Week 1: January 11 to January 18 

Summary of Week 1 Matched with Competencies 

• 1.1.3: Identify existing and available resources, policies, programs, practices, and interventions 
• 1.3.4: Assess existing and available resources, policies, programs, practices, and interventions 
• 1.3.5: Determine the capacity (available resources, policies, programs, practices, and interventions) to improve and/or maintain health

Summary: Throughout my first week of onboarding with UCBC Cares, I focused on the needs, current resources, policies and interventions the organization provides the Athens cancer community. Throughout this I attended meetings, toured the different office locations, had discussions with both my preceptor (Amy) and volunteer coordinator (Molly). This helped me become familiar with volunteer roles, existing and future events, and patient support groups/resources. UCBC Cares is a two year old nonprofit organization, with being relatively new, I can assess its current capacity to provide education,and specifically prevention through social media. Throughout volunteer bootcamp, meeting some of the volunteers, and becoming knowledgeable of the roles help me to better understand human resources and how they can contribute to the program. 

• 2.1.1: Convene priority populations, partners, and stakeholders
• 2.3.4: Adopt, adapt, and/or develop tailored intervention(s) for priority population(s) to achieve desired outcomes

Summary: We have several upcoming events, on being Look Good Feel Great in January and Breast Friends Brunch in February, I assisted in planning activities and social media for these upcoming programs. I reviewed communication records between different sponsorships and my preceptor to track the different donations. During this time, we also had meetings to focus on weekly check ins and content scheduling to support desired outcomes and adapt interventions to best support not just patients but staff.

• 3.1.2: Arrangement for implementation services
• 3.2.4: Deliver health education and promotion as designed

Summary: On my first day of my internship they tasked us to deliver self-care goodie bags to female patients. This contributes to patient wellness and support and allows me to begin implementing health education and upcoming patient events. Becoming familiar with volunteer bootcamp will also allow me to promote information to volunteers to spread to patient staff. 

• 6.3.3: Tailor message(s) for the audience(s)
• 6.4.3: Develop communication aids, materials, or tools using appropriate multimedia (e.g., infographics, presentation software, brochures, and posters)
• 6.5.6: Use digital media to engage audience(s) (e.g., social media management tools and platforms)

Summary: Tailoring messages for different audiences including staff, volunteers, and patients is going to be the main goal throughout my internship. This will specifically be achieved through social media, emails, and interpersonal interactions. I have begun contributing to the UCBC Cares monthly newsletter to inform staff about the upcoming events and cancer awareness/prevention. We are scheduling these emails and posts to go out this Tuesday! 

• 7.1.1: Identify potential partners and stakeholders
• 7.3.7: Facilitate the engagement and retention of staff and volunteers 

Summary: Lastly, I was allowed to see how partnerships, sponsorships, and volunteer relationships are developed and maintained. 

Reflection of Week 1: 

After reflecting on my first week with UCBC Cares I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Everything I have learned so far, the people I have met, and the relationships I will continue to build working closely with Amy, Molly, and Mellisa. Although this was just my first week and a lot of my work was just onboarding, touring, and getting to know the facility I was able to understand the clientele I will be working with including patients, staff and the volunteers. The pillars of UCBC Cares are education, prevention, support, and volunteerism and this internship will allow me to integrate this into my daily activities. 

Ever since I was younger, my parents begged me to get off social media. They thought I was obsessed. But it really was just a creative outlet for me. I am excited that a lot of what I will be doing at UCBC is this. I am aware that I need to cater to different audiences and that will be a challenge but also motivational for me. By already gaining patient-centered interactions the first day will help me throughout this process, but also later when I am hopefully a PA. Moving forward, I believe I will gain more independence in this role, but it sure has been fun so far!