Outcome IV: Effective Interpersonal And Professional Skills

Outcome IV: Effective Interpersonal and Professional Skills Interpersonal and professional skills are necessary in every agency and assist in promoting a positive workplace environment. My interpersonal skills aided me in securing and maintaining a productive internship experience. I believe verbal and nonverbal communication are two of my strongest interpersonal skills. Information must be easily accessible and transferable across multiple federal, state, local and tribal governments during emergency situations. Successful communication creates the foundation for a successful disaster operation, because without solid communication operations could be compromised. I was able to gain information about the various branches of KDEM because I

My professional skills of flexibility and adaptability enabled me to assist in multiple activations for various disasters while working in different roles in the SEOC, gaining invaluable experience in the field. I was also asked to aid in editing public announcements prior to sending them to news agencies because my supervisors recognized my strong professional writing skills. Overall, I believe I demonstrated many interpersonal and professional skills throughout my internship at

The first ethical standard states, “human service professionals recognize and build on client and community strengths” (National Organization for Human Services, 2015). I believe the KDEM’s ability to support counties throughout emergency operations and aid when necessary is an accurate example of this standard. Through developing a clear understanding of the assets each county had, I was able to gather additional resources and help the counties in times of need. Standard 15 states, “Human service professionals provide a mechanism for identifying client needs and assets, calling attention to these needs and assets, and assisting in planning and mobilizing to advocate for those needs” (National Organization for Human Services, 2015). I experienced a specific incident during an SEOC activation for fire weather that required a request of federal resources. When contacting FEMA to request the needed resources there was disagreement about the necessity of granting the appeal, as FEMA professionals thought the emergency was not in a critical state. I researched the county’s population, the structures in the path of destruction, and potential shelter sites to advocate on behalf of the county in need. Although FEMA did not grant the request, I felt I had done everything in my power to advocate for the county and assist in the