Incoming Students’ Field Education Placement Packet – Fall 2011
this is the first step in your field education placement process for the fall. Please read thoroughly and follow all directions. Thank you!
Enclosed in this packet:
Welcome letter from the Director of Field Education (pages 1-2)
Incoming Student Field Placement Form** (pages 3-4)
Field Education Brochure (pages 5-6)
Incoming Students Packet - Fall 2011[1]
LINKS:
§ Social Work Trainee License go to http://msass.case.edu/downloads/fieldedu/SocialWorkTraineeLicense.pdf
§ Social Work License Application go to https://license.ohio.gov/
§ Criminal Records Check Required For Initial Licensure go to http://www.cswmft.ohio.gov/pdfs/crc0308.pdf
Incoming Students Packet - Fall 2011[1]
**NOTE: The Incoming Student Field Placement Form is an electronic form, Please read and follow the three steps below
- Step 1: First, save this document onto your computer, title it Incoming Student Field Placement Form and your name.
- Step 2: After saving it onto your computer, you can begin to type in your information.
- Step 3: Complete the form, sign it electronically, and return it via email to . Or mail to Field Education Office, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7164
Incoming Students Packet - Fall 2011[1]
10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7164
Field Education Office
Phone 216-368-2292
1-866-299-9819
Fax 216-368-0474
Dear Incoming Student,
On behalf of the MSASS’ Field Education Office, let me offer my congratulations on your admission to our program. I’m excited that you are joining the MSASS family. During your graduate education at MSASS, you will spend a significant amount of time in your field practicum. This is the place where the profession of social work will come alive for you as you apply what you are learning in the classroom to the real world of social work practice. You will enter into a teaching relationship with your field instructor who will provide you with valuable direction, feedback, supervision and evaluation as you grow into the profession. Field education is a required component of all accredited social work programs and here at the Mandel School comprises 20% of your social work curriculum.
We want to do all that we can to help you make the transition to a successful field education experience. This letter will provide you with information about what you can expect from the field education experience and guide you in selecting a field placement that best meets your learning needs.
· As a full-time student, you will complete approximately 1184 hours of field education over four semesters. You will begin your field practicum in September, 2011.
· As a full-time student with advanced standing (12 or 18 months), you will do approximately 1008 hours at one site over three semesters. You will begin your field practicum in September, 2011.
· As a part-time student you will do approximately 1184 hours at two sites over four semesters. You will begin your field practicum in fall 2012.
Our Field Education office is staffed by a director, an administrative assistant, and seven field faculty advisors who work cooperatively with students, faculty, and field instructors, and nearly 250 social work organizations serving as field practicum sites. Our field faculty advisors are licensed independent social workers whose agency liaison assignments are reflective of their areas of professional practice.
Enclosed you will find a Field Education Planning Form for you to complete and submit to the Field Education Office as soon as possible. The sooner we have your packet, the sooner we can begin working with you to secure your agency placement.
Our goal is to have you placed in your first field placement before you begin school in the fall. In order for us to be successful, the following steps must occur:
1. Read the enclosed material and go online to our website http://msass.case.edu/fieldedu/ to find out more about field education and about the agencies where students may be placed. Please note that our agencies have certain requirements that may vary between first year and second year students and, so some of the agencies in our database may not accept first year students.
2. For advanced standing students, we also strongly urge you to consider taking the exam and becoming licensed as an LSW in Ohio before school begins in the fall. This will greatly expand your options in obtaining field placements as some agencies can only accept students with a license. . Those who do not have an LSW may need to apply for the Social Work Trainee (SWT) License which allows social work graduate students to perform certain tasks in an agency under supervision as if they were licensed. For more information on the process for obtaining either license in Ohio, go to http://www.cswmft.ohio.gov.
3. Return the attached planning form, your resume, and field planning statement.
4. We will match you with a field faculty advisor whose expertise is compatible with your area of interest, or course of study.
5. You will be contacted by your field faculty advisor via phone or email to schedule a meeting. He or she will review your learning needs and objectives, and determine the most appropriate field site for you to explore for the fall.
