Mayer Waxman
Universal Intern Placement ... ( Continued from page 28 )
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How do you hope your project might unfold in the months and years ahead and what impact do you hope it will have on the field at large ?
Many of the schools already work together for an intern fair , a job fair and an annual Symposium for Field Educators etc . When it comes to applying for college , there is a Universal Application that an incoming student can use to apply to hundreds of schools which have agreed to share a uniform “ common ” application . I hope that a similar system can be adapted to create an easy way for social service agencies to offer schools and students a supervised social work internship . If adapted , this would make it easier for agency educational coordinators to share information with schools regarding available internships . Conversely , it would make the job of school field placement staff easier , as agencies would be apt to be more responsive to requests to place students if the process of responding would be easier . Ultimately , I would hope that the impact of the proposed ALP would be to help social work graduate schools and social service agencies - those working with seniors and other agencies - better and more easily coordinate their efforts to provide valuable , high quality education to the incoming cadre of social work professionals .
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How has the action learning process in the context of the Leadership Academy experience contributed to your growth as a leader ?
The action learning process has empowered me to assert influence in a professional realm beyond my office and agency . This proposal reaches into the greater social work community - and beyond senior related services . The Leadership Academy experience has helped us explore our leadership styles , and has helped us focus our use of our leadership capabilities . I am inspired to share my ideas . The experience has also helped us widen our thought patterns . By meeting and coordinating with professionals in other types of senior-service agencies , we have had the opportunity to expand our areas of thought within the field . The action learning process is a nice way to begin to filter , formalize and apply what we ’ ve been learning over the year . While I hope that my ALP is able to be implemented and to come to fruition , even if ultimately it is not , the process is something that can be replicated and built on for many future ideas and initiatives to contribute to the field .
“ The Leadership Academy provides emerging leaders with exposure to the practical sides of leadership , collaboration , and an opportunity to practice essential skills for upward mobility in an ever-changing healthcare environment .”
2016-17 Fellow
IGNITE Leadership Academy Action Learning Project 2016-17 29