A successful human service worker possesses attributes that influence how he or she meet people’s needs. He or she directs people to resources designed to fulfill needs and to solve problems. He or she understands and facilitates the connections between parts of a system, such as individuals, family, and communities. Helpful workers develop and implement action-oriented programs that focus on preventing or changing unproductive conditions. Knowledge is essential to identify people’s needs, to develop programs, and to mend systems (Burger, 2018). An effective worker uses specific behavioral attributes to handle conflicts and to accomplish goals. According to Harley-McClaskey (2017b), behavioral development begins during childhood as an individual forms habits by responding to people and to events. According to Behaviorism theory, stimuli evoke responses, which are retained or discarded based on feedback from reinforcers (Burger, 2018). Harley-McClaskey (2017b) describes four behavioral …show more content…
A runaway who experiences abuse and learns survival responses may need to learn healthy responses (Burger, 2018). Mr. Gunderson focuses on tasks, such as obtaining necessary resources and stopping harmful cycles, to improve adolescents’ lives, rather than expressing disbelief at other people’s families or disclosing his childhood problems. In Nott and Vuchinich’s (2016) study, homeless youth perceived a low level of parental support and perceived other adults, such as counselors and shelter staff, as supportive. Furthermore, they selected leaders with positive, happy attitudes and behaviors (Nott & Vuchinich, 2016). The adolescents need a strong leader who will model behaviors that will teach them to meet needs and to create change. Learning life skills by focusing on meeting needs may be more helpful than expressing emotions. Mr. Gunderson may model caring support and coping