Students in the first year of placement are expected to learn psychosocial assessment skills, clinical interviewing skills, case-management skills, advocacy, and the use of supervision. Students also begin to understand the organizational issues affecting the social work role and the service delivery system in a particular agency or unit. Students learn to evaluate the socioeconomic, political, racial and cultural factors that impact client problems and social work interventions. The development of self-awareness and professional values, and the ability to begin to evaluate one's own practice, are key learning goals.
There are a wide range of agencies and client populations available for the Foundation Year I Internship. Child and family focused agencies include schools, child-welfare programs, early-intervention programs, and family outreach services, among others. Adult agencies include aging services, inpatient and day-treatment programs for mentally ill and dually diagnosed clients, and some medical social work settings. Depending on their field placement agency, students provide direct service to individuals, groups, families, or treatment teams. Supervision is provided by experienced master's-level social workers. All students work closely with a faculty adviser regarding academic and field learning.
For more information about the SSW Field Education Program, please email Director Associate Professor Suzanne Sankar, or call 617-521-3946.
Downloads
- Field Education Manual
- Year I Evaluation Form
- Year II Evaluation Form
- Year I Learning Plan
- Year II Learning Plan
- Clinical Practice Syllabus
- Advanced Clinical Practice Syllabus
