Tuesday, August 25, 2009
creating dialogue
one wonders why we care to help the agencies that help those who have fallen through the cracks...because the work is tiresome if it isn;t democratic...agencies are in a strategic position (the community) for stimulating democratic work environments. Let's talk.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Social work stress
hello and welcome to the "agency stress conference" blog site of joey palermo, MA. I note my "letters" because they serve as the precursor to the dialogue, discourse....that we will share on this site.
A little over twenty years ago, I graduated with a degree in "applied sociology." For my research assignment, I conducted an evaluation of a job-training program designed to assist "homeless" adults transition into employment. This was my introduction to "not-for profit" and community based agencies. Since then i have participated on a number of projects and programs designed to assist the "disenfranchised.''
Sixteen years later, about Four years ago, I created a self-imposed sabbatical to write a book about not-for profit community based agencies and their role in the lives of the clients they serve.
The text remains unpublished but the information, written with conviction and experience, has spearheaded a freelance consulting position. To date, I visit agencies and work with clients and workers alike in the areas of stress management and performance. Workshop themes have varied from burnout prevention to communication and conflict resolution.
It is now time to develop my working text into a formal manuscript. I invite you and colleagues, concerned parties (clients and workers alike) to chime in and share experience to the issue of "agency stress". I will post related topics to stimulate discussion and yes some of my points are "stressful" as we seek to "empower" in a capitalistic environment. For example, this new idea of social entrepreneurism.
The subject is agency-stress and like "stress" the roots, symptoms, and outcomes are defined subjectively.
For example, can we address agency stress as a positive force for change???
Early on in my field experience, i was taken aback by the apathy and stress related dis-ease projected by workers on to clients and reverse. Today I know that the STRESS is the outgrowth of the agency experience. How does an "organization" established to remediate social stressors come to be so stressed and how can we work to bring health to the situation?
A little over twenty years ago, I graduated with a degree in "applied sociology." For my research assignment, I conducted an evaluation of a job-training program designed to assist "homeless" adults transition into employment. This was my introduction to "not-for profit" and community based agencies. Since then i have participated on a number of projects and programs designed to assist the "disenfranchised.''
Sixteen years later, about Four years ago, I created a self-imposed sabbatical to write a book about not-for profit community based agencies and their role in the lives of the clients they serve.
The text remains unpublished but the information, written with conviction and experience, has spearheaded a freelance consulting position. To date, I visit agencies and work with clients and workers alike in the areas of stress management and performance. Workshop themes have varied from burnout prevention to communication and conflict resolution.
It is now time to develop my working text into a formal manuscript. I invite you and colleagues, concerned parties (clients and workers alike) to chime in and share experience to the issue of "agency stress". I will post related topics to stimulate discussion and yes some of my points are "stressful" as we seek to "empower" in a capitalistic environment. For example, this new idea of social entrepreneurism.
The subject is agency-stress and like "stress" the roots, symptoms, and outcomes are defined subjectively.
For example, can we address agency stress as a positive force for change???
Early on in my field experience, i was taken aback by the apathy and stress related dis-ease projected by workers on to clients and reverse. Today I know that the STRESS is the outgrowth of the agency experience. How does an "organization" established to remediate social stressors come to be so stressed and how can we work to bring health to the situation?
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