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IPHE - Interim Professional Home Economist
Introduction
IPHE stands for "interim Professional Home Economist". It is a class of membership leading to professional status.
The IPHE Program is designed to further professionalism and to provide an introduction to the Association.
The IPHE Program is easily and readily completed. It is not academic in nature. The Program does not deal with technical expertise, nor is it a supervised work experience. As do all pre-professional programs, IPHE allows the participant to apply the concepts of being a professional and to develop an understanding of professionalism.
Benefits of the Program
Participants in the IPHE Program can derive a variety of benefits through the opportunities offered in the Program. Specifically the participant:
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Can 'network" with other members at local, provincial and national levels, to make contacts which will be valuable personally and professionally; where members are aware of positions available they endeavor to inform other members through the strong, informal network
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Can become familiar with their professional Association, what it does, its activities, and the issues it addresses related to our profession and societal needs
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Can become involved and participate in the Association, to express opinions, address issues, make a contribution, collectively advance our profession, derive satisfaction, and work toward personal and professional achievements
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Can learn why professional legislation is advantageous to you as an individual and to our profession, what it means, why it is important and what our responsibilities are. In the future human ecology/home economics graduates will begin to see more employers requiring professional status in conjunction with the degree.
The IPHE Program can offer a variety of benefits and opportunities. Take advantage, and make the most of them!
Program Objectives
1. To offer an opportunity to learn about and to develop an understanding of the responsibilities and ethics related to being a professional under legislation.
2. To allow a suitable time frame in which to develop professionalism in relation to dealings with the public, clients and colleagues, through applied practice experience, volunteer work, or other initiatives.
3. To demonstrate professional attitudes and standards by projecting self-confidence, and obtaining knowledge and understanding of the roles of others in the profession.
4. To develop an understanding of, and respect for, the profession, its role and contribution to society, thereby developing a commitment to the profession.
5. To provide an introduction to the organization, structure and activities of the Manitoba Association of Home Economists.
6. To provide an appreciation of the importance of member involvement in Association committees and activities, at branch, provincial and national levels.
7. To encourage active participation in Association affairs including continued membership.
Participant Responsibilities
1. Develop professional competencies required of an individual to be registered and having professional status under legislation.
2. Make a commitment to advancing the profession and serving the public interest, including membership in the Association.
3. Investment of time and effort necessary to complete the IPHE program requirements.
Program Description
Length
The Program is approximately one year in length. It is often completed sooner than the one year period. If the participant requires, the Program can be extended to two years upon written request to the IPHE committee.
Activities
The Program has been designed to provide the participant with a broad and flexible range of activities aimed at furthering professionalism and becoming familiar with the Association.
Required Components
1) Attendance at the Professionalism Seminar is required. The Seminar is one day in length, generally held in April or May of each year. It covers various topics related to professionalism and the Association.
2) A minimum of three meetings between participant and mentor.
Optional Components
a) At least two of the following activities must be completed:
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Participate and complete responsibilities on a committee at a Branch, Provincial or National level.
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Attend a minimum of two Branch meetings.
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Attend a MAHE Annual General Meeting/Provincial Conference.
b) 1 of the following (For participants in remote locations)
IPHE participants are encouraged to participant on an Association committee at a Branch, Provincial or National level in their locale, according to their personal interest areas. Participation on a Committee in which the mentor is already involved, is acceptable. A professional association is directed and operated by its members, thus committee participation indicates a commitment to serving the profession through cooperative endeavours. (May be completed via technology assistance eg. phone, fax, e-mail etc, based on circumstances.)
Participation in a community project at a professional level provides participants, including those in remote communities, with creative opportunities. Participants can develop and demonstrate applied practice experience, and, affirm their professional skills and knowledge to the public, clientele, and employers on behalf of the Association. Projects should contain an aspect of technical expertise (nutrition/foods, textiles/clothing, family studies) and, include a promotion and advancement of the profession and the Association. Participants have a great deal of latitude.
They can work with their mentor, any Active Practising member, another IPHE participant, an Association committee, and/or on their own. Projects can be a volunteer effort, or related to (current or desired) employment. Participants are encouraged to take initiatives and develop their ideas. Examples of project areas could be: developing a service delivery program or presentation to a community group; proposals to address professional issues or initiatives needed by the Association; or ideas for academic research. A project could seek to enhance an existing initiative; or, be a design for an entirely new initiative to address an identified gap. A brief written description of two to three pages of the community project carried out, should accompany the final evaluation. As a guideline, the format would follow the usual planning process of needs assessment, objectives, plan, implementation, and evaluation.
