Leadership in Action: Transforming Self and Structure

There is not Code of Ethics @ my place of employment. However there is a form that states the agency I provide services for has a Mission statement, Vision/Belief statement and a list of Goal Statements. All of which reflect the same thing. Mission Statement states:That we promote and facilitate a multi-disciplinary, child focused approach for the prevention, investigation, intervention, prosecution, and treatment of child physical and sexual assault. Vision/Belief Statement states that the Children's Advocacy Center(CAC) believes that all children have the right to breathe, stretch, grow and thrive in a loving, warm, safe and healthy families. These Services are offered by the CAC and are designed to be developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant. Briefly the Goals Statement: ~ is to ensure access to a neutral-based, child focused facility designed to meet abused children's needs for warmth, support, and protection while simultaneously supporting investigative efforts. ~To conduct forensic interviews of children who have allegedly been sexually assaulted.

Rick if there was some way the ones that sat with their backs to Arlen could sit on the other side of the computer and then turn everything around or towards that person.

Or see if we can use one of the labs in the new building because they wrap around where the Instructor would stand or sit. 

Just some suggestions,

Rebecca 

Thank goodness that is done now Evals? What and Where do we go to do this? LOL

I Interviewed Doreen Thomas. Doreen is the Advocacy Manager & Acting Director of Beyond Survival, which is Grays Harbor's Sexual Assault Resource Center.

Question 1: What steps should one take to pursue a leadership position?

Answer: First of all you have to do your best at the entry level position. Show iniative and give 110% at everything you do. Express interest to the leadership team and show your interest in moving up with the company. Take full advantage of all training opportunities that come up. Never be afraid of stepping outside your comfort zone and always practice leadership skills in profession and life in general.

Question 2: As a leader what areas do you think are important to assist and encourage the succesful completion of a task?

Answer: Everyone learns differently obviously. I might hand them a visual on what my expectations are. I would probably encourage them to paraphrase back to me what I have asked of them. I always give positive encouragement and support by letting them know that I beleive in them and their ability to succeed.

Rick I am sorry I have not posted my final interview questions and Interview responses . I will have them posted this weekend. Thanks Rebecca

I live a couplke of seconds from the college and it is still closed. I guess things will be all open on Monday. I cannot beleive the storm we had here on the harbor and to be trapped for a couple of days here with no food, lights and warmth was the scariest thing ever. I just get my power back on yesterday and boy does it feel good to feel Norm again. I hope everyone is safe and sound. If at all possible have a Great Christmas. I, myself am a  bit still traumatized from all of this. Being from the east coast and have survived many Hurricanes; I have never seen anything like this. Happy Holidays.

My supervisor gave me a handout that she got from the CPS office. I was unsure of the types of testing I would be interested in doing and knew that I was using some sort of technique with my observations during my supervising of visits. So with the type of work that I do at the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) there are guidelines on what I should be looking for when supervising visit. It comes from the Multi-Health System Inc.

It is called the NIMS Observational Checklist. In the book it tells what tio look for and if it is appropriate. It has a guideline for ratings. I have gone through and read it. It is all that I do and not knowing that something like this existed. I was intrigued by it. I will use this now and in my future work. I plan on continuing to work with families and their children.

1) How does an individual get into a leadership position?

2) As a leader how would one motivate an individual to complete a task?

3) How would you deal with a crisis conflict in the work place?

4)Define what leadership means to you?

5) How would someone in a leadership position expect to be treated?

6) It states in my book that "Leaders are always failing somebody". Have you failed anyone in your Authoritorian position? If so please explain....... and were you happy with the results? Could it have been handled differently?

7) Do you treat others as you like to be treated?

8) How does it feel to be in a "Power" position?

9) How do you provide protection, direction and order ethically with out disempowering someone?

I utilize my skills every day. I work with families that have lost their children to CPS and monitor their visits on a weekly basis. So the skills I use are mostly auditory with shown signs of empathy for some. When I say "for some" I mean I have some parents that really care and have screwed up but are trying real hard to get their kids back and then I have some that never show up for their visits or even call when that they cannot make it.

One scenario is: I have some very upset parents that cannot contact their case workers and that is very frustrating to them. So as a visit supervisor I encourage them to keep calling and leave messages, which is not what they want to hear but it is an alternative. It is very hard at times to not become emotionaly attached to the children that we provide services to. However I am still effective with what I do and have really good boundaries. I find that communication is the main tool that I use because if there isn't in my situation you butt heads with case workers. That is not good and doesn't help anyone it just complicates things for myself, my families and the visits.