1. COURSE DESCRIPTION

   Students are placed in a community agency under supervision of an experienced social worker and a social work faculty member. Students are expected to develop an in depth understanding of agency activities and programs and will assume increasing levels of responsibility as beginning social workers. Attendance at periodic field placement meetings is expected. This course may be taken as a block placement (12 credits) for one semester or summer, or over two semesters at 6 credits per semester. A minimum of 480 hours in the agency is required in either option.

   Prerequisites: Successful completion of all social work required courses.

2. COURSE OBJECTIVES (Specified Outcomes)

   At the conclusion of this course students will be able to:

   1. Perform the responsibilities of a beginning level, professional baccalaureate social worker.

   2. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional baccalaureate social work practice.

   3. Practice within the values and ethics of the social work profession and with an understanding of and respect for the positive value of diversity.

   4. Demonstrate the professional use of self.

   5. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and the strategies of change that advance social and economic justice.

   6. Understand the history of the social work profession and its current structures and issues.

   7. Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work to practice with systems of all sizes.

   8. Apply knowledge of bio-psycho-social variables that affect individual development and behavior, and use theoretical frameworks to understand the interactions among individuals and between individuals and social systems (i.e., families, groups, organizations, and communities).

   9. Analyze the impact of social policies on client systems, workers, agencies, and institutionalized systems.

   10. Evaluate research studies and apply findings to practice, and, under supervision, evaluate their own practice interventions and those of other relevant systems.

   11. Use communication skills differentially with a variety of client populations, colleagues, and members of the community.

   12. Use supervision appropriate to generalist practice.

   13. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems, and under supervision, seek necessary organizational change.

3. REQUIRED READINGS

   1. A Manual for Social Work Interns and Supervisors in Field Instruction

   2. The social work texts you have read for the other required social work courses. In particular, please review in these texts:

      1. Readings related to women, racial/ethnic groups, oppression, discrimination, and strategies to advance social and economic justice.

      2. Readings related to the course objectives specified in section II Course Objectives (above).

4. EVALUATION AND GRADING

   (See Field Placement Manual for a detailed description of assignments, evaluation processes, and grading criteria and procedures.)

   In regard to the Course Objectives identified in Section II (above), you will be expected to demonstrate the specified outcomes by the time you complete your placement. Midterm and final evaluation instruments will be used to evaluate the above specified outcomes.

   You are expected to use the texts you have read in your prior social work courses as references for: (a) questions that arise in field placement, (b) literature related to the specified outcomes, (c) writing your Midterm Integration Assignment which is due at, or before, the midterm evaluation, and (d) writing your Final Integration Assignment which is due at, or before, your final evaluation.

5. UNIVERSITY POLICIES

   The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is dedicated to a safe, supportive and non-discriminatory learning environment. It is the responsibility of all undergraduate and graduate students to familiarize themselves with University policies regarding Special Accommodations, Misconduct, Religious Beliefs Accommodation, Discrimination and Absence for University Sponsored Events. (For details please refer to the Undergraduate and Graduate Timetables; the ?Rights and Responsibilities? section of the Undergraduate bulletin; the Academic Requirements and Policies and the Facilities and Services sections of the Graduate Bulletin; and the ?Student Academic Disciplinary Procedures? [UWS Chapter 14]; and the ?Student Nonacademic Disciplinary Procedures? [UWS Chapter 17]).

6. COURSE OUTLINE

   1. The Field Placement Manual covers:

      1. Options for field placement

      2. General aims of field placement

      3. Expectations of interns

      4. Expectations of field agencies

      5. Expectations of agency field instructors

      6. Expectations of faculty supervision/liaison

      7. Structure and mechanics of field placement

      8. Midterm integration assignment

      9. Final integration assignment

      10. Logs

      11. Agency-school contract

      12. Grievance procedures

      13. Evaluations

      14. Grading guidelines

          ** Read this manual prior to interviewing for placement**

   2. Because of the wide variations in field placement settings, each field placement is somewhat individualized. At the beginning of the field experience the student and field instructor are encouraged to develop a set of specific learning objectives or goals which will be accomplished during the placement. This planning will allow both the student and supervisor an opportunity to identify learning needs or areas of student interest as well as to design and utilize learning opportunities available within the agency. These learning objectives may be incorporated into the evaluation process. The faculty liaison is available to assist in the process of establishing learning goals. The following Sample Field Placement Plan illustrates typical expectations in field placement.

Student: John Washington

Supervisor: Suzanne Colt, BSW

Hours Worked: 32 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, from September 1 to December 15, with the work hours being somewhat flexible in order to provide optional educational experiences.

1. Orientation
   
   1. Introduction to social service staff and responsibilities
   2. Tour of agency and orientation to programs
   3. Reading Annual Report and other materials furnished by supervisor
   4. Orientation to forms
   
   
2. Case and Family Intervention

   The intern will be assigned several cases, some will be assigned early in placement. Most of the cases assigned will be to work with families who are scheduled to bring their child with a developmental disability to the Center for training, but who are not following through on this commitment. The Center has found there are a variety of reasons for families failing to bring their child. It is expected these cases will enable the intern to take on a variety of roles: enabler, counselor, broker, facilitator, and in some cases an advocate for the family. (Persons with a developmental disability is a population-at-risk.)

3. Group Work

   Two members of the social service staff currently have a weekly group for parents (mostly mothers) whose child is receiving services at the Center. The main objectives are to deal with the parent?s concerns, help them to better understand their child?s disability, serve as a support group, and to discuss ways they may be better able to help their child. The intern is expected to attend and gradually become an active participant in this group. The intern is also expected to attend, and gradually participate, in staff meetings.

4. Community Work and Research

   The Center is currently involved in a study to determine what happens to children with a developmental disability after the parents terminate services at this Center. The intern will be expected to participate in this study, particularly by contacting and interviewing fifteen families to identify: (a) parents? thoughts on the effectiveness of services received from the Center, (b) parents? thoughts on suggested changes for services at this Center, (c) what each child is now doing, and (d) what services (if any) parents feel they and their child now need.

5. Mandatory Reading

   Pamphlets, books, and other material related to placement will be assigned.

6. Visits to Other Agencies

   The intern will be expected to visit a variety of agencies that this Center works closely with. The supervisor will suggest such agencies, and the intern will be expected to make most of the arrangements for touring these agencies.

7. Research of Practice Interventions

   The intern will be expected to evaluate some of his/her practice interventions (e.g., through the use of single-subject design).