The goal of a social work field placement is to apply theoretical social work material to actual social work practice. Specifically it is designed to prepare students to practice as generalist social workers in entry level social work positions. While in a field placement students can apply knowledge, develop skills and demonstrate the values of the profession. Field instruction, an integrative experience, is the culmination of the entire educational process. This experience is a major determinant of the student’s future effectiveness as a social worker.

Students are offered placement opportunities at a variety of community human service agencies on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia, and in Delaware. The particular agencies selected are chosen to provide experiences that beginning social workers are likely to encounter in practice. Emphasis is placed on offering a selection of agencies which will assure that the students are provided a wide variety of choices regarding diverse and at-risk populations. Agencies are carefully screened in accordance with criteria that comply with accreditation standards set by the Council on Social Work Education. They are expected to provide students with a practice experience involving active participation in the day-to-day operations of the agency in meeting human needs. The plan is that the student will not be viewed as an “observer”, but as a person with professional training, who has something to contribute through functioning as part of the agency. Since field instruction is not synonymous with in-service training it must do more than teach students how to function within that particular agency. It is imperative that opportunities be provided for students to develop competencies necessary to meet the educational goals outlined in the course objectives, relevant program objectives, and ultimate program goals.

B. SELECTION OF AGENCIES AND FIELD INSTRUCTORS

The Field instruction Coordinator carries the responsibility for determining an agency’s suitability as a field instruction site. Potential field placements are identified in a number of ways. Agencies may contact the Social Work Program requesting students or they may be suggested by a student, faculty member, alumnus, or community member. Once an agency has been identified as having interest in becoming a field placement site, the Field Instruction Coordinator makes a formal assessment of the agency’s suitability. The assessment covers such topics as: the function and services of the agency, possible student assignments, availability of resources for the student, level of practice competence of the field instructor, and special requirements for student placement. At this time the Field Instruction Coordinator provides to the agency an interpretation of field instruction requirements, course objectives for field placement, expectation regarding assignments, supervision and evaluation.

C. APPLICATION TO FIELD AND SELECTION OF PLACEMENT

During the spring semester of their Junior Year, once they have been admitted to the social work professional program, students register for field instruction by completing the application for Social Work Field instruction. As part of the application students identify three field placement as a first step in indicating their areas of preference. These preferences will be considered by the Field Coordinator when making placement decisions. Students are required to accept a field placement within a fifty mile radius of their academic year residence.

After the Field office and the student have agreed on a potential placement, the Coordinator contacts the agency to discuss the placement and to identify the interested student. The student is then given the information that will be needed to contact the agency field instructor to arrange for an on-site interview. The student is responsible to schedule and prepare for the interview. Refusal to do so will be interpreted as the student deciding not to enter field placement at this time. Students may only contact an agency regarding field placement after approval from the Field office.

The student will receive confirmation of the field instruction placement from the Field office. Most students will interview at one agency and find a comfortable fit with the field instructor and agency practice. Others require an additional interview. A maximum of three interviews will be offered to the student. Failure to secure a placement by the third interview will be interpreted as the student not being ready for field at this time. If, during the summer before the field instruction placement is scheduled to begin, the student or the agency experience a change will effect the placement, they must immediately contact the Field Instruction Coordinator.

A placement confirmation approved by all parties is based on the mutual agreement that the student will remain in that placement for the entire academic year. This agreement is finalized when a field placement contract has been signed by the student and a representative of the field agency.

D. FIELD INSTRUCTION SEMINAR

During each semester of field instruction students enroll in and attend a field seminar. This one credit hour course meets weekly and is led by the faculty member serving as the student’s faculty liaison with the agency in which they are doing their fieldwork. This seminar provides an opportunity for students to engage in in-depth discussion and analysis of issues related to their application of the practice model. Meeting with students in other field instruction settings broadens their individual perspectives on social work practice and helps them to understand the commonalities of social work practice in different settings. The student can, therefore, come to generalize the learning that occurs as a result of their field instruction experiences.