He Is Listening
He Is Listening
Tina L. Smith
Communication in Human Services
HS6024
Argosy University
July 29, 2014
Dr. Audra Marks, Instructor
He Is Listening Listening can be defined as the active process of receiving, attending to, interpreting and responding to symbolic activity (Duck, 2011). Did you hear what he just said? If they would have paid more attention to what that child had said, he may be alive today. Although rare, this this has happened all because no one would listen to a child as he or she was crying out for help. Although we listen, do we listen effectively? Do we hear what is being said, and ready between the lines? Do we listen to the parts we want to hear and tune out the rest? Or, do we listen and fully grasp the contents of the words that have been spoken? These are questions that are asked continually in the mind of Mr. Edward Wallace. Mr. Wallace is employed with the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services (DHS/DCFS). At the present time, he serves as a court liaison for DCFS, but works primarily with children, 7-18 who have been committed to the Arkansas State Hospital for psychological evaluation and testing. Mr. Wallace arrived in Arkansas in May 1982 to begin his educational career at Arkansas Baptist College. At ABC he began to embark on a career in Business Administration and quickly found this was not his calling. After completing 2 years at ABC he transferred to Philander Smith College, changed his major and began studying Human Services. After graduating from PSC with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Human Services, he became a case manager for Youth Homes. While a case manager, Mr. Wallace acknowledges that listening was a critical part of his job. “Listening goes two ways,” said Mr. Wallace. You have to listen to what the speaker says. Upon employment all new case managers were required to take a 3-week course in active listening. During this class, many
Tina L. Smith
Communication in Human Services
HS6024
Argosy University
July 29, 2014
Dr. Audra Marks, Instructor
He Is Listening Listening can be defined as the active process of receiving, attending to, interpreting and responding to symbolic activity (Duck, 2011). Did you hear what he just said? If they would have paid more attention to what that child had said, he may be alive today. Although rare, this this has happened all because no one would listen to a child as he or she was crying out for help. Although we listen, do we listen effectively? Do we hear what is being said, and ready between the lines? Do we listen to the parts we want to hear and tune out the rest? Or, do we listen and fully grasp the contents of the words that have been spoken? These are questions that are asked continually in the mind of Mr. Edward Wallace. Mr. Wallace is employed with the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Children and Family Services (DHS/DCFS). At the present time, he serves as a court liaison for DCFS, but works primarily with children, 7-18 who have been committed to the Arkansas State Hospital for psychological evaluation and testing. Mr. Wallace arrived in Arkansas in May 1982 to begin his educational career at Arkansas Baptist College. At ABC he began to embark on a career in Business Administration and quickly found this was not his calling. After completing 2 years at ABC he transferred to Philander Smith College, changed his major and began studying Human Services. After graduating from PSC with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Human Services, he became a case manager for Youth Homes. While a case manager, Mr. Wallace acknowledges that listening was a critical part of his job. “Listening goes two ways,” said Mr. Wallace. You have to listen to what the speaker says. Upon employment all new case managers were required to take a 3-week course in active listening. During this class, many