Holistic Care in the Field Advanced human services professional practitioners are generalists. They help individuals, families, and communities using a holis

Holistic Care in the Field

Advanced human services professional practitioners are generalists. They help individuals, families, and communities using a holistic, interdisciplinary approach where they address many different root causes of a problem rather than just one. Practitioners must take this open, wide view to understand the needs of the communities in which they work and which services align with those needs.

In this Discussion, you explore what it means to be a generalist in the field of human services. Then, you consider how you would apply generalist, holistic care to help a service user in Hart City, a virtual community used throughout this course. Finally, you propose at least one new service, program, or resource that is needed in Hart City to adequately address issues like those the service user faces in the scenario.  

Resources

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. 

WEEKLY RESOURCES

To Prepare

• Review your Course Announcements for possible information related to this week’s Discussion and Assignment.
• Review the Learning Resources and pay particular attention to what it means to be a generalist in the field of human services and why holistic care is important in the practice of human services.
• Go to the Hart City virtual community using the link that is provided in the Learning Resources. Once you are in the community, visit the Hart City Community Center and view the scenario about Jean, a carpenter from Haiti. Identify one specific example of how generalist, holistic care could be applied to help Jean.
• Explore the other organizations in Hart City and the services and programs they offer. Think about one new service, program, or resource you would propose—possibly in collaboration with another agency—to address issues like those Jean faces in the scenario. 

By Day 4

Post an explanation of what it means to be a generalist in the field of human services. Then, explain one specific example of how generalist, holistic care would be beneficial for Jean in the Hart City scenario. Finally, as an advanced human services professional practitioner in a leadership position, assess the services and programs currently in existence in Hart City and propose at least one new service, program, or resource that you would propose for the Hart City Community Center—possibly in collaboration with another agency—to address issues like those the service user faces in the scenario.

REFERENCES/RESOURCES

• Schram, B., Mandell, B.R., Dann, P.L., & Peterson, L. (2020). An introduction to human services: Policy and practice (9th ed.). Pearson.
  
  • Chapter 1, “What Are Human Services? What Do Human Service Workers Do?” (pp. 1–21)
  • Chapter 2, “The Changing Nature of the Helping Process” (pp. 22–55)
• Walden University, LLC. (2020a). Becoming a generalist and providing holistic care [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 4 minutes.

• Walden University, LLC. (2020b). Hart CityLinks to an external site. [Interactive media]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
  Note: Begin by visiting the Hart City Community Center and view the scenario about Jean. Then, explore the other organizations in Hart City and the services and programs they offer.
• Links to an external site.
  Winfield, C., Sparkman-Key, N. M., & Vajda, A. (2017). Interprofessional collaboration among helping professions: Experiences with holistic client careLinks to an external site.. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, , 66–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2017.08.004

• Sparkman-Key, N., Vajda, A. J., & Borden, N. S. J. (2018). Human services identity development: Exploration of student perceptionsLinks to an external site.. Journal of Human Services, 38(1), 21–33. https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1060&context=chs_pubsLinks to an external site.
• Walden University, LLC. (2020d). Professional identity statements [Video]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 1 minute.