Assignment # 2: Agency Visits (Virtual)
26 points
**This will just be research about the agency as if you went in person or virtually*** ***it pretty much will be a compare/contrast of the agencies***
Purpose: Our perspective on health and human services often focuses only on the lens of the provider. This exercise is aimed at helping students to see the mental health care provided for our communities from a consumer lens.
Instructions: Select and virtually visit 2 community based mental health organizations (they must provide actual services) and inquire about services. You can choose to be upfront and notify them that youre a student completing an assignment, or you can choose to act as a person seeking information about services (i.e. could be for yourself or for a relative). Note that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and uncertainty about the timeline for distribution of vaccines in 2020 and 2021, the Agency Visits will most likely be conducted virtually, meaning you call or meet with the agency virtually (Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, etc.).
In a 6-8 slide creative appealing power point answer the following questions:
1. Describe the service(s) offered? Is there explicit language or symbols aimed at addressing any of the mechanisms of oppression (racism, sexism, classism, etc.)? In what ways does this organization address social justice issues?
2. What are the criteria to qualify and access servi
ces? What theoretical perspective or worldview are these criteria rooted in? To what degree has this organization been influenced by intersectionality, feminist, queer, or critical race theory?
3. What are the steps to the process of turning into a consumer/client? Describe the level or degree of Otherizing that occurs during this process.
4. What was the overall virtual (visiting the website or virtual tour) assessment feel/atmosphere of the building/program (i.e. accessible public transportation/parking, look of the building (internally/externally), layout, attitude of staff, etc.)? Explain if you believe the mission statement is consistent with what you saw and experienced?
5. What was your overall virtual (zoom, skype, or iphone) experience? How were you treated? Was the place welcoming? If needed, would you use these services in this program? Why/why not?
6. How would you describe the ease of access to these services (virtually or remote)? Do you think someone going through what you experienced (an initial intake) would be likely to feel empowered or disempowered or both? Why/why not?
7. Assuming you were in charge, what are things you would immediately change?
Agency 1:
CHAPTERS Family Treatment Center
https://www.chapterstreatment.com
Agency 2:
San Fernando Valley Community
Mental Health Center inc.
https://www.movinglivesforward.org/program/macdonald-carey-east-valley-menta