6. After the initial contact with your field faculty advisor, he/she will provide information to you to facilitate you scheduling interviews with field sites that will best meet your learning needs. (If you live out of town, it would be best to schedule 2-3 days when you can be in town to look for housing, meet with your field faculty advisor, and interview with agencies all at the same time. Please discuss this with your field faculty advisor at the time of your initial contact.)
7. You will interview with potential sites identified by you and your field faculty advisor and then communicate your preference to him/her.
8. We will contact the agencies to determine their preferences, and we will let you know when there is a match.
REMEMBER THE SOONER YOU ENGAGE IN THIS PROCESS, THE MORE CHOICES YOU WILL HAVE OF AVAILABLE PLACEMENTS!
Please keep us informed of any changes in your address, telephone number and e-mail so that we can stay in touch with you. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 216-368-2689/1-866-299-9819. We look forward to working together with you to develop a meaningful field education experience.
Sincerely yours,
Scott A. Wilkes
Scott A. Wilkes
Instructor and Director of Field Education
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Incoming Students Packet - Fall 2011[1]
Field Education Office10900 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7164
Phone 216-368-2292
1-866-299-9819
Fax 216-368-0474
Incoming Student Field Placement Form
Date:
Please complete and return this form and all requested materials to the Field Education Office at the address below.
Field Education Office, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7164
Top of Form
Name:Current Address: / Street:
City: / State: / Zip Code:
Phone: / Cell Phone:
Work Phone: / Email:
Other
Address: / Street:
City: / State: / Zip Code:
Phone: / Email:
Academic Year: / Specialization: è Click HereAODAAgingChildren, Youth & FamilyCommunity & Social DevelopmentHealthMental HealthSchool Social Work
Note: Please notify the Field Education Office of any changes in the above information at 216.368.2292/866.299.9819 or by fax: 216.368.0474, Email –
List undergraduate and graduate schools and degrees
School / Major / Degree / Graduation DateEntering Program
Regular Full-Time / è Joint Degree è Click HereMSSA/MBAMSSA/JDMSSA/MNOMSSA/MA
Advanced Standing / è Click Here12 Months18 Months
Part Time / è Click HereNon-Advanced StandingAdvanced Standing
Transfer Student
Will you have a car available for your field placement?
Students without a car may have limited placement options / Yes No
3
Incoming Students Packet - Fall 2011[1]
[1] Describe any special circumstances which you would like us to consider in the selection process or that might influence your ability to participate in and successfully complete your field education experience.
[2] Please attach your resume and a typewritten, two page personal statement that addresses the following:
a. The development of your interest in social work, including experiences which have influenced your decision to pursue an advanced degree.
b. Your personal strengths and limitations and how they might affect your development as a social worker.
c. Preferred social work area for field placement.
d. Areas of interest to you (i.e. aging ▪ alcohol & other drug abuse ▪ children, youth & families ▪ school social work ▪ community development ▪ management ▪ health ▪ mental health)
Signature: / Date:3
Incoming Students Packet - Fall 2011[1]
§ full-time student - As a full-time student, you will do approximately 1184 hours of field education over four semesters.
§ advanced standing - As a full-time student with advanced standing, you will do approximately 1008 hours of field education over three semesters.
§ PART-TIME - As a part-time student you will do approximately 1184 hours of field education over four semesters.
ORIENTATION TO FIELD EDUCATION
Orientation to Field Education is mandatory. The session will offer you an opportunity to understand the field education process and expectations, and answer any questions you may have.
Field Faculty Advisors / Specialization
Beth Brindo
216-368-5598
/ Child Welfare
Kirsten Gail
216-368-5879
/ Community & Social Development / Louis Stokes Fellowship
Intensive Weekend
Kathi Gant
216-368-3024 / Adult/
Adolescent Mental Health / Health / Criminal Justice
Marjory Klein
216-368-0709 /
Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse
/ Adult Mental Health / AgingSoad Mansour
216-368-0711 / Community Development / International / Management
Nancy Neuer
216-368-3997
/ Child/
Adolescent Mental Health / Health
Lori L. Painter
216-368-0047
/ Intensive Weekend
Program
Scott Wilkes
216-368-2240
/ School Social Work / Intensive Weekend
Program
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Incoming Students Packet - Fall 2011[1]
DESCRIPTION
Field Education comprises 20% of the social work master’s curriculum. Considered the “signature pedagogy” of social work education, it offers the student the opportunity to apply and integrate their classroom learning under the supervision of an experienced social work practitioner.
