for you can take time, so you must start the process of identifying a site during the very first week of class, if not before. You are expected to have a placement site identified by the first day of the second week of class. This means you must contact a preceptor/site during the first week of class. Your instructor will help you with identifying a preceptor in your area. Preceptor sites must be under a contract agreement with GBC as an approved practicum site. The contract process takes time, so it is best to choose an established site at the beginning of the semester, and allow 4 weeks for securing new sites. (Note: Not all human service provider sites can be approved due to administrative reasons.)
Begin the site selection process by answering the following questions for yourself:
- What is your core concentration area?
- What experiences will help you be successful in this area?
- Are you seeking certification as an addictions specialist?
- Is there a specific population with whom you want to work?
- Is there a specific issue that you want to work on?
- Are there specific skills or knowledge that you want to gain?
- Do you want to work in prevention?
- Do you want to work with court-ordered clients?
Things to consider when choosing a practicum site/supervisor:
- Will this site provide you with opportunities for learning and professional growth?
- Is there a supervisor who has the time and interest to work with you?
- Do you share the values and philosophy of helping that the agency supports?
- What hours would you be expected to keep?
- How does this agency mange volunteers?
- Is there a formal or informal orientation and training time commitment?
- Have you visited this agency and met the site preceptor?
Setting up your practicum
Once you have done your initial research and personal assessment, call the sites that interest you. Review the agency website, if possible. Set up a time to meet with your potential supervisor/agency director. Dress professionally. Bring your resume and your syllabus/handbook/forms. Treat this meeting as a job interview. The meeting offers you an opportunity to learn more about the agency, as well as the preceptor’s expectations in terms of hours/number of visits, evaluations, paperwork, orientation/training, confidentiality agreements, attendance requirements, security issues, learning goals/contracts, etc. Discuss background check/fingerprinting clearance requirements. Establish learning goals and write your learning contract with the help of your practicum supervisor.Discuss your findings and plans with the instructor. Begin your practicum as soon as possible. As directed in the course syllabus, keep a record of your observations and activities, and your hours (have site personnel verify your time).
Focused Observation Guide (FOG) – Level I
Student Data
Student name: Site: Date/times of visit
Student goals for this visit (write 2 or more):
1. 2.
Student objective(s) for this visit (write 2 or more):
1.2.
Student Observations: Staff
1. What client services are offered at this site?
2. What client population is served?*
3. Describe the staff members, and write a brief summary of the responsibilities of each employee.*