Little Angels of Alfred

                                      

In Honduras the 40% of the newborn babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) die on a daily basis from preventable deaths. The deaths are caused by infections. This is due to the lack of adequate sanitation. 56% of the babies die on a daily basis waiting for space to open up in the NICU.  The Little Angels of Honduras is an organization that was formed recently that strives to reduce the infant mortality rate in Honduras by assisting with the provision of optimal conditions for pregnancy, birth, and newborn care. The strategy that the organization follows has four parts. Provide, support, engage, and construct. Provide is assisting with immediate needs in hospitals. Support is national education and policy change about the issue. Engage is reducing the number of high-risk teenage pregnancies. Construct involves building a new maternal and infant care hospital. The vision of the organization is to give generations of parents the gift of hope and the ability to take their babies home.

Alfred State College Little Angles of Honduras club was started by Ashley Ebel. Ashley is a civic engagement advocate. The club is being sponsored by Christian Kyle Jordan Perry. He is the design team manager for the Little Angels organization. Christian is a graduate of Alfred State. “I actually met the co-founder, Christian Perry through EPLP. For blue level I had to go to a few different speeches on campus and only a few of us showed up to Christian's. I felt a connection because I had volunteered internationally and that is how he started all of this. I also had a connection with it because both of my younger sisters were born premature and it was crazy for me to think if they had been born in Honduras they wouldn't be here today. I really want to make more people aware of the problems and help this new organization grow so that they can continue to do the work they do and expand to making a difference in another area” Ashley said. The Little Angles of Alfred Club wants to raise money, sell t-shirts, get the issue out there, and eventually have mission trips to Honduras. The club wants to have drives for supplies. Drives would include simple things such as antibacterial gel, soap, newborn hats, gloves, baby clothes, bottles, diapers, and wipes. 

 

 

 

 

Hula Hooping Dancing

 

 

 

 

Hula hooping is a new hobby that I started recently that I thought I would never learn. I always felt embarrassed hooping in gym class in front of everybody because I could never get the hang of it. Hooping dates back to 500 BCE when Egyptian children made them out of dried grapevines. Great Britain used the hoops during the 14^th century to medically treat dislocated backs and heart attacks. Native Americans in the 1400’s used hoops to signify the circle of life. The term “hula hoop” came from sailors that had been to the Hawaiian Islands and thought the body motion was similar to their dance style. The most recent trend was the craze of the 1950’s. Childhood friends Knerr & Melin recreated the hoops and sold over 20,000 per day @ $1.98 each for the Wham-O Company. Buying a hula hoop today averages $14.99 each. Learning new skills can be liberating, fun and joyful. College has made me more confident and I do not really care what people think because I want to experience everything that college life has to offer. I owe a big thanks to Ben Berry for reintroducing me to this hobby by recently offering a workshop about the technique of how to hula hoop. When anyone has an enthusiastic teacher it makes learning so much easier. He taught the basics but also how to do tricks while hula dancing, but I mostly prefer to do the basics. Hula hooping can be lots of fun and it can be a form of exercise.

 

 

 

 

 

The Decline of the Meaning of Black Friday

Thanksgiving is a time of the year that is becoming forgotten due to the demands of a capitalist society. The meaning of Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what people are thankful for and to celebrate time with family. Black Friday has been considered one of the biggest shopping days of the year and traditionally has been the day after Thanksgiving. After celebrating a day of thanks, going shopping early the next day used to be a fun experience for the whole family. Our capitalist society has made obsolete the symbolism of having fun and getting great sale items. When I was younger it was exciting to visit the stores that would open at 4 am and then you could continue to shop throughout the whole night. Going for breakfast in the morning was a great reprieve to relish all of the deals you had gotten during the night. In recent years the stores have been opening earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving evening. The tradition of Black Friday for the shopping season of 2014 will be broken by many stores opening on Thanksgiving Day at 6 am. So what happened to black Friday? How can it be a Black Friday when it starts on Thursday in the midst of Thanksgiving holiday? Thanksgiving is a time to share a day with family and friends. It is sad to think that our society has become so obsessed with buying gifts and making money that we have to resort to running amuck the early morning of Thanksgiving the one day of the year set aside to enjoy family and be thankful. Black Friday this year got me wondering where the capitalistic ideas will end. When will businesses realize that making family time on Thanksgiving is more important than sales? When will Black Friday become Black Friday again and return to the way it once was?

