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Home > Bachelor Degree > Field Experience
Field Experience I and II (SCWK 4434 /4412 and 4444/4422) are courses social work majors take consecutively in their senior year once they have completed the pre- requisites. The field internship affords the student the opportunity, under the supervision of a licensed social worker, to gain valuable pre-professional practice experience in an agency setting. The weekly field seminar is a co-requisite designed to maximize the integration of theory with practice; classroom learning with agency experiences. Internship and Field Seminar, unlike other core social work courses, require that students submit an application requesting to enroll in the field sequence. The application process and checklist are included in the Appendices of this handbook. Your advisor will assist you in determining your eligibility for enrollment. If the necessary requirements for enrollment have been met, you will be instructed to download a BSW Field Manual, to complete the application contained therein, and to submit the application to the Field Coordinator (see BSW Field Manual for a "Field Application Form”). These preliminary steps are initiated by the student with consultation from the student’s advisor in the semester prior to the semester in which field courses will be taken. The BSW Field Manual is a comprehensive guide to the internship experience and will be used as a resource for both field semesters. A complete and current listing of potential agency placements, with descriptions of services offered and client populations served, is contained in the manual. Additional information is made available in field agency notebooks in the main office of the School of Social Work. Students are asked to review potential placements and to consider personal areas of practice interest. The Field Coordinator will assist the student in making a tentative placement choice during their meeting to review the completed field application. Because of the number of agency hours (220 per semester, 16-20 per week) and seminar hours (2 per week) required each field semester, students are urged to consult early and regularly with their advisors to develop a proposed course schedule that will minimize the number of hours taken concurrently with field. (see Appendix for Recommended Course Schedule). The following is a listing of agencies which currently participate in the BSW Field Program and brief comments on their services and client populations. Because not all participating agencies are able to accept interns every semester; the field coordinator will provide periodic placement updates. If a student is interested in an agency that is not listed, that option should be discussed with the field coordinator.
Area Agency on Aging A program designed to work with the elders in their own homes. An opportunity to do home visiting with elders and to work with families who are primary caregivers. Needs assessment, networking and referrals are some of the skills that students will gain experience in, along with an opportunity to gain knowledge about services for the elderly in this area. Arkansas Department of Human Services Division Children and Family Services This state agency practices preservation, protective and foster care services for abused and neglected children with and emphasis on family preservation. Opportunity for student to gain experience in evaluation of child abuse/neglect complaint investigations, case work with families, dependency and neglect court hearings, preparation of case records, reports and required forms, mobilizing community resources, participation in individual case staffings, use of authority. Placement offers experience in interviewing court referred cases and work on comfort level in dealing with mandated clientele plus setting is that of a large social service agency. Student stipends may be available. Butterfield Trail Village Butterfield Trail Village is a planned retirement community with various levels of living arrangements from independent living to 24 hour nursing care. This provides an Opportunity for students to work directly with the elderly citizens. Experience and exposure to advocacy, individual/ family support, group support/educational services plus mobilizing community services and case management. Child Safety Center The Center provides a safe and “child friendly” environment for providing information and evidence gathering in abuse cases in Northwest Arkansas. The Center receives referrals from the Division of Children and Family Services, law enforcement and other victim agencies. Children’s House Therapeutic day care program for children ages 18 months through five years who need protective support and therapeutic day care to overcome emotional and/or physical stress caused by family crisis situations. Opportunity for students to gain individual and classroom experience with children, outreach with parents, assessment and case planning, case recording, and work with community service agencies. Opportunity to gain knowledge and experience working with physical and sexual abuse cases. Circle of Life Hospice Circle of Life is a residential and community based Hospice, serving the direct physical and emotional needs of dying patients and emotional and social needs of their families. Students in this placement will work directly with hospice patients, individually and in family counseling. Group counseling focusing on grief with adults and children are available for friends and family members. Decision Point Residential facility providing comprehensive alcoholism treatment including alternate care setting, non-medical detoxification, residential care and aftercare. Opportunity for student to gain experience and exposure in beginning level individual and group counseling, mobilizing community resources, intake and social assessments, exercise of authority, participation in client staffings, alcoholics anonymous meetings Fayetteville City Hospital 35 bed hospital and long-term care facility, specializing in treatment of rehabilitation cases, and 104 bed geriatric center catering to specific needs of the elderly. Opportunity for students to gain experience in medical social work, individual and family casework, intakes and social assessments, mobilizing community resources, home health care, discharge planning, case recording, and in working in a host setting. Setting is excellent for comfort level and knowledge building in field of geriatrics. Fayetteville Public Schools A school unit has been set up through the Social Work Program’s IVE grant in order to provide services to children and families. Students are placed in one of the schools and work under the supervision of a licensed social worker in cooperation with the school counselor, teachers and other personnel. Case management, referrals, home visiting are some of the activities performed. Fayetteville Veterans Home A State run nursing home for veterans provides and opportunity for students to become familiar with working with elders in need of 24-hour care. Internship includes individual and group counseling, group activities management, medical setting and assessment. Headstart Comprehensive child development program and special services to pre-school (low income or handicapped) children. Opportunity for student to gain experience in individual and classroom experience with children, outreach with parents, assessment and case planning, case recording, mobilizing resources and work at a grassroots level in getting community involvement and support KIDS First (UAMS/AR Children’s Hospital) A comprehensive early intervention program for infants and young children who are at risk for developmental delays due to medical concerns. This