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Service Learning Reflection Blog
How
would you describe in detail your service learning site?
My
service learning site is based at UF Health, but involves a multidisciplinary
team of stake holders working towards improving the reporting and support process
for sexual and other forms of abuse for adults and children. We have committees
that meet monthly and quarterly, and also visit and engage other facilities.
The
education and services benefit all communities in Duval County and surrounding
areas, many of the counties have significant numbers of underserved
communities, and especially Duval since this is more inner city. The funding for these projects comes
primarily from state and some federal funding as well as donations and lots of
volunteer hours and commitment.
What
is it about the community partner that calls you to work with them?
I
am engaged with this program because I believe there is a great need for
education and support for individuals in these situations. Unfortunately having
some personal experience with this I am very passionate and in tune with how
important support, safety, and security is in these situations.
What are you currently
doing with this organization and how do you see it evolving as you sustain your
commitment with them?
My
role with this is to assist with the creation and distribution of teaching
material, attend meetings, and share information with local healthcare staff
and facilities. I have spent a total of 15 hours so far between official
meetings, work groups, one on ones with my mentor, and distributing material.
I
foresee this to be an ongoing program since there seem to be more and more
victims of abuse on a daily basis, and most perpetrators don’t stop even with
counseling and legal consequences. I’m not sure if we as a society are more
aware and more willing to report or if the numbers are truly increasing, but
either way this problem is not going away. I do plan on continuing with this
long term and really hope to have the opportunity to, at least on a small level,
contribute to some relief and support for victims and maybe even somehow to
empower them to not feel like victims for the rest of their lives.
I
feel like most of the committee members and stakeholders are having needs met
through this program, because they are all in service and caring professions
such as nurses, case workers, social workers, police officers, prosecutors, and
physicians. I do think these programs and services are essential for victims,
especially in underserved communities who may not have any other support
system. Overall these activities are still not sufficient when looking at the
number of abuse victims there are, but as always there are funding limits and
guidelines.
Are
people you came in contact with through this experience having some needs met
through the community activities? Are community activities like these necessary
and/or sufficient to fulfill these community and individual needs? Do you see
other means to do so?
The
only real challenges for this semester have been time related. It was difficult
at times to get to meetings or work on projects along with other class work and
my job. I was also a little let down to realize that not everyone is as
passionate about this subject as I am and that there are barriers such as the
funding. The best was the satisfaction of being able to make the process and
journey through the system a bit easier for the victims and be there for
support.
I have learned that although I thought I was
over my own experiences I still have some things to work through myself, so I
can imagine how difficult this can be for those with no support or resources.
As mentioned before I do plan to continue with these committees and projects as
much as possible.
Here is a link to the video guide that was
produced and can be downloaded for use from the Women’s Center of Jacksonville
site. http://www.womenscenterofjax.org/videos/ResponseVideo172.mp4