A Look into Sustainability at Alfred State

College students can take steps to help improve the environment and be conscientious of their surroundings.  One of the most efficient ways to help the environment is to compost. Compost is taking food waste and turning it into “green waste” which will break down into humus in a few weeks or months.  After the breakdown of the food waste it can be applied to gardens to give nutrients to the soil to enrich growth through a natural process.  It is simple to use and saves energy as well.  Ecology is a responsibility that every citizen of the world should be concerned. Some colleges offer compost bins in the dining areas instead of garbage cans. Being eco-conscious is a frame of mind that benefits everyone. Alfred State offers vegetarian options to students. I like the concept of replacing the garbage cans in the dining areas on campus with compost bins. It is a huge waste considering the amount of food that is thrown away on a daily basis. Alfred State does offer recycle bins for cans, bottles, and papers all around campus and in the dorms. Encouragement to the student body to be eco-friendly could be reinforced in the dining areas and creating an additional method to recycle our wastes.  Currently some of the paper from campus is recycled and is used as bedding at the farm. The Alfred Community Garden already has a compost pile available where the college could take the compost and deposit it daily. A compost bin costs an average of $40.00 each and if they were placed in approximately 10 places around campus the cost would be $400.00. A small financial investment today would go a long way for the future of our earth. So think about joining me in recycling today for a better tomorrow.

Social History

Social history provides information about how an individual experiences problems, past problem-solving behaviors, developmental stages, and impersonal relationships. Some of the information gathered in a social history may be a repeat of the information received in an initial intake interview, however, sometimes the interview can lack all the information needed to provide appropriate services for the client.

      A social history can provide many advantages by filling in gaps in the client’s present issues and consequently helps complete the full picture of the client’s life. By better understanding the details that surround a client’s lifestyle, the case manager can work to develop a deeper and more effective relationship.

      After a thorough interview and assessment of the client’s needs, the case manager can make the appropriate plans and integrate services indicated for the client to ensure the best possible assistance. This assistance may include referrals to outside agencies to meet all of the client’s needs.

     A social history has disadvantages as well. Excessive questioning by the case manager can lead to a dependent role and culturally bound questions can create barriers to the development of the case manager and client relationship. Despite its limitations, the social history can play a vital role in the case manager’s process and the development of the client’s case file.

This is a real and fake profile I wrote for my Bachelor's program. Names have been changed and the story has been elaborated.

Name: Dixie White

Address: 123 6th Street Melbourne, FL 32904

Date of Birth: March 11^th, 1992

Age: 21-year-old female

Marital Status: Single

Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual

Race: Caucasian

Presenting Problem

Dixie feels that her life is of good quality and feels happy and satisfied, but upon examination of her wellness check, she indicated that she has a desire to develop deeper and better-quality relationships with her friends and family. She feels that she has multiple irrelevant people in her life that interrupt her ability to build strong relationships with the people who are the most important. She feels that if she is able to place irrelevant people on the outer fringes of her personal life, then they will take up less of her time and in turn, leave more time to work on the relationships that are significant to her.

Referral Source and Reason

Dixie was referred by Dr. Rose.

Developmental/Medical History

She states that she developed normally as a child and has no remarkable history. She was sent to a hospital emergency room once because of a car accident but was discharged due to no injury. She states she does not have any medical issues and considers herself healthy but she suffers from being anemic and takes daily iron and vitamin supplements as well as birth control.

Mental Health History

Dixie is currently taking four Zanax pills daily for the treatment of acute anxiety disorder. She feels that she does not have any mental health issues. She does not feel that her anxiety is an unusual diagnosis and does not feel that she needs counseling. She feels that much of her anxiety is due to the demands of college life and does not consider that any of her past or present family issues may be a contributing factor.

Personal and Family History

Dixie realizes that she was raised in a dysfunctional home environment now. Her father is an alcoholic and many of her schoolmates also had alcoholic fathers and therefore she did not think that this was a dysfunctional family lifestyle. Since she has gone to college she has learned about alcoholic family dynamics and realizes to some degree the impact that this may have on her life. She feels that she will be able to overcome her past lifestyle by going to college and getting an education so that she can stay out of her childhood home, become financially independent, and help others.

Trauma History

She has been in the hospital before because of her father. He was drunk, deserted the vehicle because of his fear of a DWI and left her in the car alone. Three hours went by before medical help arrived and transported her to an area hospital. She was discharged due to lack of injury.

       She has been in an abusive relationship. She recognized the cycle of violence and made a conscious decision to end that relationship.

Education

She graduated from high school and she has an Associate’s degree in Human Services to help people with alcoholic problems. She has no desire to seek a Master’s degree at this time.

Work History

She used to work as a bartender during summer breaks from school and college. She currently works at Taco Bell and serves as a community service director in her college.

Present Family Relationships and Economic Situation

Dixie has a boyfriend named Ian and he is 21 years of age. She feels that they have a strong, supportive, and reliable relationship. She feels that Evan is like her family at the present time. She states she does not have strong connections with her family at home for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons are they are geographically far away and they are non-existent because they are neglectful and disengaged with her.

She is not absolutely financially independent from her family because she does go home on occasion and still maintains a room at home. She has borrowed money to come to school to better herself. She is hoping that upon graduation she will be able to get a good paying job. She is not receiving any financial assistance from home and she is currently working at several different jobs. She has several different positions because the jobs are low paying and she needs some additional funds to complement the money that she has borrowed. 

