HHS 497 Week 5 Final Paper

Sample Answer for HHS 497 Week 5 Final Paper Included After Question

Focus of the Final Paper

The Final Paper should demonstrate an application of your knowledge of Health and Human Services, by synthesizing the information from the readings, class work, and work and life experiences. Please discuss cultural competency in Health and Human Services work and how it can be achieved in the treatment of diverse groups or populations. You may also include information and examples from previous experience, as well as implications for future application In Week Three, you created a draft for either

“Option A-Career/Occupational area to explore” or

“Option B- Specific Need area”. Use the draft that you prepared as a starting point for your Final Paper.

Research your topic to include all components of your selected area.

The components of a research paper for “Option A -Career/Occupational area to explore” are:

I. Cover Page

II. Abstract

III. Table of Contents

IV. Introduction to your paper and thesis statement with specific objectives stated – i.e. – what you intend to explore

V. Eight- to- ten pages (excluding title and reference pages), supported with reference articles, with the following subheadings to explore your main idea of a career/ occupational area:

A. Career or occupational area

B. Careers (See Chapter 6 of the text)

C. Basic functions of the career

D. Education/ training requirements

E. Typical work settings

F. Culturally competent work with diverse populations

G. Career development

H. Future alternatives (Create an alternative career path, or option, related to the one that you selected that would meet a specific or future need. This should demonstrate the ability to apply and synthesize previous experience, accumulated insights and knowledge obtained during your program of study.)

VI. Conclusion narrative

VII.HHS 497 Week 5 Final Paper References

Example of Option A – Career/Occupational area to explore: COUNSELING:

o Determine the different kinds of counseling careers and positions in HHS.

o Determine the types of education, certification and/or licensure are required for each type of counseling career *Examples: LPT – licensed psychiatric technician, LCSW – Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LMFT – Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, etc. Note that there are some variations by state.

Focus on the state in which you live.

o Determine the relevant employment factors (pay, benefits, long-term employment, self employment).

o Determine the nature of the work / variations based on program differences and typical activities in this career.

This alternative topic, Option B, asks you to identify a need /problem related to health and human services (see Chapters 2, 8 and 9 of the text.) You can frame the need at the Individual, family, or community level.

The components of a research paper for “Option B –Specific Need area to explore” are:

I. Cover Page

II. Abstract

III. Table of Contents

IV. Introduction to your paper and thesis statement with specific objectives stated – i.e. – what you intend to explore

V. Eight- to- ten pages (excluding title and reference pages), supported \with reference articles, with the following subheadings to explore your main idea of a need /problem related to health and human services:

A. Discussion of history and changes to this problem.

B. HHS responses to problem – program development.

C. Example of a best practice for a program addressing this need area.

D. Effect of changes in legislation (legal and/or health coverage)

E. Cultural competence with diverse populations

F. Future predictions regarding this need area

VI. Conclusion narrative

VII. References

There is considerable latitude in terms of the topic selected. The key idea is not to select either a topic that is too broad, or one that is too narrow.

Example of Option B – Specific Need Area: DRUG ABUSE:

o Discussion of history and changes of our recognition of drug abuse as a problem.

o HHS responses to drug abuse – programs developed to address this issue.

o Example of a best practice of a treatment program for drug abuse.

o Effect of related changes in legislation (legal and/or health coverage). *Here you could even consider the number who are incarcerated as a result of behaviors while intoxicated, policy and legal issues that are related to this outcome.

o Effect of drug abuse on specific cultures or groups. (Example: Is there a specific cultural group or population that has demonstrated increased consumption of alcohol leading to increased alcoholism and related problems? Is special or more specialized treatment needed for this particular population?)

o Future directions in drug abuse treatment and management.

Please also consider selecting topics other than drug abuse or counseling. Consider the examples as guides for your selected topic.

