Training of SCORE-ACE Counselors: Attitudes and Needs
研究了SCORE/ACE志愿者咨询师参与培训的程度及其对培训的态度和需求，发现培训内容不统一且参与度不一，对改进培训有参考价值。
TRAINING OF SCORE/ACE COUNSELORS: ATTITUDES AND NEEDS Since its inception in 1953, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has provided management assistance at a minimum of expense to small business firms. In 1964, the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) was formed by SBA. The Active Corps of Executives (ACE) was added in 1968. Members of SCORE and ACE are volunteers who provide counseling assistance free of charge to small business owners and managers. As the role of management asistance personnel on the SBA staff has shifted from counseling to coordinating of the counseling process, more and more small business counseling and training is being assigned to SCORE/ACE personnel. Accompanying this growth in the role of the SCORE/ACE counselors is a corresponding need for adequate counselor training. If such training is not provided, the needs and expectations of many small business client firms will not be met. BACKGROUND At present, persons selected for membership in SCORE and ACE are presumed to be competent to counsel because of prior education, training, or experience. In reality, however, some SCORE/ACE volunteers require additional training and other support services. When a person submits an application for membership in a SCORE/ACE chapter, the application processing time (approximately 30 days) is used by the chapter as an orientation and training period for the new volunteer. The SBA recommends that the orientation include such topics as: * The mission of the SBA and management assistance. * The mission and objectives of the SCORE and ACE program. * The SCORE organizational structure and its relationship to SBA. * The responsibility of SCORE and ACE counselors, especially as they relate to the Code of Ethics. The SBA also suggests that during the orientation period, and until the individual becomes comfortable with counseling, that the SCORE/ACE candidates be assigned to cases along with an experienced counselor. After the orientation training period, the ongoing training of SCORE/ACE counselors is considered very important. According to Paul F. Eiseman, Executive Director and Director of Membership Training of the National SCORE Offfice (NSO) of the SBA, the priorities of NSO are to recruit, screen, orient, and continually update and educate its membership. The NSO Operating Manual recommends that each local SCORE/ACE chapter have a membership and training committee which should, among other duties: ... conduct training sessions for chapter members utilizing the training materials published by the NSO. ... conduct training sessions for new members using the Orientation Guide available from the NSO. The present emphasis on counselor training is evidenced in the 1984 SCORE Plan of Region VIII. The Plan encourages local SCORE/ACE chapters to hold monthly meetings that include a featured speaker or training session. In spite of the importance attached to training by the SBA and SCORE, little is known about the desire of SCORE/ACE couselors to participate in training, or about their attitudes toward the training they are offered. The purpose of this article is to describe and analyze the results of a study of the involvement in training and attitudes toward training by SCORE/ACE members. THE STUDY Problem The problem that provided the impetus for this investigation is the lack of information which exists with regard to the training of SCORE/ACE counselors. Although counselors are expected to be competent in a variety of small business areas, they are not required to participate in skill update training sessions. Furthermore, the subjct matter and content of training sessions that are provided by state, regional, or national SBA offices are not standardized. Consequently, the extent and type of training received by counselors may vary widely. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the extent of SCORE/ACE counselor participation in training experiences provided by the SBA in one state and (2) to assess the attitudes and needs of these counselors with regard to training topics and opportunities. …