• Choose a population served by clinical mental health counselors
• Choose an existing local community (e.g. Elgin, Carpentersville, Rockford, Roscoe, etc.) and write a comprehensive paperrr on the community’s mental health and other resources that serve this population.
• Address the following: Why is this population in need of services? What kind of mental health resources are available for individuals/families in your population in your chosen community? What mental health agencies—for profit, not for profit, government are available? Waiting lists? Transportation? What are the self-help groups available? Religious organizations? Who are the physicians/psychologists/psychiatrists in this community who may work with this population? Do the providers accept Medicare and/or Medicaid? Are there daycare/adult daycare services? Where is the nearest homeless shelter? Domestic violence shelter?
• Once this overall picture is established, evaluate whether this community is meeting the needs of its residents. How or how not? How could the community improve their resources? How would you (as a counselor) like to work in this community and how would you help your chosen population in this community?
• This paperrr should be approximately 15 pagess in length (not including title or reference pages) and follow APAA format. A cover page, abstract, and at least 5 scholarly references are required.

Power Point  

• Students will present the portion of their research involving local resources for the population of their choice. Presentations will include an overview of the chosen population and at least three local resources. Students will also share their rationale for choosing that population.