Utilizing the questions listed below, conduct an ecological analysis of your internship agency from a client and worker perspective. Include issues of age, class, race, culture, ability, gender, gender identity and expression, immigration status, mental health status, political ideology, religion, sexual orientation where relevant. Use your impressions to do this assignment, but also incorporate relevant points and ideas from the appropriate reading. To help you focus, consider the following questions:
What is the stated mission of the agency?
Who is the primary target population?
Based on the agency environment, what assumptions are clients/staff likely to make about the policies, values and practices of the agency?
Whose needs take priority: clients, line staff, executives, policy makers, external systems, etc.? Who has the power?
Do you see needs or issues that have been overlooked? Try to explain.
What’s your beginning sense of how well the agency meets its service mandate?