Journal Entry 9 - Zaire Smalls

I'm part of an organization called global kids. At global kids we hold an annual youth conference. The goal of Global Kids is to make NYC youth global citizens, making them aware of the issues the world around us faces and what we can do to help. So every year there is a different topic. This year our topic is "Child Rights." Since the US and Somalia are the only countries of the United Nations who haven't ratified the "Convention of Rights of a Child" (CRC), we used this as our purpose.

Our focus was to use the CRC to show the rights children should have compared to the rights they actually have in the world. In the workshop I created and lead, "Children's Health," we took a look at Zimbabwe, China, Britain and India's health care systems and what services children receive as well as how they are paid for. Why they dont match up wtih the CRC and how we can change this. It was a good workshop, people learned a lot.

The wholoe conference was wonderful and there was a petition and videos about the ratification of the CRC in teh US. Rosario Dawson came to the conference and spoke about her direct role in l I Am an Emotional Creature: The Secret Life of Girls Around the World, written by the same woman who authored the Vagina Monologues.

Journal Entry 9 - Zaire Smalls

Journal Entry 8 - Zaire Smalls

At my site I have been assigned a project to make and manage the resource books for all the social workers. This is a bit of a task - it is not hard but it is a little tedious. I have to put them in categories then make copies if the document fits into more categories. I did this for two binders and then put copies in 7 binders.

The interesting part of this is to see all the different organizations and their functions. Most of the organizations are in Brooklyn as well as Manhattan. They each do something different than the last, but having said that, there are many similar organizations as well. Honestly, I am fascinated.

Journal Entry 8 - Zaire Smalls

Journal Entry 7 - Zaire Smalls

After looking at insurance claims this past week, I began to wonder about the assistance programs for people who do not have health insurance. I learned that people can get limited or temporary health care. Temporary health care is about 90 days.

But what do you do after that?

I decided to look into the assistance programs to get a better picture. I want to find out what programs there are and who they apply to. Is there an age range? How do you qualify? Where the services you would be assisted with and what is the possibility of implementing these services into intake. I will speak with my mentor on about this as it is something I am interested in.

Journal Entry 7 - Zaire Smalls

Journal Entry 6 - Zaire Smalls

This week at my site, Lauren and I went to the MediCaid office. Lauren showed me how to hand in the form for presumptive and regular medicaid applications. This was very interesting to do because it is so simple. Not in a bad way though, in a good way: You show your ID and go to a window just for health care workers and hand the form in. You also pick up any form that needs to be approved or denied.

After this, I got to spend some one on one time with my mentor, which was awesome. It was a nice day in general.

Journal Entry 6 - Zaire Smalls

Journal Entry 5 - Zaire Smalls

This week at my site, I went over what is a Mental Helath Assessment is and why social workers have to do them. Mental Health Assessments are done to determine the status of the patient before, during and after tereatment and whether a person needs teratment or counselling and a diagnosis if neccessary. It's a series of about 15-20 questions and you are given it if you are referred to a social worker by your doctor.

Journal Entry 5 - Zaire Smalls

Mentor Informational Interview - Zaire Smalls

This is an informational interview between Mentor Connection student, Zaire Smalls and her mentor, Lauren Kershinover, LMSW. Ms. Kershinover is a licensed social worker and the coordinator for the Single Stop Program at the Institute for Family Health.

Zaire: What is your official title?

Lauren: I am an LMSW and the Single Stop Program Coordinator. Single Stop is a case management program that we received a grant for.

Zaire: What were your goals when you were 17?

Lauren: My goals were to go to college and become a social worker so I could provide therapy for children.

Zaire: Have your goals remained the same?

Lauren: No, they are currently to expand the Single Stop Program and to try to make changes with health care reform and help as many patients as possible.

Zaire: Why did you choose to pursue your career/goals?

Lauren: I felt that it was my calling and that I have always had a gift of being in tune with peoples' needs.

Zaire: What books or movies have influenced your career choice?

Lauren: Elie Wiesley's "Night," a book about the Holocaust and Ann Franks Diary inspired me to get involved with social change. The Color Purple and Bastard Out of Carolina also inspired me.

Zaire: What qualifications, experiences or work did you complete before university?

Lauren: I was a peer leader helping athletes. I did peer education mediation for youth who were athletes.

Zaire: What University did you go to?

Lauren: SUNY New Paltz for my BA and SUNY Albany for my Masters.

Zaire: How many years of higher education do you have?

Lauren: 6 1/2 years.

Zaire: Was tuition an obstacle? What advice can you give me on this subject?

Lauren: You should apply for scholarships, financial aid and loans. I did a work study and had a part time job.

Zaire: What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Lauren: My strengths are my compassion and passion for my job. My weakness is that I can't say no.

Zaire: Who is your hero?

Lauren: It is not one specific person but a type of person: someone who addresses injustice and who is giving.

Zaire: Who do you take advice from?

Lauren: Friends, family, colleagues and therapist.

Zaire: Have you had any personal or professional mentors?

Lauren: My women's studies professor and another professor who was a physiologist who worked with homeless youth in San Francisco. A clinical supervisor upstate is also a mentor.

Zaire: What overall advice do you have for me in terms of the career I would like to pursue?

Lauren: Do something you feel passionate about and love. Make sure you take care of yourself in this field.

Mentor Informational Interview - Zaire Smalls

Journal Entry 4 - Zaire Smalls

This week at my site I got a chance to review Lauren's pyscho-soical intakes, which are evaluations of people who want or need mental health services. It was very interesting to read her notes and see the diagnosis and all the different medications. To see all the different types of therapy was very cool. It was a fun experience.

Journal Entry 4 - Zaire Smalls

Journal Entry 3 - Zaire Smalls

This week I was able to look over psycho-social intakes. It was a great experience to see the different disorders, medications and how the lingo is used. They tell stories within themselves and through that they tell each patient story. That is how I looked at all of the intakes.

I wonder what qualified each patient to have the disorder they were diagnosed with and I want to go inside their minds and pick it until I find what makes each disorder come about. It was interesting and fun to read. I can't wai to toned day conduct my own psycho-social. I think social worker is it for me!

Journal Entry 3 - Zaire Smalls

Journal Entry 2 - Zaire Smalls

This week at my site I was told to approve MedicAid and presumptive insurance applications. To do this, I went into EPIC, the electronic medical records system, to look them up, put in a chief complaint and a follow up note. Even though the EPIC training was easy and I remembered everything I had heard, I began to get frustrated because the technology was not agreeing with me but in the end I figured things out with a little reminder. As easy as EPIC looks, it is actually quite difficult. If you are searching for a patient name in the wrong spot, you won't find it even though it is all there. This is same with patient records and encounters. However, after this, I got a better sense of how to work EPIC and will complete my work this week much faster.

Journal Entry 2 - Zaire Smalls

Journal Entry 1 - Zaire Smalls (11/23/09)

This week at my internship has been very interesting. I did a lot of paperwork, which was pleasant and helpful to everyone in the office. In addition, on Thursday, November 19, I started shadowing Lauren, my supervisor, in case management.

Case Management is when a social worker helps a patient get the social services that they need. During the two cases I sat through, I observed Lauren at work. The first woman just needed MedicAid, which is one of the main focuses of Lauren's cases. The 2nd woman needed all the services she could get because she lost her job after moving into a new apartment. This touched me and I wish there was more I could have done. I learned to deal with each case depending on the circumstance of the patient's income, immigration status, papers, etc. This was my first experience with case management.

Journal Entry 1 - Zaire Smalls (11/23/09)