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