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Introduction
Field Instruction is an integral
component of the social work curriculum, engaging the student in supervised
social work practice and providing opportunities to apply classroom learning
in the field setting. Primary goals of Field Instruction are to:
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Provide
knowledge, values and skills for intervention with individuals,
families, groups and communities
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Help the
student develop a professional identify consistent with social work
values
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Facilitate
the development of skills in the evaluation of one's social work
practice
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Provide an
experience with various client populations including diverse facial and
ethnic groups, and at risk populations
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Evolve a
practice style consistent with the student's strengths and capacities
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Develop the
ability to work within a human service agency or organization.
Salisbury University's MSW field
instruction experience is reflective of the department's mission statement
and the program's goals and objectives. The curriculum is designed
with the expectation that students will develop professional and ethical
judgments and actions based on an integration of knowledge, theory, and
practice
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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.
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Application to Field
Once a student has been accepted to the Social Work Graduate Program and
plans to enter field the following semester, an Application for Field
Instruction may be completed. These forms are available on our Web
site and may be completed on line. After completing the appropriate
forms, the student will meet with the Field Coordinator to discuss
placements.
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Field Practicum Requirements
Students enrolled in the regular full-time graduate program will be required
to participate in agency-based instruction for two days (16 hours) a week
during their foundation year and three days (24 hours) a week during their
concentration year. Each placement will be in two separate agencies
unless special circumstances exist. To allow the student to become
familiar with some of the social work principles in the foundation year;
field will begin on the seventh week of the first semester. Advanced
standing students will be required to complete the hours as stated for the
advanced year. Traditional part-time students will complete the field
instruction requirements during their 2nd and 4th year.
With the understanding that often students have different constraints and
needs, an occasional placement with evening hours may be possible, however,
it is important to understand that there is an expectation that one will
participate in an agency during normal work hours. Students who have
full-time jobs need to plan for release time from their regular work to
participation in field instruction. Additionally, students are
expected to be enrolled or have completed certain practice class during
their field experiences.
Students will not be given credit for work or life experience.
All students entering graduate field placement for the first time will be
required to attend a field orientation at the beginning of the semester.
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Employment-Based Field
Instruction
An Employment-Based Field Instruction option will be developed for those
students who would like to have their field placement at the agency where
they are employed. The curriculum and objectives of the
Employment-Based Field Instruction program are identical to those in the
regular program. The pattern of field instruction, however, provides
the student with the opportunity to continue employment while completing an
educationally appropriate field placement, which is separate and distinct
from the employment experience.
A student who wants to pursue this option must submit a written proposal to
the Field Coordinator along with his/her application for a field placement.
This written proposal will identify both the unit (division or department)
within the agency where the student is currently employed and his/her work
assignment in that unit as well as a description of the new assignment,
including the requisite reduction in workload. The student, the
supervisor, the proposed field instructor and the agency executive will sign
the proposal In order for such a proposal to be approved, the availability
of release time for course work and field instruction must be ensured, field
work assignments and supervision must differ from those associated with the
student’s employment, and the agency must be able to demonstrate that the
student’s employment responsibilities and assignments are separate and
distinct from the proposed field instruction assignments. The student
must have a Field Instructor who is different from the work supervisor and
is a regular staff member in the organization that is requesting the
employment-based field placement for the student. Field Instructors
and Field Instruction assignments will be approved by the Field Instruction
Office prior to a student and agency placement being approved for
Employment-Based Field Instruction. The transfer to the new unit,
division, or department will begin on the first day of field instruction.
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