To do this interview I could have used either the email, telephone, or in-person approach, but I chose to do the interview using the telephone approach. I had to choose this approach because I do not have reliable transportation right now, and I do not feel an email would have been appropriate for the particular agency that I chose. The questions that I asked the Direct Care Provider at the agency were as follows:
1. What is the organizations mission? The Potomac Highlands Guild is committed to comprehensive behavioral health services and to improving the quality of life for people residing in the eastern West Virginia counties of Pendleton, Hampshire, Mineral, Hardy and Grant.
2. What or who is the targeted population?
The targeted population is people suffering from mental illness and retardation.
3. How do you receive your funding?
We receive most of our funding through grants and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, but we also deal with Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements.
4. How do people pay for your services? Medicare or Medicaid
5. What services do you provide? The Potomac Highlands Guild provides counseling, therapy, and even residential housing for people with psychological, substance and other life problems in the most appropriate setting necessary to meet the needs of the client.
6. What services do you think should be added? Although there is an alcohol and drug rehabilitation service provided, there is room for expansion in that area.
7. What one service do you think has the most positive effect on our community? The drug and alcohol rehabilitation program that we do offer has become positively effective, which is why an expansion could help get ahead of the problems of drug and alcohol abuse in our communities.
8. How effective to you believe your efforts are in giving your services?
We believe that our services that we provide are effective.
9. What frustrations do you have in trying to deliver your services?
There could be more community awareness on the seriousness of the problems in our area with drugs and out younger generations; thus the reasoning for the expansion of the alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
The PHG interview assignment: Page 3
10. What kind of intervention strategies do you use?
Besides a human service provider being here in the office during business hours to talk, they also offer a 24-hour hotline for people in crisis.
As I was asking the questions and talking with the gentleman on the telephone, I realized that the Potomac Highlands Guild is the perfect agency for me. Drug and alcohol counseling, therapy, and rehabilitation are exactly what I have always wanted to do. They want to expand and bring more public awareness to that particular part of their agency, and I feel with the knowledge that I have gained from my degree that I can give them what they need. This assignment could have very well gotten me the jump start that I needed for the career of my choice. The PHG agency is hiring and I am in the process of redoing my resume so I can attach it with my application.
References:
Potomac Highlands Guild: Comprehensive Behavioral Health Services @ http://thephg.org/locations.htm.
Redman, Jason. The Direct Care Provider at the Potomac Highlands Guild in Moorefield, West Virginia.
