3.9 Practice
Journal Prompts
- How does the agency/organization support their service providers/employees?
- How does the mission and/or vision statement influence the daily functioning of the agency/organization?
- Does taking a 15-minute break challenge the agency/organization culture (even if there is a policy that you get one)?
- What have you observed other employees/colleagues do for self-care?
- Ask three colleagues how they sustain their work daily. What are their responses? Do you think these habits might be helpful for you?
Self-Care Activity
- Take work breaks during your internship this week (15 minutes every 3 hours minimum), and spend time doing something that calms your mind. Track how it makes you feel and how your internship colleagues respond. If possible, leave your desk and/or the building. Try to focus on your breathing and relaxing your muscles.
Class Discussion Topics
- How does the mission and/or vision of the agency or organization align with the work being performed?
- How does the environment (photos, waiting area, office spaces, building, employees, etc.) reflect the service users?
- How does the environment reflect (or not reflect) a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion?
- What is the “feel” of the agency? Is it more casual or formal? Is the organizational structure rigid or more free-flowing?
- Are there laws in your area that protect employees who make a complaint about an agency (often called “whistleblower” laws)? How do you weigh the risks of speaking out with your commitment to social justice?
Practice Licenses and Attributions
“Practice” by Sally Guyer is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
the formal summary of what an agency or organization wants to achieve.
the shared beliefs, customs and rituals of a group of people
any activity you participate in whose function is to nourish you either physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
A credit class in which students apply theory to practice by using what you have learned in coursework in a real-world setting with a supervisor/mentor who is invested in your growth and development (often also referred to as fieldwork or practicum).
the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc. that may or may not intersect with each other.
the quality of being fair and impartial and providing equitable access to different perspectives and resources to all students.
the practice or quality of providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise systemically be excluded or marginalized, such as those who have physical or mental disabilities and members of other minority groups.
the rules a country, state, or other governing body sets, maintains, and enforces. Violations of laws are illegal and can be punished by fines, probation, or incarceration. In the United States, there is a hierarchical structure for authority: federal, state, county, and local.