University of Southern Maine School of Social Work
Agency Profile for Undergraduate/Graduate Student Placements
Name of agency:
Cancer Community Center
Date: 12/21/11
Agency address: 778 Main St., South Portland, Maine 04106
Agency telephone phone number: 207-774-2200
In arranging for field placements, whom should student contact? Michele Johns Need to contact
Michelle prior to sending a student; must
be very mature.
Name of Field Instructors: Amy Anderson, MSW, BS, Manager of Marketing & Communications; Jani
Darak-Druck, M.Div., MA, BA, Manager of Volunteer Servicer; Jennifer Nelson, BA, Director of
Development
Field Instructor telephone number: 207-774-2200
Field Instructor email address: aanderson@cancercommunitycenter.org,
jdruck@cancercommunitycenter.org, jnelson@cancercommunitycenter.org.
Site Supervisor:
Michele Johns, MBA, BSW, Executive Director
Name of agency director and/or key administrative personnel:
Name
Position
Michele Johns
Executive Director
Do you offer a stipend?
Agency is able to handle:
No
BSW student __x__
MSW foundation year student ___x__
MSW concentration year student _____
How many students can your agency accommodate?
1
Briefly describe the basic services/programs of the agency, client population served, and the size of your
staff.
The Cancer Community Center provides free wellness and emotional support programs for adults whose
lives have been impacted by a cancer diagnosis, their own, a family member’s, or a friend’s. The basic
tenet of the organization is that peer-based support is very helpful for most people. Nearly all of our
programs are designed to accommodate this peer connection. Even the wellness classes, such as yoga or
tai-chi foster this opportunity to connect with others in the class. The support groups, of course, are the
most obvious ways that this peer connection is made. We have 14 of them, some with a particular cancer
focus, others more general. Our services include those for people who have lost a loved one to cancer as
well. While most of our programs are group-based, we also manage a statewide Buddy program which
matches people one-to-one with someone who is on the other side of their cancer experience. Please see
our website for a complete listing of our programs: www.cancercommunitycenter.org. We have a small
staff; four of the six are listed above. We also have an Office Manager/Program Coordinator and a
Development Assistant. Additionally, we employ contract workers who teach our wellness classes and
train and supervise many more volunteers who co-facilitate support groups, do office work, and make up
our Buddy population.
When (day and time) are agency staff and other important meetings held?
meeting, which is currently scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.
We have a weekly staff
What characteristics or qualities would be helpful for a student to have to best utilize the
placement as a learning opportunity? A student who is mature, perhaps has experienced cancer
themselves with a friend or a family member, though that is not essential. The student would need to be
used to being independent, but willing to take direction and respect boundaries. A sense of humor is
important, as one of our guiding principles handed down by our founder is to include humor in every
day.
Would a student who needs a highly structured learning environment do well in this placement?
____Yes __x__No Other comments: This is a busy place, with staff often pitching in on projects not
necessarily in their job description. There isn’t a lot of time to be spent with structured teaching.
List the learning opportunities available for the student in your setting:
I envision the student being introduced to all aspects of the life of a small non-profit. We would begin
with a focus on the fundraising aspect, essential to all nonprofits, especially one where there is no fee for
service and no affiliation with an umbrella organization. A major fundraising event happens in
September, followed by our annual appeal and there is the continuous need for grant writing, both to
private and corporate foundations. This period would allow the student to become familiar with the
programs and activities at the Center. There will be opportunities to attend wellness fairs and
community events representing the Center throughout the year, perhaps writing press releases and
spending some time on the marketing and communications effort. The second half of the year the student
would focus more on program at the Center, and if time allowed, the student would participate in the
training our volunteer facilitators receive in January, and then go on to facilitate a group for the balance
of the year. There would be other programmatic projects, making follow-up contacts with the Buddies
and participants in the Maine Buddy Program, for example. Depending on the individual and their
interest, there could be some continued work in Development, either with special events or grant writing
during the second semester, as well.
Is there adequate physical space for the student(s)? Space is limited here. There would be a desk in an
alcove available for the student.
Does the student need a car? Yes
Is mileage reimbursable? Yes
Can your agency provide an opportunity for students to fulfill part of their required placement hours on
evenings or weekends? There is limited opportunity here, but it is available, as some conferences are on
the weekends and evenings, and some fundraising events are as well.
Does your agency require any formal training for interns? No, though the previously mentioned support
group facilitator training would be encouraged.
If yes, how many training hours are required? Facilitator training is 21 hours over 4 evenings and 2
Saturdays.
When is the training offered? January
Can the training be completed online? No
Is the agency handicapped accessible? Yes
Agency Requirements:
Background check (SBI)
Yes___
No_x__
Physical Exam
Yes___
No_x__
Immunizations
Yes___
No_x__
(If yes, please name
immunizations required)
Other pertinent information: We would depend upon the recommendation of the USM faculty to help
determine the appropriateness of the student and their background
Revised 10/13/11