The paper entitled 'On Being a Professional" provides participants in geographically remote communities such as Northern Manitoba with additional options to complete the Program. The paper should be approximately 1000 words with a maximum of four typewritten pages. It should address the meaning of professionalism and some understanding of the professional association, as it applies to the IPHE member.
Matching With Mentor
MAHE will provide a mentor through the Branch. Compatible interests are considered, however may not be possible. The IPHE participant may locate their own mentor. They must be eligible according to the criteria established by MAHE. MAHE will confirm mentor eligibility.
If either participant or mentor move partway through the Program, both parties should immediately notify the IPHE Committee.
Letter of Agreement
The Letter of Agreement (attached), must be completed by the participant and mentor. This letter should be immediately forwarded to the IPHE Committee. The program officially begins upon receipt of this letter.
Geographically Remote/isolated
IPHE participants located in geographically remote and isolated communities such as in Northern Manitoba have been able to complete the Program. Such participants can note that MAHE has been flexible in accommodating their circumstance. If special arrangements are needed to complete the Program, the participant should immediately communicate with the IPHE Committee to do so on being admitted to the Program.
Final Evaluation
A brief Final Evaluation (attached), must be completed by the mentor and participant, and immediately forwarded to the IPHE Committee.
Admission to Professional Status
Admission is made on completion of the Program activities and the requisite documentation, including the Letter of Agreement and the Final Evaluation, having been submitted to the IPHE Committee. The IPHE Committee will then make a recommendation to the MAHE Board of Directors, whose meetings are held February, June and October of each year. On acceptance by the Board, the Registrar will issue a professional certificate to the member, and change the register and roster. The member may begin using the professional designation and title.
Questions and Difficulties
Participants should immediately address any questions about, or difficulties with the Program to the IPHE Committee at P.O. Box 582, Station Main, Winnipeg, MB. R3C 2J3 or via email at
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Mentor Eligibility and Responsibilities
Eligibility
1. Must be a 'Professional Home Economist" that is, an Active Practising member of MAHE.
2. Have a commitment to carrying out the responsibilities of a mentor, and a commitment to the profession and the Association.
3. Have a minimum of three years work or volunteer experience related to the field of home economics /human ecology within the last ten years.
4. A good working knowledge of the profession and the Association, and the responsibilities of being a professional are an asset.
Responsibilities
Generally the mentor's responsibility is to further the professional development of the IPHE participant and facilitate her/his successful completion of the IPHE Program. Be willing to provide the necessary support, guidance and advise in acting as a mentor, and be willing to commit the necessary time. Encourage the development and understanding of the responsibilities and ethics of becoming a professional under legislation. Advance the importance of commitment to the profession, Association participation and continued membership. Counsel and support the participant's introduction to Association structure, organization and activities.
Specifically the mentor should:
1. Initiate meeting with the participant to sign the letter of agreement, and immediately forward the original to the IPHE Committee.
2. Be available to meet with the participant at least three times during the one year period.
3. Arrange to accompany the participant to Association meetings at Branch or MAHE levels, in order that they be welcomed to membership and introduced to other members.
4. Actively seek to involve the participant in an Association committee, at the local, provincial or national level. A committee which the mentor is currently a member of, is acceptable.
5. Become familiar with the participant's career situation and aspirations. Provide support in her/his professional development in this regard. Where possible, assist by placing the participant in contact with a 'Professional Home Economist" in the related field.
6. Address participant's questions, or arrange to have them contact an appropriate resource in the Association.
7. Upon completion of the Program, initiate completing the final evaluation including recommendation for admission to Active Practising (professional status) membership and immediately forward same to the IPHE Committee who will then provide a recommendation to the MAHE Board of Directors for their adoption. Mentors must allow sufficient time for the completed evaluation to reach the IPHE Committee so that the documentation may be confirmed, prior to the Board meeting. Please return to IPHE Committee three weeks prior to board meetings. To date, Board meetings have been held in February, June, and October.
8. Where a recommendation for professional status cannot be made, mentors must provide written reasons to the participant and the IPHE Committee. Where such recommendation cannot be made within the one year period of the Program, participants can apply to the Committee for an extension of two years.
9. In the event that a mentor must prematurely terminate her/his commitment, she/he must prepare a final evaluation for the participant's activities completed to date, and provide the same to the IPHE Committee immediately with a copy to the participant. The mentor must also notify the IPHE Committee of their inability to complete the contract in order that a replacement mentor can be found as quickly as possible, allowing the participant to continue the Program without disadvantage. |