Personality/Habits

She is in a sorority and currently serves as their president. She likes to travel and go on cruises. She is able to knit but would like to increase her skill level. She takes pleasure in singing. She earned her black belt in karate when she was 10 years of age.  

Impressions/Recommendations

Dixie is an upbeat and outgoing personality. I suggest making a list of all of her family members and friends. She could then categorize the pros and cons of each person on the list. After she establishes her list, then we could discuss her goals of eliminating unwanted/unhealthy relationships. I would discuss with her the qualities of friends she wishes to have in her life. Some ideas to establish deeper relationships is to improve the quality and frequency of communication, be more empathetic, reduce defensiveness, increase openness, learn how to resolve conflict while increasing mutual trust and respect, recognize destructive behaviors/habits and fix them, develop a higher emotional intelligence, turn problems and mistakes into learning and growth opportunities, talk about your relationship frequently and develop shared goals and strategies for creating more value together, develop a higher sense of self-awareness and convert your reactions into responses focused on improving the relationship. I would suggest she seek out a local Al-Anon family group to help her connect with people who have similar issues and provide her a way to feel better about her issues and start the healing process. Seeking out a counselor specializing in anxiety would help her learn to better manage her anxiety and learn more effective coping skills. A counselor could also prescribe and help her learn proper medication management. 

Friendly Mister President

Skip Sullivan our new president is one of the friendliest men I know. He is very approachable, easy to talk to, and makes you feel like you are no different than anyone else. The other night I went to the breast cancer volleyball game and had the pleasure of sitting next to the president. The game was a very enjoyable experience. In my opinion, a president that is involved in the campus community, shows school spirit by participating in multiple campus events such as sports, and gets to know the students, is a dedicated individual. Attending a college where the president is so involved helps make the whole college experience worthwhile because I feel that I am a part of the Alfred State community.

A Look into the Food between State and AU

I am an Alfred State student but this year I am also an AU student too because I take a class and have a job in the main dining hall on campus. I have always heard that the food at AU was terrible. I noticed that this concept is not that far off. When I work as a checker I noticed that several AU students commented on my take out Alfred State lunch from the Terrace. They said that my lunch looked a lot better that the lunch they were going to have. I honestly think it’s sad to think about that my lunch looks better than theirs even if it’s just dino nuggets and cottage cheese. The Terrace at least lets us see what the food specials will be for the day before you go inside. AU students have no idea what food they will be served for that day. I have tasted the AU food during my dinner shift that I work and I agree that the food can be terrible but it is not terrible all the time. I may complain about the Terrace food sometimes but really I will take the Terrace food over AU food any day.

The Terrace has a tendency to buy food premade but everything at AU is cooked fresh and homemade daily. This is interesting but at least you know that the food served doesn’t have as much salt, and grease that Alfred State has in it. AU offers more vegetarian options for their students. AU doesn’t have garbage cans in the dining hall as State does but they compost their food they cook and students throw away. I wish that Alfred State has a much eco-consciousness as AU. I would rather have no garbage cans and compost all the food we throw away every day. It’s such a big waste all the food state throws away on a daily basis. Another difference between AU and State is the food is a lot fancier at AU. I expected this to be true anyway but it’s really interesting how weird it’s. For example when I eat dinner during my break I wanted to eat some soup. I walk over to the soup and it says vegetable. I like vegetable so I was like ok. I thought it was going to be like the vegetable soap you get in Wegmans. I was totally wrong. It was weird vegetable. I didn’t really know what was in it exactly but it didn’t meet my expectations at all. I think often when I see the food being served for dinner do you ever make food that is not high end?  

History in the Making the President’s Inauguration

 Alfred State’s Voices started the festivities with prelude music with a special rendition of New York New York Alfred style. Then the clubs and organizations of the college started the recessional holding signs that said what their passions were. Then the recessional had faculty/staff, colleges/universities in the surrounding area, and bag pipers. The Alfred Men’s Faculty Quartet sung the national anthem. Skip was inaugurated as the 12^th president. President Sullivan remarked “This day is not about me it’s about the students”. Pioneering Passions was the common theme of the inauguration. Alfred State students have been involved in helping to build homes in New Orleans, disaster relief in Haiti, a new library in Sio, and orphanage for the Angels of Honduras.

 “Just as the pioneers did not know what they would face when they took their families west, they knew that opportunities awaited them. Many of our student’s face that same uncertainty but know that passion is the vehicle that will drive their success and education is the GPS that will guide those passions” Skip remarked. Many students have moved west to Alfred facing some if the same uncertainties that the pioneering forefathers and pioneering families once did. Alfred State faculty and staff are here to make sure that students reach their destination in their wagon of life. The president encouraged students not to lose their pioneering spirit, try something different and outside of their comfort zone. “While passion may fade from time to time, find and invest in those things for which you have passion. Do the things that you love” Sullivan said.

