Agency Report on Human Services Agency Essay

I chose to write a report ab break the YWCA pierce County, placed on 405 Broadway St, Tacoma Washington. The YWCA or Young Womens Christian Association is 1 of the oldest and freehandedst womens giving medication in the nation, serving over 2 million women, and their families at more than 1,300 locations across the United States. The original Christian horizon is still strong in many of the national associations, but almost ingest changed their focus to be more of a genial and federation based course of instruction. The YWCA hurtle County is a companionship leader and forerunner in internal violence for over a century now. Established in 1906, the YWCA is has steadily expanded and enhanced a comprehensive menu of domestic violence service provision, offering clients real tools to implement change in their take in lives. Their mission statement is to transform lives through gumshoe, healing and empowerment. This is an presidency that is dedicated to eliminating rac ism and empowering women. The YWCA Pierce Countys vision is to create a safe, just and equi put back community and they do this through education and popreach by promoting peace, justice, assu senescedom and dignity for clients from all in all races and qualifyings of life. Their comprehensive Domestic Violence operate that highlights intervention and prevention includes 24 hour emergency assistance (intervention hot var.s), free legal services (with auspices orders, as closely as separate criminal and cultured natural law), immigration and safety planning, p atomic number 18nting plans, emergency entertain, transitional lodgement, persona management, therapeutic services, advocacy, support groups, food, clothing and diapers, transportation, teen dating violence prevention, fully interpretive services and more. There is more than(prenominal) a swell trouble with the problem of domestic violence within the community as a whole.The legal definition for domestic viole nce as defined by the RCW 10.99 (Revised Code of Washington) is crimes committed by one family member or planetary house member against an otherwise. Here be the grim statistics One in 4 women testament experience DV during her life condemnation. Women experience more than 4 million fleshly assaults and rapes because of their teammates, and men argon victims of nearly 3 million physical assaults. Women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner than men. Women ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence. Every year, 1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is relieve oneself by her current or former partner. The domestic violence link offenses rates for Pierce County and Tacoma are among the highest in theState. More troubling is the detail that the rate of DV fatalities in Pierce County far exceeds comparable counties, and it is estimated that around 10, 000 households are affected by domestic violence in any prone year. The defi nition of a DV fatality refers to a death that arises from an abusers 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 person responsible for the homicide(s) of people other than the intimate partner that occurred in the context of intimate person violence or in the center of a per duckyrators attempt to kill an intimate partner.The YWCA, Pierce County serves a diverse client population. In the 2012-2013 annual report, the YWCA, Pierce County describe drubing with over 6,000 plus clients in approximately capacity and experiencing 5,473 crisis hotline calls. Providers describe from these calls, there is greater representation of clients from populations of color with the highest numbers from the Afri go off American and Hispanic communities. Additionally, the YWCA states that a higher number of clients in any wedded DV related program (e.g. prevention, shelter residents, etc.) ar e non-Caucasian. On average, clients from minority groups yield limited English proficiency and some are undocumented individuals and for a few programs on the job(p) in the Hispanic communities, the majority of these clients fit these characteristics. well-nigh providers report a growing number in distinct 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 as well an indication of the issue of newer ethnic populations much(prenominal) as Middle Eastern and East African individuals in the client population.Specific programs tend to devise with some specific segments of the population. For example, the Korean Womens Association tends to work with a high similitude of Asian Women such as Korean, Vietnamese and Cambodian clients, while organizations such as Tacoma Community House and Centro Latino deal with a larger Hispanic population. On average, it is reported that The YWCA Pierce County also has a percentage of clients from armament families. The YWCA has partnered with JBLM (Joint base Lewis-McCord) to provide assistance to piece the learn for our military both on and off base. TheYWCA, Pierce County is the first organization in the county and state to also provide services that include the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/ questioning) community. At the YWCA, no client is ever turned away. If the YWCA is unable to provide a client with a service that may be required, the organization will do their very best to provide referrals to better meet the postulate 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 Annual Report.Beginning in 2010, the YWCA Pierce County offered shelter that included private kitchens and restrooms to clients and their children. The shelter also begin to stomach male clients in 2012.The shelter caters to safety, privacy, dignity and basic conducts of clients for no more than 90 days. During this time in shelter, clients are able to go for individual case management, counseling and education, childrens services, support groups and a 24 hour on-site advocacy. Having a shelter that addresses such comprehensive involve enable clients to build a foundation for lives that are void of violence. What sets the YWCA shelters away from most 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 rural that is recognized by the American Humane Association.The 24-hour Crisis Hotline offers clients the ability to safety plan. love ones and friends who may be concerned for DV victims and are looking for solutions will also be provided with resources to help. Following initi al screening and paperwork, the individual meets immediately with a trained advocate, who performs a needs assessment to determine which services the clients require and need. Services are client driven, which mean