Tell me about your organization and its mission.

What does your organization perceive as

its important public value? What kind of public value does it strive to produce? How
effectively does it produce that value? How do you know? Are there subsidiary or
collateral benefits to its public value?

(Sanja Tetaric, Supervisor of Senior Services at the Helen Drake Senior Community
Center, is a public servant employed by the City of Phoenix.)

The City of Phoenix seeks to improve the quality of life of community members by
providing activities and common areas for socialization, learning and physical activity for
all community center members. She states the public value of the centers is priceless, due
to the important impact the center has on the lives of senior members of the Phoenix
Community. The center strives to create a welcome, inclusive environment that provides
education and socialization opportunities, catering to the older adult population. The
centers monthly calendar is full of variety for different types of activities catering to the
different interests of the center members. I know this organization is invaluable to
members, both from meeting happy members, and from anecdotal evidence shared by
Mrs. Tetaric. She shared the benefits for community members experiencing bereavement
and finding new coping mechanisms and social interaction that helps them move through
the grieving process. The benefits of the Senior Community Center are collateral in that
the entire community benefits from a healthier, happier senior population that has
opportunity to impact its community. Furthermore, anyone over the age of 18 can join
the center and join the programs and utilize the resources offered by the center.

What specific policy issues are you interested in?

Specific policies that interest me are primarily the assistance available for older adults
who are economically disadvantaged and funding for older adult community centers.
Food assistance programs are available, the center provides members a discounted lunch
and dinner options, and the center does fundraising through bake sales, craft shows and
other types of programs to supplement the city government allotment of $19,000.00
annually provided for social programs. Those funds have restrictions on the way in
which they can be spent, but the senior committee, comprised of center members has
more freedom to spend their money on specialized projects, which Mrs. Tetaric oversees.
The senior committee funds the monthly birthday party for members and last year
reupholstered the library furniture which needed a tune-up.
What current policy makes your work easier? What policy impedes progress? Does your
organization actively seek to change policy?
One policy that impeded greater community involvement is that community center
employees are not allowed to speak with anyone unless approved by the City of Phoenix
office. This prevents some community members from interviewing or writing about the
center, which further prevents the community from learning about this wonderful
resource.
What happens to your work if there are shifting priorities or changes to policy?
 City funding directly impacts not only Mrs. Tetarics position but also the amount of
activities and social she can plan for the center. Because social, entertainment and
education opportunities are so important for older adults, Mrs. Tetaric reports that they
must rely on volunteers, most of whom are community members themselves to provide
entertainment and education programs.

Program Development Interview Questions

What was your experience as an immigrant seeking your education?

Mrs. Tetaric mentioned the difficulty in facing the language and cultural barrier while
being expected to meet the same demands placed on other, native-speaker students. She
noted that it was also difficult going back at an older age, as she had to learn about
technology in addition to learning course content. She sometimes felt treated unfairly,
and relished surprising people who assumed she wouldnt know things because of her
accent.

Why have you selected a career in social service?

Mrs. Tetaric was an immigrant to the country, and put herself through school while
raising a family. After completing her degree, she was touched by the community that
seemed to have so few advocates and provided so much benefit to the older adult
community.
How is your previous experience applicable to the work you do here?
Mrs. Tetaric worked as a social worker, mental health counselor and specialized in the
older adult population. Her Masters degree in social work prepared her for this career,
and specializing in the older adult population in her social work helped her gain the skills
necessary to supervise the senior center entertainment and program agenda.

Have you had the experience of working with people of a race or sexual orientation
different from yours? (be able to articulate how culture impacts your work re:
abuse/neglect/prevention/intervention etc.)
Mrs. Tetaric has worked with people from all walks of life. Particularly working with
abused and neglected individuals, Mrs. Tetaric has had to be able to relate to people from
different cultures, different races and ethnicities and different life experiences.

What do you hope to accomplish as a social worker?

Mrs. Tetaric wants to help those who are often overlooked in society and wants to give
them the tools to help themselves, to empower them as they have been powerless. Now,
she takes that empathy and understanding to serving the phoenix community through her
work at the senior community center. She is always looking for ways to improve the
lives of the community members lives and looking for new educational opportunities.
What do you judge to be your major successes or accomplishments in your fieldwork?
How did you achieve these?
Every person who has been able to get out of harms way, every person who has been
able to regain their self-confidence and every person who has found a place of safety
thanks to her work is a great success.
 What major disappointments/failures have you had in fieldwork?

A case where an abused victim decided not to press charges and later died was very
disappointing, and each case similar in that an abused/neglected individual decided not to
assert their rights was difficult. In the end, she had to remind herself that it was her job to
help them when she could and help them find the resources that would help them,
however, she could never make them accept the help. It was hardest when the person was
so abused that they felt they didnt deserve the help, or in other cases they convinced
themselves their abuser had changed.