“As president of Alfred State, I view it as my responsibility to help you grow. It is my responsibility to create an environment that is safe and that fosters both the pioneer and the passion inside of you. Today, I want to pay tribute to our students; our past, present, and future students. You are the reason I am here today. 

After the inauguration ended the students were dismissed by the president. The students then lined up from the top of the library steps to the Student Leadership Building to cheer and led everyone to the reception. The reception showcased the students and the accomplishments of clubs. There was lots of food, the band played, and everyone got to personally congratulate the president if they wanted to. Alfred State Voices serenated the president with songs and he liked it so much he even chimed in. During a brief interview he said that he is excited with the turnout of the inauguration and looking forward to things happening in Alfred. Students can look forward to the college expanding more with more programs, degrees, and dorms.

Alfred State College is proud to welcome Skip Sullivan to the Alfred family. Since he arrived on campus he has been involved with student’s right from the start going to sporting events, going to dinners, and getting to know them on a personal level. “I am passionate about being student-centered. I am passionate about being a pioneer, and I am passionate about Alfred State.”

 

 

 

Little Angels of Alfred

Little Angels of Alfred

By Lynnette Lockwood

 

In Honduras, 40% of newborn babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) die on a daily basis from preventable deaths. These deaths are caused by infections due to the lack of adequate sanitation. 56% of the babies die daily waiting for space to become available in the NICU.  The Little Angels of Honduras Club is an organization that was formed recently that strives to reduce the infant mortality rate in Honduras by assisting with the provision of optimal conditions for pregnancy, birth, and newborn care. The strategy that the organization follows has four parts: provide, support, engage, and construct. Provide is assisting with immediate needs in hospitals. Support is national education and policy change about the issue. Engage is reducing the number of high-risk teenage pregnancies. Construct involves building a new maternal and infant care hospital. The vision of this organization is to give generations of parents the gift of hope and the ability to take their babies home.

Alfred State College Little Angels of Honduras Club was started by Ashley Ebel. Ashley is a civic engagement advocate. The club is being sponsored by Kyle Jordan and Christian Perry. Christian is a graduate of Alfred State and the design team manager for the Little Angels organization. Ebel described her personal experiences and how this influenced her to start the Little Angels Club,

                   I actually met the co-founder, Christian Perry through EPLP. For blue level I had to

                   go to a few different speeches on campus and only a few of us showed up to

                   Christian's. I felt a connection because I had volunteered internationally and that is

                   how he started all of this. I also had a connection with it because both of my younger

                   sisters were born premature and it was crazy for me to think if they had been born in

                   Honduras they wouldn't be here today. I really want to make more people aware of

                   the problems and help this new organization grows so that they can continue to do

                   the work they do and expand to making a difference in another area.

 

The Little Angels of Honduras Club wants to raise money, sell t-shirts, let people know about their cause, have supply drives, and eventually have mission trips to Honduras. Supply drives would include simple things such as antibacterial gel, soap, newborn hats, gloves, baby clothes, bottles, diapers, and wipes. 

Welcome Class of 2014

     Hello, I am Lynnette Lockwood, the Associate Editor of Tor Echo, and I want to officially welcome you to Alfred State SUNY College of Technology. Alfred State is a wonderful place to learn, grow, find your true passion, and discover who you really are and what makes you truly happy. Make sure that you take full advantage of the opportunities offered here at Alfred. Get involved in clubs and organizations on campus and off campus. AU is across the street and they will accept Alfred State students with open arms. You are invited to participate in any club/organization AU has and any events. Alfred State students can take classes at AU for free as long as you take at least 12 credits and maintain a 2.0 GPA. We have over 90 clubs and organizations and I am sure you can find something that you want to do. Go out there make new friends, and talk to people. Have fun but don’t forget to study. One of the biggest challenges is finding a proper balance between clubs and study time. Burn out can occur and that is not healthy.

       Be wary of the freshman 15. It’s not a rumor; it’s 100% true. There are many food places around campus. The healthiest option and the most variety is the Terrace. Try to limit your contact to Friendly’s, Taco Bell, Evergreen, and 10 Elm. If you want to stay in shape and not gain as much weight, take walks around campus, use the Mind Spa, or join the health and wellness club.                     

       Everyone here at Alfred State is very welcoming and willing to help in any way. If you need help finding your way, feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to ask any upperclassman, faculty or staff for help. Savor your time here at Alfred State because it will fly by. Don’t just sit on the sidelines. You’re your experience memorable and leave behind your fingerprints on Alfred State.