program integrates medical, therapeutic and research components. The social worker works with other disciplines to provide services to the children and their families. Komen Foundation The Susan G. Komen Foundation is a local affiliate of the national organization that raises funds and awareness of breast cancer. The organization provides grants to local health providers. Students have opportunities to engage in fund raising activities coordination, grant application review, education services, volunteer coordination and resource development. Lifestyles Residential program for the developmentally disabled and mentally retarded adults. Provides opportunity for students to gain experience in individual case work/counseling, group work, teaching independent living skills, case management, exercise of authority and comfort level in working with the developmentally disabled. National Conference for Community and Justice This local affiliate of the national organization provides diversity education for the community in the form of workshops and awareness events. Additionally, in the summer they provide a week long youth camp that the summer intern would actively participate in. NW AR Crisis Intervention Center The Crisis Center, which began as a suicide hotline, provides an array of crisis-oriented services from public education, school based prevention projects to Critical Incident Stress Management and several hotlines. Students will receive hotline training and engage in telephone crisis intervention and referral service. Students may also get involved in other projects managed by the center. NW AR Workers Justice Center This legal advocacy organization focuses on workers rights in Northwest Arkansas poultry plants. They provide, legal services, individual support, workers rights education. Proficiency in Spanish is needed. Ozark Guidance (OG) Multiple experiences in multiple placement modalities as listed below: Assertive Community Treatment Children’s Day Treatment School-Based Mental Health Springhouse (adult day treatment) Habberton House (adolescent residential) Ozark Guidance is the Community Mental Health Center serving Northwest Arkansas. They provide a wide range of services including community based, adolescent residential, children and adolescent day treatment services and services for the chronically mentally ill. The various internship opportunities are listed below. OG – Assertive Community Treatment This program provides intensive case management for chronically mentally ill persons. This involves a team approach to supportive services and includes home visiting and a drop in center. OG – School-based Mental Health This program provides in school based mental health services. Undergraduate experiences includes home visiting as well, serving a supportive and case manager role. OG – Habberton House This is a residential treatment center for adolescents and includes a full service case management program. Undergraduate students work with a team of providers in case management as well as on unit supportive counseling services. Individual, family and group experiences are available OG – Springhouse This day treatment program serves chronically mentally ill persons in a casual, clubhouse model. Clients work to run the facility. Experiences include case management, individual support and group facilitation. Rogers Public Schools This school-based placement offers an opportunity for students to provide assessment, referral, home visiting as well as individual and group counseling and psychoeducational services in a school setting. St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital Social Service Department of St. Mary’s Hospital. Opportunity for student to gain experience in medical social work including intake, assessment and treatment planning, case recording, multi-disciplinary consultation and staffing, patient advocacy, discharge planning, mobilizing community resources. Seven Hills Homeless Shelter Seven Hills is a day program and limited living program for individuals without a home. Students gain experience in individual and group counseling, referral and educational services. This placement puts the student at the core of traditional social work and affords an opportunity to become familiar with resources in our community. St. Francis House This free medical and dental clinic provides services to low-income families. Many families utilizing this service are Hispanic families who have recently relocated to the Northwest Arkansas area. Intake, assessment, referral and educational services. Bi Lingual student preferred Vista Health Students in this placement will have a variety of opportunities, depending on interest, readiness, experience, and current staff availability. Experiences include possible rotation between the adult, adolescent and children’s inpatient psychiatric units for graduate students and opportunities for school-based mental health for both graduates and undergraduates. . In this setting the student will conduct assessments, attend staffing, develop treatment plans and conduct individual, group and family therapy and provide case management services Washington County Juvenile Detention Center Secure detention facility for preadjudicated, adujudicated and FINS youth. Social work department provides assessment, referral, crisis intervention, advocacy and staff training. Experiences include individual and group counseling, court attendance and liaison with court staff. Washington County Prosecutor Office: Victims Assistance Program This program provides social and financial support for victim of crime. Social work students have an opportunity to work in a legal setting providing assessment, referral, case management, individual and family support. Washington Regional Medical Center Multiple Placements for graduate and undergraduate students Washington Regional Medical Center This general hospital offers and experience in medical social work with numerous populations within the hospital. This includes individual and family support, assessment, discharge/case planning, case management and referral. Washington Regional Home Health (W.R.) Home health is focused on home-based medical and social support services primarily for adults. Students can gain experience in assessment, referral, individual and family supportive counseling. Washington Regional Hospice Hospice provides in home services for patients with a terminal diagnosis. Experiences include assessment, intervention planning, supportive and grief counseling for individuals and families. Some group work with grief is possible as well. Washington Regional: Generations Generations provides inpatient psychiatric services for adults over the age of 55. Experience include assessment, diagnostics, individual and group counseling, and work with a multidisciplinary team. Family support and case planning. Youthbridge Community based youth service program providing comprehensive services to youth ages 8-19 and their families, including emergency shelter, short and long term foster care, group home care, non-residential counseling for youth and their parents, after care for youth returning from the state training schools and recreational/ socialization activities. Opportunity for student to gain a wide variety of experience in youth work, intake, assessment and case planning, staffing, group activities with adolescents, individual and group counseling, direct advocacy. A variety of experiences of special interest to those students interested in youth work Revised September 29, 2006 |
Academic Student Support Building 106, School of Social Work, University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 • 479-575-5039
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701 • 479-575-5039