Students spend a significant amount of time in their field practicum - 1008 hours of field education over three semesters if they have advanced standing, 1184 hours of field education over four semesters if they do not have advanced standing. As with the other four curricular areas, the field practicum is divided into foundation-level content and advanced-level content. The foundation field placement provides students with opportunities to engage in generalist social work practice that is applicable across settings, population groups, problem areas, and systems of all sizes. In this initial field placement students are exposed to vulnerable populations and are challenged to begin to examine themselves in relation to the social work profession's historical commitment to basic values of human freedom, dignity, and special social economic justice. The importance of a knowledgeable and disciplined use of self is emphasized and students are expected to develop an appreciation of the role of gender, age, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and handicapping condition as it relates to assessment and intervention. The foundation-level classroom content and field placement are directed toward preparing the student for an advanced area of practice.
Upon completion of the first semester foundation classes, which include Field Education 601 and its companion class, SASS 495 Field Education Seminar, students declare their area of concentration. During the second semester, students complete foundation requirements including Field Education 602 and begin taking advanced classes in one of five direct-practice areas or in community and social development. This second semester of Field Education continues at the same agency site, increases from 16 to 24 hours per week, and calls for increased application and integration of classroom learning.
The advanced curriculum builds on the foundation courses and provides knowledge and practice skills in the student's area of specialization. Advanced fieldwork, 603 and 604 is completed at a second field site over two semesters during the second year of study. Students are provided with opportunities to engage in progressively differentiated and sophisticated social work practice that are applicable to specific settings, population groups, problem areas, and systems. Advanced fieldwork allows the student to synthesize and apply a broad range of knowledge and theory with respect to practice assessment and intervention and begin to move toward more autonomous practice.
In addition to time spent learning in an agency based setting students are also expected to participate in Professional Development opportunities as part of their field education process. In Field 601, 12 of the 178 field hours must be in Professional Development. In Field 602, 603, & 604, 24 of the required 336 hours per field period are to be completed in Professional Development opportunities.
In this partnership, each student works closely with two individuals - an MSASS-based field faculty advisor and an agency-based field instructor, both of whom contribute to the student's educational experience.
Each semester the student and field instructor develop a learning contract that integrates classroom and field objectives. The learning contract is reviewed and approved by the field faculty advisor at the time of the field conference, and it serves as a basis for the field evaluation which is completed at the end of each semester by the field instructor and student.
Participating Agencies
Approximately 250 participating agencies offer a variety of learning experiences. Several agencies accept students from different specializations. Practicum opportunities are available at the following types of agencies:
Ø Agencies serving needs of Older Adults
Ø Child Welfare, Public and Private
Ø Community Based Organizations
Ø Community Development Corporations
Ø Community Mental Health Centers
Ø Courts
Ø Family Service Agencies
Ø Government Organizations
Ø Hospitals & Outpatient Health Care Settings
Ø Neighborhood Centers
Ø Nonprofit organizations
Ø Residential Treatment Facilities
Ø Schools
Ø Work Force Development
FIELD PERIODS / PROGRAM*FOUNDATION
601 / FULL-TIME
Non-BSW
Fall
PART TIME
Non-BSW
Fall (of 2nd year)
*ADVANCED
602 / FULL-TIME
Non-BSW
Spring / BSW–12
Fall / BSW–18 Fall
PART TIME
BSW
Fall (of 2nd yr) / Non-BSW
Spring 2nd yr
*ADVANCED
603 / FULL-TIME
Non-BSW
Fall 2nd yr. / BSW–12
Spring / BSW–18 Spring
PART TIME
BSW
Spring 2nd yr / Non-BSW
Fall 3rd year
*ADVANCED
604 / FULL-TIME
Non-BSW
Spring 2nd yr / BSW-12
Summer / BSW-18
Fall 2nd yr
PART TIME
BSW
Fall 3rd yr / Non-BSW
Spring 3rd yr
*FOUNDATION 601 @ 176 Hours