Mississippi State University-Meridian SOCIAL WORK FIELD PRACTICUM MANUAL Mississippi State University-Meridian Social Work Program Division of Arts and Sciences Revised 01/6/2020 Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U. veteran, or any other status protected by applicable law. 1 Table of Contents Social Work Program …………………………………………………………………….4 Definition of Generalist Practice……………………………………………………………….5 Eligibility Criteria for Field Practicum…………………………………………………………5 Student Responsibilities……………………………………………………………………… 6 Field Practicum Requirements/Course Description…………………………………………….7 Policy Regarding Credit for Life Experience …………………………………………………10 Policy Regarding Field Placements in Employment Settings…………………………………10 Assignment of Students to Field Practicum Site………………………………………………10 Practicum Assessment Criteria and Standards………………………………………….…11 Field Practicum Agencies………. 11 Field Practicum Faculty………………………………………………………………….12 Director of Field Education……………………………………………………………………12 Field Liaison…………………………………………………………………………….13 Field Practicum Time Line…………………………………………………………………….18 Managing Difficulties in Field Practicum…………………………………………………….18 Dismissal for Academic and Professional Reasons……………………………………………19 Continuation in Social Work Program……………………………………………………….21 Grievance in Field Practicum………………………………………………………………….21 Equal Opportunity Policy………………………………………………………………………22 Mississippi State University Misconduct Policy……………………………………………….22 Risks in Field Placement……………………………………………………………………….23 Social Work Licensure ……………………………………………………………………….26 Form A: Application for Field Practicum (Résumé) ………………………………………….24 Form B: Agency Interview Choices………………………………………………………….24 Form C: Choices for Agency Placement………………………………………………………25 Form D: Authorization for Background Check……………………………………………….26 Form D: Authorization to Release Non-Public Information ………………………………….28 Form G: Field Practicum Time Sheet ………………………………………………………….29 Instructions on Completing Time Sheets……………………………………………………… 33 Form H: Original Contract…………………………………………………………………….34 Form I: Learning Contract ……………………………………………………………………35 Instructions for Learning Goals Preparation……………………………………………………37 Form J: Evaluation of Field Practicum Student ……………………………………………….39 Practicum Assessment Criteria and Standards………………………………………………….49 Supervision and Consultation Assessment Criteria and Standards…………………………….52 Form L: Agreement of Understanding………………………………………………………….51 CSWE Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards ………………………………………56 2 Social Work Program This manual presents information which, at the time of preparation for printing, most accurately described the courses, curricula, policies, procedures, regulations and requirements of the Field Practicum at Mississippi State University-Meridian Social Work Program.
Mississippi State University-Meridian Social Work Program reserves the right to delete, substitute for, change, or supplement any statement in this manual without prior notice. Program rules, regulations, and procedures are included in this manual. Social Work majors are bound by the principles herein described. The accreditation of the Social Work Program at Mississippi State University- Meridian Campus was reaffirmed by the Council on Social Work Education until 2021.
The profession of social work recognizes the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree as the entry-level professional degree. The Program mission is inextricably related to the purpose and mission of the University and the College of Arts and Sciences. On these foundations the Program seeks to prepare BSW students to continue their formal education in social work or graduate disciplines. The Program further prepares students to connect class and practice setting by implementation of generalist practice work with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations within a multicultural society.
In order to achieve this mission, the student’s program of professional education consists of both classroom and field education the signature pedagogy of Social Work education. The function of classroom instruction is to provide the student with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for the development of evidence-based practice. The field practicum provides the student with the opportunity to link and apply a generalist practice knowledge content from the classroom to the delivery of social services in a practice situation. Students are admitted into the practicum following the completion of required liberal arts and social work courses.
While the Program has responsibility for the overall function of the practicum, field instruction is a collaborative educational venture between those in the Program, the social service agencies, and the student body. Individualization, flexibility, and cooperation in developing relevant educational experiences are important conditions of this relationship. Mission of Social Work Profession The purpose of the social work profession is to promote human and community well-being. Guided by a person-in-environment framework, a global perspective, respect for human diversity, and knowledge based on scientific inquiry, the purpose of social work is actualized through its quest for social and economic justice, the prevention of conditions that limit human rights, the elimination of poverty, and the enhancement of the quality of life for all persons, locally and globally (CSWE 2015).
Mission Our program’s purpose and mission are inextricably related to the purpose and mission of the University, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Meridian Campus. The mission statements of the University, College of Arts and Sciences, Meridian Campus Social Work Program, and the 3 purpose of the Social Work profession reflect a strong commitment to students, community and service to society. With the liberal arts as our foundation, the mission of the Social Work Program Mississippi State University-Meridian is to prepare BSW graduates to engage in entry–level generalist social work practice to competently and effectively work with individuals, families, groups, communities, and organizations within a multicultural society and to continue their formal education in social work or graduate discipline. It is the vision of the Program that students will diligently work toward the achievement of civil rights for all populations, including the impoverished, underserved, undereducated, disenfranchised, and biopsychosocially vulnerable.
