Online Social Networking Essays - Social Networking Services

Online Social Networking Essays - Social Networking Services Online Social Networking Online Social Networking BSHS/352 Technology in Human Services September10, 2012 Professor Valerie Avera, MA Online Social Networking Technology is an ever-changing field. Conversely, many businesses, and human services organizations over the world try to look for different ways to improve and be successful. Therefore, one way toward succeeding is by networking and linking themselves with similar organizations. A website, such as LinkedIn can provide any business or organization to grow and remain successful just by a click of the button. On the other hand developing into an online community helps many businesses owners and organizations stay connected to other agencies and the ability to offer more type of support services within the community. The following summary will explain how human service professionals can use social networking to connect with the community and further business opportunities whereas staying connected with other human service professionals. In addition, the summary will also explain how affiliating with the professional communities online can help offer more support services or quality refe rrals to clients and how attending approved training sessions provided by the online groups can keep human service professionals up-to-date and competitive in their field. The LinkedIn network system is a popular well-known site used by many businesses professionals around the world. This site provides business professionals and other types of organizations the ability to exchange information and other networking types of opportunities. Created by five founders, LinkedIn?s website officially took in 2003. The five founders asked 350 of their closet contacts to join their site and within the first month they had approximately 4,500 members in the network. By, the end of 2003 they had 81,000 members and to this present-day more than 41 million members has joined the networking website (?LinkedIn Company History,? 2011). After creating and reviewing the health care profile sites on LinkedIn the three chosen reputable professional business groups was Lighthouse Emotional Wellness, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center in Countryside IL. Lighthouse Emotional Wellness is a premiere center that offers a traditional combination of clinical services whereas a unique and holistic workshop program. The organization additionally offers integrative therapies sessions to treat the everyday physical, emotional, and mental struggles most individuals endure throughout life. In addition, according to their website blog Lighthouse Emotional Wellness belief is that ?wellness achieved facets of a person?s life, whereas the clients emotions can be a guide throughout his or her process of change, leading to greater happiness and better relationships? (?Lighthouse Emotional Wellness,? n.d.). The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a grassroots educational advocacy organization. Additionally they array of services also provides self-help support to family and consumer with enjoying the quality of life of individuals with severe mental illnesses. Moreover, NAMI also provide the community with access to services advocates, treatment, supports, and research. This organization is also steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for those in need. In which, according to the organization web-site blog they offers training and education programs for family members, consumers, and the public that includes peer-to-peer support and counseling within a family-to- family- setting and giving referrals for many public networks ("National Alliance On Mental Illness,? 2012). Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center in Countryside IL, conversely, they do not offer continuing education opportunities or credits for licensed professionals. On the other hand they do offer employment networking for their clients through an agency called Employ Alliance, which specialize in job placement assistance. They match quailed individuals with targeted employers hiring people with disabilities. Helping hands also offers outpatient clinics for mental health (?Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center,? n.d.). Unfortunately, not all three companies offer monthly or yearly public meetings to network with other professionals in the health care. In the past people use to communicate by using the postal service or over the phone. When the public first became aware about online communication it made communicating faster and easier. Sites such as LinkedIn which allows their members to maintain a list of contact details of people with whom, they have some level of relationship, called Connections. Members can also invite anyone to become a part of his or her connection list. However, to stay connected within a professional community using a social