Session 2:  Orientation to the Home Base Agency

Purpose of Session 2:

To become acquainted with the home base agency’s mission, activities, background, structure, and funding sources.

Objectives for Session 2:

  • State the mission of the home base agency.
  • Describe how the agency evaluates its effectiveness in responding to its mission.
  • Describe the activities and/or services of the home base agency and how they support the mission of the agency.
  • Discuss the background of the agency and how it relates to its current mission.
  • Describe the structure of the home base agency.
  • Identify the funding sources of the home base agency.

Rootstown Orientation Session – January 2, 2008

Orientation Activities (Jan 2, 1-2:00pm):

Rootstown faculty will:

  • Present overview of the spring term AHEC/E experience at home base agencies.

Community Experience

January 14 to 25, 2008

Community Experience Activities (Jan 14 to 25):

Students will:

  • Interview agency employees.
  • (In preparation for Session #3) Discuss with your community faculty arrangements for staff and client interviews and service observation, as appropriate.

Community faculty will:

  • Orient students to the home base agency.
  • Provide students with background information relating to the mission, relevant history, administrative structure, and services of the agency. Provide organizational chart, if available.
  • Arrange for students to interview other agency employees that may provide additional insight into agency activities.
  • IN PREPARATION FOR SESSION #3: Provide specific names of staff and a plan for client interviews (and service observation, if possible).

Rootstown Session – January 28, 2008

Rootstown Session Activities (Jan 28, 1-2:00pm):

Rootstown faculty will:

  • Discuss findings from the home base agency experience.
  • Describe what was learned and surprising findings.
  • Discuss what would have been helpful to know prior to this first visit.
  • Discuss issues that were unclear.
  • Discuss expectations for upcoming paper due Feb 6.
  • Discuss student expectations for upcoming visit (Session 3).
  • Discuss interaction with clients, including cultural considerations, and sensitive issues.
  • Review questions for client interviews in your upcoming community experience.
  • Discuss obtaining information for paper due at end of Session 3.

Student Assignment for Session 2

(To be submitted electronically to Rootstown-based faculty and community preceptor on Feb 8 by noon)

  • Paper with answers to the following questions.
  • Please use the following paper format guidelines: Written answers to the questions for each session below are to be submitted as a group paper by the deadline. The paper will contain each session’s answer in a cumulative document. The final paper will contain the answers to all three sessions. You are expected to use appropriate headings for sections and references. Papers should be 12 point font Arial with 1-inch margins, single spaced, and be 3-5 pages (as appropriate to cover all content areas). Papers should be submitted to your Rootstown-based faculty member electronically by the stated due date. Please summarize information in a table, if you are able. You must document your sources using the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) format (see http://jama.ama-assn.org/ifora_current.dtl for guidelines).
  1. Mission
    1. What is the mission of the home base agency?
    2. Based upon this mission, what are the core activities/services of the home base agency?
    3. How is the mission evaluated/revised (how is strategic planning performed)?
    4. What does your home base agency see as its long-term future?
  2. Background
    1. When did the home base agency originate?
    2. What factors lead to the initial development of the agency?
    3. What needs did it address at that time? 
    4. In what ways have these needs changed over time?
  3. Structure
    1. Who is the head of the agency? To whom does the head of the agency report?
    2. How many people work at the agency?
    3. What is the administrative and staff structure (e.g. departments, etc.)?
    4. What are the job titles of the employees?
    5. What are the various responsibilities of the employees?
  4. Funding
    1. What source(s) of funding does the agency receive?
    2. What are the major challenges maintaining these funding sources?
    3. Are the funds sufficient to perform the mission?