The Program further expects students to become trustworthy, dedicated leaders in social service delivery through professional expertise, evidence informed practices, and systematic advocacy. As such, it is our goal that upon completion of the Program, students are prepared to: 1. Practice according to the principles, values, and ethics that guide the social work profession. Influence social policies with the goal of alleviating poverty, oppression, and social injustice as well as advocating for human rights.
Provide communities with professional social work services in a manner that reflects a commitment to the historic mission of social work and empower communities to address issues of social and economic injustice. Identify and affect the bio-psycho-social, spiritual, and cultural functioning of people. Engage in research-informed entry-level generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, communities and organizations within a diverse and multicultural society. (Competency 4) Social Work Competencies 1.
Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior 2. Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice 3. Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice 4. Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice 5.
Engage in Policy Practice 6. Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 7. Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 8. Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities 9.
Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities Adapted with permission of the Council on Social Work Education 4 Generalist Practice The definition of generalist practice is as follows: Generalist practice is grounded in the liberal arts and the person-in-environment framework. To promote human and social well-being, generalist practitioners use a range of prevention and intervention methods in their practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities based on scientific inquiry and best practices. The generalist practitioner identifies with the social work profession and applies ethical principles and critical thinking in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Generalist practitioners engage diversity in their practice and advocate for human rights and social and economic justice.
They recognize, support, and build on the strengths and resiliency of all human beings. They engage in research-informed practice and are proactive in responding to the impact of context on professional practice. Adapted with permission of the Council on Social Work Education Eligibility for Field Practicum The criteria for remaining in the program and entering field practicum include: Completion of Field Practicum Application Process. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.75 GPA or better for all social work courses.
Must earn a minimum of “C” in each social work course. Adhere to all academic expectations of the university and the social work program Adhere to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics Completion of a required fingerprint criminal history, child abuse/neglect, and sex offender registry checks. * Please note* if the commission of any misdemeanor or felony involving actual or threaten assault or injury to a person does occur either prior to formal admission into the Social Work program or during field practicum; this behavior may limit or prohibit student’s opportunity for participating and/or securing field practicum agencies as well as sitting for the Mississippi State Social Work Licensure Exam as well as social service agency. Academic credit for life experience and previous work experience will not be given, in whole or in part, in lieu of the field practicum or of the courses in the professional foundation areas, specifically, Social Work Practice I, II and III.
Criteria for Admission into Field Practicum The program has written policies and procedures for admission into Field Practicum. The student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75 in required social work courses. The integrated liberal arts perspective and social work curriculum, with exception of SW 4916 Field Practicum I and SW 4926 Field Practicum/Seminar II which comprise the block practicum, must be completed before students apply for admission into field practicum. Students enrolled in SW 3533 Social Work with Communities and Organizations must complete a membership application to the National Association of Social Workers.
The semester prior to practicum, students complete three field placement orientation classes. The purpose of these classes is to discuss field education and the field practicum process, to distribute the Social Work 5 Program Field Practicum Manual, and to review field practicum information, forms, and the field syllabus. Prior to agency interviews students must complete Form D/E, Authorization for Background Check, and Child Abuse/Neglect Central Registry Check. Form F, Authorization to Release Non-Public Information is completed and retained in the student’s record.
Students are required to complete Form A, Application for Field Practicum and Resume’, and three preplacement interviews with approved field agencies (Form B and Form C) which ranks the students’ agency choice(s). In the preplacement interviews, the student and agency field instructor are encouraged to explore the placement fully before ranking the choice of agency placement. Students are required to complete Forms A, B, C, D, and E and turn them into the Director of Field Education. Information shared by the students pertaining to their learning needs, interests, wants, and personal considerations concerning the field practicum are discussed with the Director of Field Education in an established office interview.
The decision concerning choice of agency placement is based on the shared student information and agency field instructor interviews. The Director of Field Education has the final approval of the field placement agency. Social work majors are required to complete a semester and a minimum of 450 face to face hours practicum Monday thru Thursday 8 am – 5 pm in an agency setting. Field practicum allows the student opportunities to link and apply theories learned in the classroom in a structured and educationally directed environment.
At the close of the fall semester students are required to obtain liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000.00 or more prior to their first day of placement. Applications for liability insurance may be made through the National Association of Social Workers. Field practicum is completed in a semester; twelve (12) hour block. In addition to the required 450 hours Monday thru Thursday 8 am – 5 pm spent in the agency setting, students are required to attend and actively participate in the field seminar that meets every other week (Friday 8 am – 1 pm this schedule is subject to change).
Students are required to complete registration and payment of tuition prior to entering the practicum agency and to provide evidence of malpractice insurance. Each student is required to complete the 450-hour field practicum Monday thru Thursday 8 am – 5 pm. No EXCEPTIONS are made based on prior work experience. Academic credit for life experience and previous work experience shall not be given, in whole or in part, in place of the field practicum or of the courses in the professional foundation areas.
A student employed in a social service agency is strongly encouraged to complete the required face to face 450-hours Monday thru Thursday 8 am – 5pm field practicum in another approved agency. The field practicum agency must be approved by the university and program.