Practicum Education Resources

Learning so much about macro social work.

I’m doing a lot more than I thought I would be doing, I am getting to work with clients
hands on, which has been going really well. My work environment is very social work
informed and I feel safe and heard which is good.

How much I have learned. I have learned more in my placement then I have in any class

I knew that DFCS workers had a lot on their plate, but I didn’t realize the extent of what that meant; how many people have to be talked to (therapists, schools, doctors, etc), how involved each caseworker has to be in family lives, how they may have to travel across the state for some of their placements, etc.

I have been given the experience to directly work with clients to the Salvation Army. I
have learned so much about what resources are more beneficial and how social workers
are viewed in the organization.

I have been blown away by the amount of things I’ve learned in such a short amount of time. It seems like every single day I am learning an immeasurable amount of things that I would never have been able to learn at such a fast pace in the classroom.

the welcoming community

How close I have become with some clients and my fellow interns. It has introduced me to more people than I would have met in a regular classroom experience.

School of Social Work and my practicum (Advantage Behavioral Health Systems) have been incredibly supportive and sensitive to my concerns/needs

The range of clients that I have from different experiences and backgrounds.

How inclusive they were when I got there they were very open arms

I LOVE The Cottage, they really value interns and letting them experience face to face interaction with clients. They foster a strong learning environment and support when
needed. I feel very lucky to have been placed here because I feel like it has prepared me
very well to go into my master’s and or the career field. I have really enjoyed getting out of the classroom and working with clients.

The willingness of very busy case managers to help me learn and process difficult experiences

Yes! Learning what we don’t want to do in the future is just as helpful, if not more helpful,as realizing what we do want to do in the future. Placement has helped me understand what I struggle with and what I don’t enjoy, and through that, it has informed me of certain aspects of the work I do actually enjoy.

Somewhat. I have definitely learned several aspects of social work that I am *not* cut out for.

Absolutely, I could really see myself working in a CAC later in my career but it has also opened my eyes to the preventive work that is needed when it comes to children and families. So on one hand I have realized that working at a CAC is something I could do,
but it has also inspired me to work with larger communities in preventative work.

How does Sonia work? What are the expectations for timesheets, learning plans, etc.?

Will I enjoy this work? Will it burn me out?

What happens if I mess up?

Do I get to choose where I will be placed? Who will I report to? Will I be interacting with clients? Have I been prepared for this? What happens if I mess up with a client?

Is the practicum experience closely related to the professional experience but on a lesser-scale, or does it feel pretty similar to being a regular intern anywhere?

yes, I am allowed to go to any staff meeting/ training/ event the company offers

I have learned how to have appropriate body language when seeing clients in person and how to dress professionally.

I’ve been able to visit homes, schools, and ILPs (among other places) and talk with parents and children from many different backgrounds. I feel very lucky to be able to have these opportunities.