Social Science - Agency Visit

General Education Capstone Course

Event/Experience Details and Guideline Form

Gen. Ed. category event should be listed under: Social Sciences

SCC competency addressed by event: Explain social institutions, structure, and processes across a range of historical periods, places and/or cultures.

Event experience title: Community Agency Visitation

Anticipated learning outcome.

The successful student upon completion of this visitation will learn, first hand, about the programs, agencies, or institutions that serve the mentally ill and the special needs of those with mental conditions.

Guidelines for accomplishment of event (assume completion by a non-major)

1. For the observation the student will schedule a visit to a program, service, or agency that helps persons handling major mental or emotional problems.  For example, students may arrange to visit a community mental health center, a social services/human service agency, mental health service, or a crisis program.  (See the telephone book for a list of social service agencies, the local agencies in the Human Services brochure, or the list of member agencies of the Community Council of St. Charles at www.communitycouncilstc.org.)
   
   
2. To gain the most useful and complete information from his/her visit, students should strive to go beyond giving merely a general account and gather information regarding these important topics:
   1. Agency officials and/or staff observed or interviewed
   2. Nature of services offered by the agency
   3. Initial impressions about the agency, such as helpfulness, personal concern for the clients, and effectiveness.  State what you think are the three most critical needs of the clients.
   4. Personal conclusions regarding the agency’s or program’s usefulness.  State five specific benefits it provides to the community.
      
      
3. The student will write a journal entry, covering all four topics in detail, and will describe and explain his/her findings and conclusions from the interview.

Provide at least one the following: 

Event contact name: Call the social services agencies listed in the telephone book or the list of member agencies of the Community Council of St. Charles at www.communitycouncilstc.org such as: Alzheimer’s Association, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Emmaus Homes, Family Support Services, Four County Mental Health, Head Start, Mid-East Area Agency on Aging, Missouri Division of Family Services, St. Charles city Housing Authority, St. Charles County Sexual Assault Center, St. Louis Crisis Nursery, St. Charles Victim of Crime Assistant Program, Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Services, Salvation Army, YMCA of St. Charles County, and Youth in Need.

Event contact phone number:  See your phone book for social service agencies or check on the web to see the list of member agencies of the Community Council of St. Charles.

Event contact e-mail: These are often listed on web sites.

Event contact Web site URL: Appropriate agencies can be found on the following websites:  www.communitycouncilstc.org

SCC event creator: James Dorman, Ph.D.

Estimated time for full completion (include: making contact/appointment; attending activity; travel; and journal consideration and entry)   Four to six hours maximum.