Reagan Schmitz
Responsibilities
My responsibilities during my internship included: 1. Maintaining a positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating to foster positive relationships with co-workers and supervisors. 2. Completing intake interviews with clients, gathering necessary documents, determining the level of need, and making recommendations for assistance. 3. I met with the Service Center Coordinator to discuss client recommendations. 4. I maintained a list of community agencies providing aid and made referrals where and when appropriate. 5. I got exposure to appropriate documentation and monitoring of the social services budget and related financial expenditures. 6. I maintained accurate, confidential, and detailed case management notes utilizing Charity Tracker. 7. I assisted with the food pantry, food drives, and Food Bank; scheduled appointments for pantry clients, filled orders, and worked with existing volunteers. 8. I attended social service program meetings throughout the community and learned about various agencies in Story County and what they offer. 9. I established and cultivated professional community agency relationships with agency partners. 10. I effectively and responsively related to diverse populations with dignity, respect, and in a non-judgmental approach. 11. I promoted TSA programs and events. 12. I ensured the front lobby and desk were clean and tidy. 13. I became very familiar with various spreadsheets and logged data for volunteers, Food Bank of Iowa donations, and other food donations that came through the center. 14. I was exposed to the Rep Payee program and helped clients receive their Social Security checks daily. 15. I completed any other duties the volunteers and my supervisor asked of me.
Accomplishments
My greatest accomplishment during my internship experience was establishing relationships with clients, recognizing who they were, and greeting them by name. Many clients were surprised that I remembered who they were, which made for a more trusting and uplifting environment. Another accomplishment I am proud of is being able to deliver difficult news and refer people to different organizations if we didn't offer specific services or ran out of funding and resources. Before my internship, I knew it would be tough telling people no, especially when they were in need. However, learning about different agencies and offering various resources helped in challenging situations where The Salvation Army Service Center could not provide support.
Learning experience
The greatest lesson I learned from this experience is that everyone's situation is different, and it's essential to be a listener. I was introduced to many individuals experiencing homelessness, and often, they just wanted somebody to talk to, and I was happy to be that person for them. I also learned that I am very blessed and it was inspiring to watch some of these people who had nothing be so positive and upbeat about life despite experiencing hardship.
What advice would you give?
I advise future HDFS majors to be open-minded and willing to view ideas and concepts from a different perspective. Viewing life from someone else's shoes and conversing with people is very important. Often, I went in with the mindset of getting this degree because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. Still, I quickly realized after this semester when you're out in the real world, the people you interact with end up having a more significant impact on you than you could ever imagine. Some other advice is to be willing to learn and put yourself out there! The HDFS department prepares you more than you can imagine for an internship experience like mine, and it's an excellent opportunity to interact with people and figure out your true passion. Creating a solid work-life balance is also essential, and developing ways to destress after long days is also crucial. I found journaling helpful and talking with my co-workers to be beneficial to maintain confidentialy of clients.