Case Model 2 Vesid

                                                       

       Vocational rehabilitation started in the early 19th century. The Perkins Institute was the first to offer rehabilitation services in Boston in 1829.  The Institute cared for blind people that were trained to get jobs in the manufacturing industry. More programs were started towards the end of the century. The greatest need for vocational rehabilitation was after World War I, when many soldiers returned home disabled. The private institutes could not accommodate so many soldiers. The Smith-Hughes Act of 1917 was passed which formed the Federal Board for the Vocational Education of Soldiers. In 1918 the Soldier Rehabilitation Act was created to offer vocational training to disabled veterans. In 1944, the Servicemen's Readjustment Act/ G.I. Bill was introduced, which provided vocational training programs to disabled veterans who returned from World War II (History of Vocational Rehabilitation).

      ACCES-VR, formerly known as VESID, is part of the New York State Education Department and works with students, families and school districts to coordinate appropriate services for students with disabilities who are graduating high school and entering adult vocational rehabilitation and related services. This is the crucial part of ACCES-VR; to enable students to achieve the maximum success in post-school activities such as employment, college, independent living, and community participation. Students will be referred to ACCES-VR when the school, student and parents mutually agree that the student's disability will interfere with their ability to work in the community. The services are based on the individual student’s needs, preferences, potential, abilities and interests. These activities include instruction, community experiences, and development of employment, living skills and functional vocational evaluation. The transition services include service planning and the applicant is teamed up with a counselor/case manager who contributes knowledge of rehabilitation services and outcomes; is the broker consultant, planner, and coordinator, while setting goals (Vocational Rehabilitation: VR).

      If a candidate’s employment objective requires college training, ACCES-VR can provide tuition assistance, fees, books and required materials, partial room and board and related support for consumers who meet eligibility based on their economic need. ACCES-VR consumers must establish an individualized plan for employment (IPE) with an employment objective requiring college training to qualify for assistance. In all instances students and families must first access traditional financial aid such as the New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), federal PELL grants and/or Veterans college aid prior to relying on ACCES-VR sponsorship. At virtually every college campus throughout New York State, there are disability related resources available to assist students with disabilities with full access and accommodations (Vocational Rehabilitation: VR).

Another service offered by ACCES-VR is independent Living Centers which provide an array of services that assist clients to live fully integrated and self-directed lives. They assist with all aspects of living, learning and earning while providing a set of core services, which focus on promoting self-help, equal access, peer role modeling, personal growth, and empowerment. These services help meet the needs of the individual and the community. The core services are peer counseling, and independent living skills training which teaches life skills, budgeting, meal preparation, arranging transportation, personal assistance services, job seeking, and self-advocacy (Vocational Rehabilitation: VR).

Individual and Systems Advocacy addresses access to equal opportunities in social, economic, educational, and legal rights. Other services include housing assistance, acquiring and maintaining appropriate benefits and entitlements, communication barrier consultation, learning how to use, repair, and maintain equipment, registering to vote, in-service training, workshops/seminars on disability issues, and disability laws (Vocational Rehabilitation: VR).

ACCES-VR has a role-based case management model. Role-based case management focuses on the roles the case manager performs. The case manager is a broker. Role-based is an integrated care model. The goal is to meet all the needs of the client which includes intake interviews, data gathering, planning, linking the client to services, coordinating and delivering services, referral, and evaluation (Woodside, McClam, 2013).

What appeals to me about this program is that the case manager assumes many roles, the eligibility is clear, and when people refer to the organization I understand the services that the organization offers. I like the close relationship that they build with the client. What I do not like about this program is they are limited to the services they provide and the client must seek other organizations to receive additional help in areas that they may need. I can see myself working for this organization. I recognize the significance of being a case manager and assisting others to problem solve their situations and I can see myself being a case manager. The multicultural case management issues this organization faces are dealing with various types of disabilities and coordinating with other agencies to provide services that their client may need.

The Adult Career and Continuing Education Services-Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR) is a very good organization that helps people with disabilities gain access to employment and independent living services.

 Works Cited

ACCES-VR. (n.d.). Vocational Rehabilitation:VR. Retrieved October 2, 2014, from http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/

History of Vocational Rehabilitation. (n.d.). Vocational Rehabilitation History. Retrieved October 8, 2014, from http://www.rehabilitations.org/vocational-rehabilitation/history-of-vocational-rehabilitation.html

Woodside, M., & McClam, T. (2013).Generalist case management: a method of human service delivery (Fourth ed.). Chicago, IL: Jon-David Hague.

Community Fair Success

On September 11^th, 2014 Alfred State hosted the 2nd annual Community Involvement in the Student Leadership Center. There were approximately 25 community-based organizations from Alfred and surrounding areas. Some of the organizations that were involved were Alfred Box of Books Library, Alfred Community Garden, Allegany Arc, Allegany County Youth Court, Almond Library, Children and Youth Learning Initiative, Hornell Family YMCA, and Turning Point Catholic Charities just to name a few. This fair is important to the college students because it offers the students a chance to become involved in civic engagement opportunities. The fair helps students connect with organizations that need volunteers, networking opportunities for internships and future employment. The students were even able to swipe their id card to add the event to their Co-Curricular Transcript to show to future employers.

