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.

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.

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?

Sonia is a database used to collect student and internship details, and provide easy interaction for students and agencies. Before your placement, you will use Sonia to upload your resume, apply to a placement, view your match, accept an internship offer, and submit the necessary documentation for professional liability insurance. During your placement, you will use it to complete required forms (Learning Plan, Risk Reduction, and Evaluations) and enter your time sheet for approval by your faculty instructor and liaison.

Overall, BSW students have been satisfied with their placement. Students are gaining hands-on experience that complements their classroom content and are creating a community of support throughout the process. The practicum experience can feel taxing at times, which can lead to burnout especially if your placement is informing you of something you may not want to do in the future. Anyone experiencing burnout has a wealth of resources, specifically in the SOWK5846 Integrative Seminar class. This class meets weekly and is a wonderful place to meet with fellow social work students and discuss burnout and process your practicum experience.

Messing up is not a matter of if, but when; and that is totally okay! The practicum experience is characterized by growth of both the professional and academic identity. This means that we are faced with challenges, new ideas, setbacks, and sometimes failure. This is actually where growth happens. This is also why the systems set in place for supervision are there to act as a safeguard for students so that when we do “mess up”, we have someone we can look to for guidance and professional wisdom. You should find throughout your practicum placement that failure is a great opportunity to do a self-audit of sorts and identify any areas of weakness that could be strengthened with the help of supervision.

While students do not get the final say over where they are placed for practicum education, they are able to submit an application in which they can list the populations they would like to serve and what kind of social work they want to gain experience in. This can span from working with children and families, to working with the aging population and from clinical social work to macro social work as well. Students aren’t guaranteed to get placed with a specific agency, but the practicum office works to ensure that students are placed at an agency that aligns with what they showed interest in via the application. During the practicum experience, students will primarily report to their practicum instructor (the individual with an MSW who will be supervising the student at the agency), and the practicum liaison (the instructor for the Integrative Seminar Course).

Students should be interacting with clients on a consistent basis in their field placement, however the degree to which students will be interacting with clients is dependent on their agency. Additionally, the specific preparation that students need before interacting with the clients they are serving is up to the agency to provide. Your practicum instructor should inform you of the policies, guidelines, and proceedings as it pertains to relationships with clients and how to conduct yourself in a manner compliant with the stated purposes of the organization.

The practicum experience feels pretty similar to being a regular intern, but with a stronger focus on learning and supervision. The BSW practicum experience is designed to mirror real professional work. You’re doing many of the same tasks (working with clients, advocating, connecting people to resources), but just on a smaller scale and with more guidance and supervision opportunities.