Report on Placement Setting

SW 4443
Tracy L. Hawthorne
February 15, 2016

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The Mission of The Noah Project is to delegate low-income and homeless Detroiters to
attain stability, by helping as the initial step in the expedition to self-sufficiency. Noah strives to
be a haven betwixt the streets and the vast community by addressing critical needs and exercise
acceptance of each contributor as a person deserving effort with respect and compassion without
being affected by survival values and behaviors. We believe that an individual who takes part
can learn permanent basis relationships based on trust and can be empowered to bring into
existence positive life changes (www.noahprojectdetroit.org).
Overview of the population served
The Noah Project services the homeless and low-income community. Depending to the
National Coalition for the Homeless, Detroit has the greatest homeless community with over
20,000 people. The African American males make up 42% of the homeless population. A third
of the homeless population in Detroit are though to suffer from mental illness. The Noah Project
clients are African American male with 50% suffering from some form of mental health issues.
On the average one or two families are provided crisis intervention each month.
Females and teenagers make up a fraction of the clientele served.
Intern Role within Agency
After gaining an understanding of Noah Project philosophy and mission as well as
gaining a general idea of Noah Project organizational structure, my duties included:

Help in day to day running of the Bag Lunch Program

Cutting Desserts
General Set-up
Making bags /sandwiches
Bag lunch intake assistant
Unloading donated food from delivery trucks
Distributing donated food to Peer Support Volunteer group
Cleaning kitchen

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Various Casework Task

Casework

Mail Contracts and mail sorting process

Sorting hats, gloves and clothing items that are donated
Preparing homeless verification latters, Client Letters
Signing clients up for Covenant Community Care
Filling out COTS and Capuchin Vouchers for clients
Doing a initial assessment and information release for new clients
Supplying clients with emergency needs items per requests
Updating referral binder periodically

Facilitate helpful conversations and relationship building with clients

Gaining information about client through leading questions, respect, and trust
Work with various project documents
Provide referrals to clients
Assist clients with telephone call to other agencies
Provide bus tickets to clients with proof of appointments
Providing petty cash for Identification Fee Payment

HMIS
Accurately input casework data into the HMIS system daily
Monthly Counts
Count casework notes from the month
Tally all count to be submitted to supervisor
Interaction with other disciplines within organization
Sit in and participate in Anger management classes
Sit in and participate in group counseling
Observe Job Readiness Class as well as refer clients
Sit in and participate in Peer Support Volunteer Group sessions
Refer clients to NA weekly meetings
Refer clients to AA weekly meetings
These interactions have exposed me to the group and counseling aspect of social work,

which is important for me to learn and witness first hand because of my desire to become a
counselor.

Clients access the system

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The Noah Project has an open door policy for the community it serves. There are no preapproval or restrictions for the population they service. This is a part of their mission to establish
and build relationships that will hopefully lead to stability and self-sufficiency. Clients are seen
by caseworker that helps them establish goals that are accessible and attainable. The Noah
Project offers referrals that help clients get the housing or the necessary support to create positive
change.

Clients leave/terminate the system

Just as the Noah Project has an open door policy, they also are very lenient and very

seldom ban clients from their facilities. Noah Projects desire to assist all clients but because
some of the clients suffer from mental health issues they wander from agency to agency. Some
clients reach their desired goals and leave the organization to live a productive life while others
maintain a relationship that they can always come back to the Noah Project.

Commitment to the community

The Noah Project is dedicated to helping the community by supplying a warming

center and serving over 750 brown bag lunches every week. The Job Readiness Class prepares
people to reenter the labor force. The barbershop that is located in the Noah community room
provides over 600 haircuts each year. The Noah Project also offers weekly NA and AA classes
that are open to the community as well as the Art & Soul program that gives participants a space
to heal through art (noahprojectdetroit.org).

Reference
Homelessness in Michigan: Factsheet. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.thecampaignonhomlessness.org
The Noah Project: Networking Organizing, and Advocating for the homeless. (n.d.). Retrieved
From www.noahprojectdetroit.org