A Sample Answer For the Assignment: HHS 497 Week 5 Final Paper

Title: HHS 497 Week 5 Final Paper

Grading Rubric Guidelines

Performance Category	10	9	8	4	0
Scholarliness Demonstrates achievement of scholarly inquiry for professional and academic decisions.	Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry clearly stating how the evidence informed or changed professional or academic decisions Evaluates literature resources to develop a comprehensive analysis or synthesis. Uses valid, relevant, and reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion	Provides relevant evidence of scholarly inquiry but does not clearly state how the evidence informed or changed professional or academic decisions. Evaluates information from source(s) to develop a coherent analysis or synthesis. Uses some valid, relevant, reliable outside sources to contribute to the threaded discussion.	Discusses using scholarly inquiry but does not state how scholarly inquiry informed or changed professional or academic decisions. Information is taken from source(s) with some interpretation/evaluation, but not enough to develop a coherent analysis or synthesis. Little valid, relevant, or reliable outside sources are used to contribute to the threaded discussion. Demonstrates little or no understanding of the topic.	Discusses using scholarly inquiry but does not state how scholarly inquiry informed or changed professional or academic decisions. Information is taken from source(s) without any interpretation/evaluation. The posting uses information that is not valid, relevant, or reliable	No evidence of the use of scholarly inquiry to inform or change professional or academic decisions. Information is not valid, relevant, or reliable
Performance Category	10	9	8	4	0
Application of Course Knowledge – Demonstrate the ability to analyze, synthesize, and/or apply principles and concepts learned in the course lesson and outside readings and relate them to real-life professional situations	Posts make direct reference to concepts discussed in the lesson or drawn from relevant outside sources; Applies concepts to personal experience in the professional setting and or relevant application to real life.	Posts make direct reference to concepts discussed in the lesson or drawn from relevant outside sources. Applies concepts to personal experience in their professional setting and or relevant application to real life Interactions with classmates are relevant to the discussion topic but do not make direct reference to lesson content	Posts are generally on topic but do not build knowledge by incorporating concepts and principles from the lesson. Does not attempt to apply lesson concepts to personal experience in their professional setting and or relevant application to real life Does not demonstrate a solid understanding of the principles and concepts presented in the lesson	Posts do not adequately address the question posed either by the discussion prompt or the instructor’s launch post. Posts are superficial and do not reflect an understanding of the lesson content Does not attempt to apply lesson concepts to personal experience in their professional setting and or relevant application to real life	Posts are not related to the topics provided by the discussion prompt or by the instructor; attempts by the instructor to redirect the student are ignored No discussion of lesson concepts to personal experience in the professional setting and or relevant application to real life
Performance Category	5	4	3	2	0
Interactive Dialogue Replies to each graded thread topic posted by the course instructor, by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT, of each week, and posts a minimum of two times in each graded thread, on separate days. *(5 points possible per graded thread)*	Exceeds minimum post requirements Replies to each graded thread topic posted by the course instructor, by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT, of each week, and posts three or more times in each graded thread, over three separate days. Replies to a post posed by faculty and to a peer Summarizes what was learned from the lesson, readings, and other student posts for the week.	Replies to each graded thread topic posted by the course instructor, by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT, of each week, and posts a minimum of two times in each graded thread, on separate days Replies to a question posed by a peer Summarizes what was learned from the lesson, readings, and other student posts for the week.	Meets expectations of 2 posts on 2 different days. The main post is not made by the Wednesday deadline Does not reply to a question posed by a peer or faculty	Has only one post for the week Discussion posts contain few, if any, new ideas or applications; often are a rehashing or summary of other students’ comments	Does not post to the thread No connections are made to the topic
	Minus 1 Point	Minus 2 Point	Minus 3 Point	Minus 4 Point	Minus 5 Point
Grammar, Syntax, APA Note: if there are only a few errors in these criteria, please note this for the student in as an area for improvement. If the student does not make the needed corrections in upcoming weeks, then points should be deducted. Points deducted for improper grammar, syntax and APA style of writing. The source of information is the APA Manual 6th Edition	2-3 errors in APA format. Written responses have 2-3 grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors. Writing style is generally clear, focused, and facilitates communication.	4-5 errors in APA format. Writing responses have 4-5 grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. Writing style is somewhat focused.	6-7 errors in APA format. Writing responses have 6-7 grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. Writing style is slightly focused making discussion difficult to understand.	8-10 errors in APA format. Writing responses have 8-10 grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. Writing style is not focused, making discussion difficult to understand.	Post contains greater than 10 errors in APA format. Written responses have more than 10 grammatical, spelling and punctuation errors. Writing style does not facilitate communication. The student continues to make repeated mistakes in any of the above areas after written correction by the instructor
	0 points lost				-5 points lost
Total Participation Requirements *per discussion thread*	The student answers the threaded discussion question or topic on one day and posts a second response on another day.				The student does not meet the minimum requirement of two postings on two different days
Early Participation Requirement *per discussion thread*	The student must provide a substantive answer to the graded discussion question(s) or topic(s), posted by the course instructor (not a response to a peer), by Wednesday, 11:59 p.m. MT of each week.