A Look Into School Spirit

School spirit is a term that you often hear at pep rallies, and it is a concept that has been instilled in us for generations, but school spirit is much more. It can be demonstrated in a variety of ways. School spirit is having high enthusiasm about an institution, expressing a positive attitude, regular attendance at school related activities, supporting their sports, wearing school colors such as team clothing and face paint, and being involved in extracurricular activities. School spirit is often ongoing even after leaving the institution.

Recently, Alfred State has shown a lot of school spirit during the homecoming events. Alfred’s Got Talent is an event held on campus that demonstrates a strong expression of school spirit. Alfred State clubs, organizations and students audition for a talent show. Once they have performed, they are shown positive support through the cheers and screams of the audience. School spirit for an event can often be dampened by the master of ceremony requesting the audience to not cheer or scream during the performance because it can be distracting for the participants. Performing before a large group of your peers can be intimidating. I performed in the talent show with the Japanese Dance Club and the cheers from the audience made me want to perform better, relax, and smile more. Any kind of positive support should be encouraged.

 Another example of school spirit is the spirit bonfire, hence the name. The screams, laughter, and yells at the bonfire and reaction from the fireworks really demonstrated school spirit. Watching such a spectacular fireworks, and sharing the moment with a group of friends really made me feel proud of being a student of Alfred State.

 

Other events that really get people into school spirit are the tailgating party and football game. At homecoming weekend. Alumni, family and friends gather for the excitement. Alfred State’s mascot, Orvis the Pioneer, shows massive quantities of spirit and wanders among the spectators greeting, leading cheers and offering photo opportunities. The roars from the crowd when the home team scores a touchdown are fascinating to participate in and to hear. Even if the football team loses, the crowd, slightly disappointed, still loves being there to enjoy the moment. There was music booths sponsored by college clubs and free ice cream.

 School spirit does not have to be shown just during big events like Homecoming. School spirit can be anywhere and anytime. Every time I put on my Alfred State apparel I think about how much I love Alfred State. This is my senior year so I am taking advantage of many opportunities because I know when the time comes, I will miss it immensely.  

 

SOAP Notes

S

The client presented with recently moving back home to live her parents, bringing along her boyfriend, and she states that the living environment is “crazy”.

 

O

The client has anxiety about her living situation. She has recently moved back home with her parents, wants to move out, but has no money to do so. She does not have a job and she is a student part time. Her parents are dysfunctional. Her mother has borderline personality disorder and her father is in denial of the situation and states that the mother is not mentally ill. When she moved back home one of the conditions with the parents was she must have a relationship with her mother. Her mom is verbally abusive. Her bf lives with her and her mother is pressuring her marry her boyfriend. She is not sure but she does not really feel she wants to marry the boyfriend and states he is too clingy. She claims that he is not physically abusive but sometimes makes her feel comfortable by making her do things she does not want to do. To cope she goes out with friends and drinks socially and feels her friends are her only stable support system. She denies the currently use of drugs, but does admit using drugs when she was younger. Even though she shared that there are no boundaries within this household, she is currently taking medication for depression, is unhappy and anxious, she states she has no problems sleeping.  

 

A

Cf is currently being medicated for depression. She has anxiety about her living situation living at home with her parents and bf.  Her mother has borderline personality disorder. Her mom is verbally abusive and has no boundaries. Dad never set boundaries and denies that the mother is ill. When she moved back home one of the conditions to live there was to have a relationship with her mother. Her mom is pressuring her to marry her boyfriend but she does not want to. Her bf can be too clingy. He is not abusive but sometimes she feels uncomfortable around him. She wants to move out to develop her independence but has no money to do so. She does not have a job and she is a student part time. She goes out with her friends and drinks socially to cope.

 

P

I recommend that cf receive some personal counseling to help develop strategies to cope with mother’s mental illness and dad’s passive behavior. She needs assistance locating better housing and with job searching to be able to make money to move out. She needs help developing financial independence and budgeting. She may want to consider tabling continuing her education at this time until some of her more pressing issues are addressed. She needs relationship counseling to be able to set boundaries and decide whether is she is going to continue or not with her present partner. She needs guidance with setting self-goals.

 

 

First impressions of Bridget:

Drug user accompanied by illegal activity, is promiscuous, and has a criminal record charged with a felon.

 

Why do you have these impressions?

Society’s rules and expectations

My own personal prejudges

Human service background

 

What is your more systematic judgment of Bridget?

Poor parental supervision while growing up

Raised in an alcoholic and eventually no father in the home and a mother with depression

Associates with a boyfriend who encourages and partners with the drug use and illegal activities

Poor self-esteem

Poor decision making

Criminal behavior

 

How did you first impression change and why?

The case study provided more information about how deeply involved she is in the drug society and criminal behavior and therefore gave me more insight into who she really is currently.