only 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 performedduring the time that the individual is receiving services. It is imperative to understand a little astir(predicate) the flight of services that clients seek from the YWCA. knobs may be referred from a variety of sources (i.e. law enforcement, friends, family, online searches, medical offices, mental health or substance abuse counselors, accost referrals, CPS, etc.).The YWCA Pierce County resource center offers community 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 rece ive assistance with referrals to programs that are open 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 representation and/or advocacy. Women and their children who are seeking safety and self-reliance are flipn free assistance with protection orders, prodigality of marriage, parenting plans, child support, custody 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 mental faculty attorney available to provide representation in civil matters.The YWCA provides individual counseling to both adult clients and their children. This service is also make available to shelter resident, clients participating 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 overcome the abuse and suffering they have experienced. Participants are educated about the dynamics of healthy relationships and how to train and rebuild self-esteem. Support groups occur at the same time as childrens groups to prevent childcare issues to become a possible barrier.Since relocating and expanding the shelter in 2010, the YWCA serves children throughout Pierce Country, rather than just clients from the shelter. The Childrens program equips children with tools to promote healthy relationships. Children receive food, clothing, group therapy and are taught safety planning. They are also able to participate in special events andfield trips and these strapping based activities are planned specifically according to the different age groups. YWCAS purpose here is to assist children who have been subjected to violence and psychic trauma to be able to develop healthy minds and bo dies and give them a get hold at a stable childhood which would transition into adulthood.When clients and their children escape ruby-red and abusive relationships, the biggest issues and complications faced are sudden homelessness. Family Permanency Project caparison is a long term housing program that offers families affordable housing while macrocosm 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.It is estimated that violence occurs in 1 out of 5 teen relationships. The Teen Dating Violence Prevention plan aims to educate high school and middle school youth about the issues of power and control that could lead 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.The YWCA, like most non-profit organizations derives its effe ctiveness through a large number of community volunteers that serve clients in a myriad of ways. These individuals who give of their resources (time, donations, money, and talent) are helping 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 Womens Association, United Way, Crystal Judson Family Center, Joint Base Lewis McChord, Exodus Housing and informal Assault Center of Pierce County, among others. There is a variety of ethnical competence needed to serve a diverse population of clients that every call or walk in to the YWCA.Because these individuals are coming from different cultural backgrounds, they may face economic struggles, have gender individuality struggles and issues, are dealing with discrimination, stress and trauma, or any other issues from the spectrum of human being s ervices conditions, the daily trust of usingculturally centered conversation skills are critical to making effective moveion and assistance possible. heathenish minded helpers in any given situation will hang up to the demeanor and other aspects of culture, including paying close attention to their own vocal and non- and verbal communication and being very sensitive to the needs of the clients that they interact with.There are clear challenges that emerge in working with clients who have difficulty speaking and perceptiveness English, particularly in helping these individuals journey the legal system and getting them connected to appropriate support resources. while some fashion advocates can help with basic translation/ rendering concerns for victims in need, many comment on the additional complexity of working with these individuals, even when they share the same language. There is also the belief among providers of the need to address these barriers even at the broader community level. One sentiment is that the work with non- English English speaking client, even with an interpreter present can put forward more time and it is more intensive. Here it is very beta to proceed through a series of steps with these individuals by being patient, non-judgmental, building trust and rapport with those from different cultural backgrounds and ethnicities. Another privateised competency that should be addressed is the ability to manage your own personal biases especially in dealing with clients who may have a altogether 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.For the pat week, I was fortunate to be able to attend the spring 2014 Domestic Violence Victims Services provision at the YWCA, Pierce Country. This training enabled me to get a better eyeshot 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 competent because of such a diverse population of clients that come through their doors every day. The staff there truly seem to care about the clients that they interact with. They take their commitment to ending domestic violence and empowering clients very seriously.The YWCA does not practice the hierarchical management system. The CEO is very caring and interacts with the staff 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 synergistic energy. Because most agencies will experie nce burn out at one time or another, it is very important to practice sober 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.As I mentioned, I learned so much and developed a great deal of respect for the Director and Education manager who presented some of the classes and training material. The training manager who is also in charge of community outreach was 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 exist within ourselves. I hope to be able to put down my internship at the YWCA, Pi erce County and perhaps accept a position in the future with this wonderful organization. I believe they have a make a deep and positive impact on my life.