Health and Human Services Task Force
January 06, 2000
Minutes

Attendance: Vida Huber, Craig Abrahamson, Herb Amato, Cheryl Beverly, Cory Cleland, David Cockley, Lenny Echterling, Janet Gloeckner, Judith Holt, Jeffrey Kushner, Brenda Ryals, and Bill Walker.

Minutes of the November 30, 1999 meeting were approved as distributed and posted.

Vida Huber noted that comments on the task Force SWOT Analysis (from November 22nd) had NOT been received. Vida encouraged clarifications and modifications from Task Force members for the November SWOT Analysis.

There was extensive discussion of the current tasks and goals for the Task Force. It was decided to begin focusing discussion on specific recommendations for Health and Human Services at James Madison University.

The Task Force was in agreement that one recommendation would be for an administrative entity for Health and Human Services at JMU. A single preferred structure was NOT decided although several were discussed. The Task Force believes that a distinct structure rather than the multiple competing departments within the large CISAT would better serve the needs and direction of Health and Human Services. Moreover there are additional programs and faculty working in health and human services located beyond the College.

It was also decided that the Task Force should also articulate the core values and principles that it would like to see exhibited in whatever structure / programs emerged.

The Task Force divided into three small groups to work on:

1. The Mission and Purpose of Health and Human Services at James Madison University
2. The underlying Values and Principles that should be highlighted within Health and Human Services at James Madison University
3. Several Potential Structural Models for Health and Human Services at James Madison University The small groups reported back to the full Task Force with further discussion and refinement. The results these discussions are attached.

Mission & Purpose

[Our] Mission is to prepare students to be competent, ethical, and collaborative professionals in health and human services; to promote professional development of practitioners; to expand research and scholarship in health and human services; and to provide outreach services to the local and societal communities.

Training and Service Philosophy

· To encourage project-focused learning
· To encourage the use of current technology to enhance learning
· To promote interdisciplinary approaches to training
· To consciously combine training in knowledge - competencies and skills - and attitudes and ethics
· To be aware of and anticipate both current and future trends in health and human services

Core Values & Principles

Health and Human Services at James Madison University should be:

· Science-based
· Practice-based
· Grounded in a strong undergraduate liberal arts base
· Visionary and trends-based
· Aware of current and future trends
· Administratively fluid

Health and Human Services at James Madison University should promote:

· Reflective teaching learning
· Lifelong learning
· Community-based outreach and service learning

Health and Human Services at James Madison University should encourage:

· Collaboration within and among departments and programs
· Research linked to teaching and learning
· The application of clinical components
· Clinical practice for faculty
· Inclusiveness in health and human services (systems, wholistic,)
· Continual learning for faculty, especially as part of inter- or cross-disciplinary experiences
· Partnership between students and faculty to enhance teaching
· Non-evaluative methods of sharing educational skills and abilities

Health and Human Services at James Madison University should also:

· Honor and respect the diversity of clients, students, and faculty
· Utilize a variety of educational strategies and resources to deliver information and assess learning

Guidelines

1. The structure developed for Health and Human Services at JMU must be:

· powerful enough to operationalize the values;
· a broker and advocate for the values;
· fluid enough to allow creative assignment of faculty;
· responsive to faculty for program development/changes; and
· supportive of creative teaching/learning models and practices.

2. The structure for Health and Human Services at JMU must provide a mechanism for sharing resources (budget).

3. The structure for Health and Human Services at JMU must create a system that Hires / Rewards / and Evaluates based on an Actualization of the Stated Values.

4. Health and Human Services at JMU must be responsive to practice trends.

5. Health and Human Services at JMU must integrate outreach activities and educational activities. 6. Health and Human Services at JMU must integrate service learning / clinical / and field-based activities in a community-driven environment.

Potential Structures

Several potential structures for Health and Human Services at JMU were proposed and discussed. These ideas will be further examined and developed.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Health and Human Services Task Force will be Wednesday January 12, 2000 in the Moody Lounge from 4:00 - 5:30 PM.

Recorded by David E. Cockley