When I think of indirect services I think of paperwork, emails and filing the appropriate

papers. These were some of the requirements I did in my internship, but thanks to the courses I
had taken in the Human Service Program I was ready to deliver. I can reflect on three classes that
helped in this area, Applied Research Methods HSP 385, Human Service and Management HSP
435 and Program Planning and Evaluation HSP 485. As a combined effort from both the classes
and my experience in the field I was introduced to several examples of indirect services.
Applied Research Methods HSP 385 is a great example of how much variety there is
when addressing indirect services. This class also addressed Council for Standards in Human
Services Education, Standard 14: the curriculum shall provide knowledge and skills in
information management. In Applied Research Methods we were asked to complete a research
paper where we conducted a survey, gathered the data and wrote a paper. I created a survey
online and delivered it to teachers via the internet. I had several teachers answer to the survey. I
then gathered the data and created a great essay. My paper (file below) was on the perceptions of
differentiated instruction in the classroom. My essay contains graphs and charts that show how
teachers differentiate and how the students react to differentiation. We presented our essays to
each other in the discussion forums and offered feedback.
The Council for Standards in Human Services Education, Standard 18: the curriculum
shall provide knowledge, theory, and skills in the administration aspects of the delivery system
were implemented in Human Services and Management HSP 435. In this class we learned about
the elements of managing a non-profit organization. We learned about the roles and
responsibilities of the policy board, executive director, staff, volunteers and community members
of non-profits. We also learned about the marketing and communication side of non-profit
organizations. One of the assignments in this class was to attend a board of directors meeting of a
non-profit agency. I attended a school board meeting in Bremerton School District. I took notes
and wrote a reflective paper about my visit (File below). It was a great learning experience.
Through this meeting I found that indirect services have the power to hold an organization
together and give the guidance needed to maintain structure. I was able to see how effective
leadership can have a positive effect on the organization.
My learning continued to grow as I entered and completed Program Planning and
Evaluation HSP 485. Program planning showed me the importance of evaluation programs and
to be able to express a need for a specific program. In this class we were asked to write a needs
assessment on an issue in human services. I chose homeless youth. As I was writing the needs
assessment (file below) I realized once again of the importance that an evaluation plays in
keeping non-profit agencies, as they need to show the effectiveness of a program to continue
funding. I then did an evaluation (file below) on the Robin Hood Library Initiative. I found the
focus of the evaluation and found it contained many guidelines for the organization to keep their
funding. When I finished this class I realized I have a passion for program planning and the
understanding of how programs and organizations can be improved and to better meet the needs
of clients and the community.
I so think direct service delivery is an important aspect of human services, and now I see
just how important indirect services are as well. My experience in the field as an intern in the
summer school program and with the learning specialist at PineCrest, gave me an amazing
opportunity to observe and participate in indirect services. While in the summer school program
I created an excel spreadsheet to keep track of students test scores that were given each week. I
had to maintain the spreadsheet and share the information with the teachers, administrators and
office personnel. I would then create the appropriate reading materials for each student needs,
present it to the teacher and get feedback. This was repeated throughout the five weeks of
summer school. If this type of paperwork did not exist we would have a terrible time tracking the
student needs and give them the appropriate reading material.
My learning experience expanded even further when I completed my internship at
PineCrest Elementary. Some of my duties there were to help with the Student Development
Meetings, where I helped with the paperwork that is required by the district and the state. It is
very extensive and tedious and completely confidential. I had the opportunity to work with a case
manger that was required to attend certain meetings because of the situations that had occurred.
She also shared with me all the paperwork, documents and case files she needed to keep up with
and maintain. After completing these tasks with my supervisor and the case worker, I was able to
appreciate the importance of indirect services from the perspective of the case manager and the
learning specialist. As I continued my internship I found that some of the teachers view all the
paperwork as a nuisance, yet I was able to see that without the paperwork there would be little to
no documentation to follow and see the progress of the student and families.
I feel I have strengthened my knowledge and skills in the indirect service area. I have
come to see and understand the value of indirect services and how important they area to keep an
organization or agency running. I have learned that because it states indirect service that it does
not mean you will serve people and create a connection with families and their needs. The big
part about indirect services is creating needs assessments, research or program planning and they
are all necessary in the human service field to maintain the goals and objectives for individuals,
families and communities. Indirect services are needed and I found that without them it would
very difficult to get the proper services for families and individuals.