Cuyamaca Volunteer Placement
Volunteer Placement Term Paper
Guidelines and Prompt
The volunteer placement term paper is a combination of your experience and observations, along
with reflections on the textbook, class lectures, and small group discussions. Students are
expected to
use a minimum of 3 quotations/citations
from the readings to define and support
the use of social work theories, approaches, values, and practice methods in this term paper.
Please note:
All term papers must be word processed in APA format and between 6-7 pages
NOT including the Title Page and References. All textbook quotations must cite the textbook
source,
not the chapter outline packet.
In addition, there should
NOT
be any client identifying
information within the paper. Each paper is to address the following:
Agency Introduction
1.
Briefly describe the
agency and their mission statement
.
2.
Describe the
target population
in detail, including pertinent information related to age,
gender, socio-economic status, race, culture, ethnicity, etc.
3.
Does the agency respect
self-determination
? Describe how the agency does or does not
uphold self-determination.
●
Give
one specific example
to support your point of view.
Theories and Interventions
1. Social Work Theories and Approaches
●
Choose
two
of the following
social work theories or approaches
and apply them to
the work being done at the agency. Give at least
one specific
example for each
theory
to illustrate your applications.
o
1) The Strengths Perspective, 2) Ecological Systems Theory, 3) Systems
Theory, 4) Person-in-the-Environment
2. Social Work Interventions( I have the interventions questions with my social worker I will send it to you by chat so you can apply it to the essay)
●
Choose at least
one social work interventions
from your observations of staff or
your own volunteer work at the agency and give at least
one example of the
intervention.
o
1) Individual Casework, 2) Case Management, 3) Individual or family
counseling, 4) Group work, 5) Client advocacy, 6) Community organizing (to
include outreach work and attempts to change social policy or legislation)
3. Effectiveness of the Interventions
●
Were these interventions effective or ineffective? Why or why not?
●
Be sure to support your statements with at least
one example
from each of the
interventions that you have chosen.
Reflections
1. Recommendations for the Agency
●
What changes would you suggest to make this agency more successful at delivering
services?
Give one example.
2. Two-Hour Social Work Observation
●
Discuss the two-hour observation of the social worker at the volunteer field
placement.
Volunteer Placement Term Paper
Guidelines and Prompt
●
What was your impression of the social worker’s role and effectiveness from your
observations?
3. Self-Reflection
●
What did you learn about yourself from the volunteer placement experience?
●
Discuss how you demonstrated social work practices and ethics.
Formatting Requirements
1.
6-7 pages in length
2.
Formatting: 1 inch margins, page numbers, double spaced, 12 point font, Times New
Roman and Word processed
3.
APA Specific Format: Title Page with Running Head, Reference page,
Quotations/Citations properly formatted, In text citations match Reference page
Organization, Grammar and Spelling
1.
Sentences convey meaning clearly and are grammatically correct
2.
Spelling and punctuation are accurate
3.
Organization with clear introductory and conclusion sentences