 

Do you think Bridget internally or externally is more influenced?

I believe that Bridget within herself and her environment both contribute to present situation. She actively choses to be with a boyfriend who seems to be an instigator of the her drug use because when she is not around him she seems to do better while living at home with her mother. However, the previous use of drugs many times can lead to relapses regardless of who the person is currently associating with at the time.

 

How does fundamental attribution error apply to our thoughts about Bridget?

Fundamental attribution error does contribute to my thoughts because some of her decision making is definitely contributing to her issues, however I am the type of person who has chosen not to make her type of decisions and feel that I have a better quality of live because of my decision making.

 

What social categories does Bridget belong?

Poor

Low education level

Needing of AA

Female

Age 22

Adult US citizen

Unemployed frequently

 

What social categories do you belong?

Middle class

College education

No need for AA

Female

Age 21

Adult US citizen

Employed in 2 part-time jobs and full time college

In what ways is Bridget in your in group or out group?

She would not be in my in-group. I do not support people who use drugs and not have a job; therefore I am aware that my assessment of her would be more critical.

 

Did you stereotype Bridget after reading the first 2 paragraphs, describe and did the stereotype remain?

Yes I did stereotype her as an addict and after reading more of her case it reinforced my impressions and assessment for what she needs to do to improve her life.

 

Case Management Model 1 ACCORD

                                                                      

                                               

     Allegany County Community Opportunities and Rural Development (ACCORD) is a grant-funded community action agency, originally formed in 1972 as the Housing Action Corporation. It was established to fight poverty in Allegany County by a group of concerned citizens who recognized the need to improve housing conditions for low to moderate income individuals and families. Today, ACCORD, due to its growth and expansion over the years, and because of rising needs in the community, now provides a multitude of different services (ACCORD Corp Home Serving Allegany County, 2010).

     The ACCORD Corporation follows an organization-based case management model. Organization-based case management provides a variety of services and meets multiple problems and needs within society. Case management organizations offer multiple services provided in one location where clients receive an assessment and formulation of an assistance plan that could include housing, work opportunities, other social supports, and time to integrate into the community (McClam & Woodside, 2013).

     ACCORD’S mission believes in the strength, dignity, and potential of all people. They offer access to opportunities, resources, and services to strengthen individuals, families and communities and are committed to improving the community's response to rural poverty by giving a voice to the unheard. The organization’s vision accomplishes their mission through the use of education, encouragement, and empowerment of others (Accord Corp Home Serving Allegany County, 2010).

     ACCORD is directed by five values: compassion, dignity, diversity, advocacy and empowerment, combined with a commitment to excellence, professional development, and partners with collaborations, while being accountable and responsible. Compassion and dignity is expressed by caring for people, while recognizing the diversity within families and the community. They advocate and empower others, addressing social justice through education. Their commitment to excellence is performed by reaching for the highest standards by fostering continuous improvement and using innovative responses to the changing needs of the community (ACCORD Corp Home Serving Allegany County, 2010).

   Professional development is offered to the employees of the organization by promoting an environment to foster development through continued education, sharing with others their personal knowledge and experiences, and offering challenging work opportunities. The partners and collaborators agree that strong team work is the foundation of a community’s ability to mobilize and change. Accountability and responsibility is expected by everyone taking responsibility for their own attitudes, actions, and judgments, accepting that they will be held accountable for their choices and actions (ACCORD Corp Serving Allegany County, 2010).

          ACCORD contains multiple programs that offer a variety of services such as: the Affordable Housing Corporation program, the Home Program, the Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing program, the Restore Program, Community Action Angels program, Head Start program, Choices program, Advantage After-School program, Community Learning Centers and a Victim Response Team.  The Affordable Housing Corporation program provides grants for low to moderate income homeowners who reside in Allegany County that help reduce up to 60% of the total cost of the home improvement project. Also available to low- income homeowners throughout Allegany County, is the Home Program that provides grants to assist the homeowner with improvements to more efficiently meet health and safety codes.  The Federal Home Loan Bank Affordable Housing program gives grants to low-income homeowners to assist with improvements to meet rehabilitation needs. The Restore Program provides emergency home repair grants to low-income elderly homeowners throughout Allegany County. 

     The Community Action Angels program is devoted to providing hope to people experiencing any difficult circumstance. This program includes a holiday gift program for children, holiday food boxes, clothing/furniture collection and distribution, nursing home projects, services for the elderly, highway clean up, fundraisers, coat drives for children, disaster and emergency relief, transportation, financial assistance for medical co-pays, utilities and car repairs, purchasing of  household goods, furniture and/or appliances, minor home repairs, baby and toddler clothing and/or supplies, and food drives for distribution  (ACCORD Corporation, 2013).  

     ACCORD is well known for the Head Start program. Services are intended to meet the needs of children 3-5 years old with disabilities and the program offers additional services for pregnant women, infants, and toddlers. The Choices program is offered to youth who are pregnant, parenting, or are at risk of pregnancy. The program strives to increase teen’s access to reproductive health services and education. The Advantage After School program offers academic support, social enrichment, and youth development and the Community Learning Centers provide mentoring, homework help, tutoring and educational, social, cultural, and recreational after school activities.

      The Victim Response Team offers domestic violence victims and their children a safe and secure shelter in a comfortable environment. This team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to offer support and assistance. A safe house assists victims to obtain legal remedies, support, employment training options, advocacy, child care, transportation, referrals, and case management services, as well as clothing, home furnishings, and a supply of emergency food upon leaving the shelter. Transportation during shelter stay is available for those who do not have their own vehicle.  There is a women's education domestic violence support group, and a play group for their children. The women and children are given the tools to learn about issues of victimization and how to overcome the effects of domestic violence. The Victim Response Team is a group dedicated to strengthening local response to domestic violence and holding offenders accountable for their crimes. The mission of the team is to have a coordinated response to domestic violence in Allegany County and this is achieved through team members coming together monthly to discuss incidents of domestic violence and provide education on domestic violence to area partners with a concentration on the prosecution of offenders. The team targets domestic violence incidents and is specifically dedicated toward preventing, identifying, and responding to violent crimes against women as well as the elderly population (ACCORD Corporation, 2013).

    ACCORD is a great organization for families, communities, and children.  I like to work at the ACCORD agency because it offers a variety of services. I can see myself working there because domestic violence is one of the causes I care about and because of the variety of services that they offer. I prefer to work in an environment where there a high demand for services with a variety of options. What I do not like about this organization is it offers such a wide variety of services that when people refer to ACCORD it would require further clarification about which section of the organization they are referring. For example, if someone mentioned VESID many people know that the organization offers services to people with disabilities, helps them with employment, and independent living (ACCES-VR, September 20, 2013). The ACCORD organization deals with services that vary from domestic violence to Head Start. I do not like the fact that some services are restricted to only Allegany County, but some of the programs are offered to anyone.  There is such a high demand for the services that they offer it would be great if it could be offered to anyone, however I do understand the budgetary restraints.

     If I worked for ACCORD my roles as a case manager would be: broker, coordinator, consultant, and planner (McClam, & Woodside, 2013). The multicultural case management model has a broad scope approach and could be applied to any of the ACCORD programs due to the wide range of services they offer.

 

Bibliography

ACCES-VR. (2013, September 20).Vocational Rehabilitation:VR.Retrieved September 17, 2014, from http://www.acces.nysed.gov/vr/

ACCORD Corporation. (2013, April 30). Community Action Angels Program Services Angles Live in the Hearts that Care [Pamphlet]. Belmont, NY:ACCORD Corporation

Cramer, M. L. (2009, July 22). Job Description for a Case Manager. eHow. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from http://www.ehow.com/about_5208008_job-description-case-manager.html

McClam, T., & Woodside, M. (2013). Models of Case Management. Generalist case management: a workbook for skill development (pp. 73, 77-79, 87-89). Belmont, Calif.: Thomson Higher Education. (Original work published 2006)

Murray, R. (2011, June 20). How to Cite a Pamphlet in APA. eHow. Retrieved September 18, 2014, from http://www.ehow.com/how_8620724_cite-pamphlet-apa.html

Welcome to ACCORD Corporation. (n.d.).Accord Corp home Serving Allegany County. Retrieved September 15, 2014, from http://www.accord-corp.org/

Nomination Letter

4005 Cook Hollow Road

Woodhull, NY 14898

September 15^th, 2014

Dr. Brian Quinn

10 Upper College Drive

Alfred State SUNY College of Technology

Alfred, NY 14802

Dear Dr. Quinn

    I would like to nominate Vicki Oddo for the Pioneer Student of the Month. Vicki is a student at Alfred State College. She was born on January15, 1993. She is from Corning, NY. Before coming to Alfred State she attended Elmira College for one year for math. She transferred to Corning Community College for two years. She graduated with a degree in math for forensic science. Then she transferred to Alfred for forensics. She chose this degree because she likes science, math, is good a chemistry and math and she wasn’t cut out for the vet tech program. Her expected graduation date is spring of 2016.

    She enjoys animals, drawing, chemistry and math. She is involved in the Ergo magazine, game nation club and the equestrian club. She dislikes writing English papers. She dislikes when people mistreat and abuse animals.

    Vicki had her wisdom teeth removed a year ago. She works at a place where she takes cares of animals especially dogs. After the surgery she was afraid that the dogs would jump up on her. The next day the dogs did jump on her. The dogs accidently bit her hand. The pain in her mouth was replaced by the pain in her hand. She tried to make the situation funny by making a joke about how her mouth didn’t hurt anymore but her boss didn’t appreciate it very much.

    

Sincerely,

Lynnette Lockwood

Lynnette Lockwood