Online Master of Science in Social Administration Field Education Packet

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Welcome to Field Education at the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences! Thank you for choosing the Master of Science in Social Administration online program as the next step in your educational journey Field education is an important aspect of your overall learning experience. The activities and tasks that are completed as part of your field experience will bring life to the theories, interventions and critical thinking activities taught in the online course room. Your supervised field experience will provide you with an opportunity to apply evidence-based teachings to real-life social work experiences. The field experience builds on the Eight Abilities inherent to a professional social worker. As a student in the online program, you have the opportunity to begin field placement in conjunction with your first courses. From the very beginning of your time in the program, you will have the opportunity to apply the skills and techniques discussed in your classes to your field education setting in real-time. The Field Education Department is here to support you through every step of your journey! By the first day of class, each student will be assigned a Online Field Education Advisor. This Advisor will work closely with you and your Field Instructor located at your field education site to ensure you are having an enriching field education experience. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Online Field Education Department. I wait in full anticipation for that day when I can witness you crossing that stage at commencement and to congratulate you by saying, "Job well done!" Upward and onward,

LaShon N. Sawyer, Ph.D., LISW-S Associate Director, Online Field Education

FIELD EDUCATION FOR THE ONLINE MSSA PROGRAM

All of us in the Field Education Department are glad you have chosen the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences for your graduate social work education, and we’re committed to making the learning experience a powerful and transformative one. Field Education is where we apply and integrate theory, evidence based practice, our own unique talents, and the values and ethics of the profession to make social work come alive for us and for the clients and communities that we serve. Many social workers tell us that Field Education was one of the most powerful aspects of their education. It is an experience that lasts a lifetime! The field curriculum has been thoughtfully designed to allow you to develop your skills and competence, while carefully integrating your classroom and other learning experiences. Field Education constitutes a major investment by many players. Because we know just how important Field Education is to you, to our master’s curriculum, to our community agencies, and to the individuals, families, groups and organizations they serve, the field faculty and I are here to do all we can to partner with you in achieving your learning goals. Please let us know how we can help you take advantage of all of the educational opportunities available to you. We hope you will enjoy this exciting aspect of your professional education; that you’ll work hard and be challenged by it; and that when you graduate, you’ll have developed not only your knowledge and skills, but a professional social work identity. When that time comes, we’ll be proud to count you as one of our own. Field Education is an integral component of the social work curriculum here at Case Western Reserve University’s Online Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) program. It’s an opportunity for you to engage in supervised social work practice, directly apply classroom learning to real-life interactions and develop a social work identity in the area of practice you want to work in. It’s your chance to put what you’re learning into practice, by closing the textbook and working directly with individuals, families and communities. The purpose of Field Education is to:

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Acquire professional knowledge Integrate knowledge, skills and values Develop a professional identity Reflect values and ethics

HOW DOES FIELD EDUCATION WORK?

One of the benefits of the Online MSSA program is that it allows employed social workers to pursue a Master’s degree while maintaining full-time employment. The Mandel School allows students to complete their field education requirements at their place of employment. • Learning Contract: • Structured by the Eight Abilities • The student and field instructor mutually develop the field-related assignments • Collaboration Participation: • Field conference with the Field Instructor and Field Faculty Advisor • Evaluation: • Self Assessment • Field Instructor/Advisor Feedback • As an Online MSSA student you will be required to meet with your Field Instructor weekly for 60 or 90 minutes. • Field Placement ( Hours by Track ) Traditional ( Non-BSW ) Total Hours

Foundation Courses ( 1st Year )

Advanced Courses

Field Instructor Assessment

1050

4-6 hrs per week

8-10 hrs per week

60-90 mins per week

Advanced Standing ( BSW ) Total Hours

Advanced Courses

Field Instructor Assessment

900

8-10 hrs per week

60-90 mins per week

FIELD PLACEMENT

Your Field Placement site will be an opportunity for you to learn about the various specialized fields of social work. It’s the unique opportunity to work with senior-level social work leaders and develop a professional identity that can help you be successful in your future role. That’s why the online Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) program is dedicated to making the best field education curriculum possible. Your Field Placement is designed to: • provide graduate level social work students with field-related opportunities to develop competencies in the eight abilities • develop a social work identity • work effectively with diverse client populations and systems • incorporate a community-based perspective in all areas of practice • understand the organizational context of practice, including the dynamics of social and organizational change • apply and integrate coursework and field practice • consider and apply the values and ethics of the profession in every aspect of practice • develop a professional career as a lifelong learner

OBTAINING A FIELD PLACEMENT

Our dedicated staff of Mandel School Enrollment Advisors can help you secure the right placement to fit your future career goals. With a network of over 7,800 alumni in 50 states and 41 countries, we can help you find a placement in your local area in the specializations of Children, Youth, and Families (CYF), Mental Health with Adults (MH), and Community Practice for Social Change (CPSC). • If you’re already working in social services, you have the opportunity to choose your current place of employment as your field placement location. • If you’re not currently working in social services, you may consider volunteering with a non-profit, community-based program or government organization. Students and Field Faculty Advisors work collaboratively to identify and secure a field placement site based on your interests, goals and objectives for your social work career. Tips for Selecting a Field Placement:

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Find a placement that fits your needs and career goals Consider your passions and the population you most want to work with Think about the skills you want to develop Choose a placement that reflects your values and ethics

Explore Your Field Placement Possibilities:

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Social service and human services agencies Community based-organizations Community development corporations Neighborhood initiatives Community organizing and activism Government departments and political and policy roles Foundations and funding intermediaries Research centers and consulting firms

FIELD EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Traditional (non-BSW) applicants will not need to secure their Field placement prior to starting the MSSA program. Once you are enrolled in the program, your first course will include working with our Field Faculty advisors to secure your Field placement. Advanced Standing (BSW) applicants will be required to submit a Field Education plan prior to starting the program. Advanced Standing applicants will also be given a self-paced online resource, called SOFE, to help formulate the required field proposal. SOFE, along with our program field advisors, will help Advanced Standing applicants determine their field placement that best fits their schedule and interests.

Below are the materials you will need as part of your Field Education plan. †† Field Education Application †† Field Placement Site †† Field Instructor • Field Instructor Qualifications • A Master’s degree in Social Work (MSSA/MSW) from an accredited school of social work • Two years post-master’s social work experience • If required by the state licensure board, licensure at Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) level, license eligible at the LISW level or its equivalent for out-of-state Field Instructors

FIELD EDUCATION PROPOSAL CHECKLIST †† Completed Field Education Application †† Confirmed Field Placement Instructor †† Field Placement Instructor’s Resume †† Signed Field Agency Agreement Form

FIELD EDUCATION FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many hours will you work per week? You will be engaged in your Field Education activities for an average of 8-10 hours per week. These hours can include evenings and weekends if needed. How many hours will you complete TOTAL? Advanced Standing track students complete 900 hours, while those students on our Traditional track complete 1050 hours. When does my Field Education start? Advanced Standing students will begin their Field work immediately however Traditional students will begin their Field work in their second semester. What paperwork is required? For Advanced Standing applicants only, preliminary field information must be submitted with your application. You will also submit a signed Field Study Agreement, your Field Education Supervisor’s resume, and your Finalized Proposal prior to the Field Education deadline. All materials will be due 6 weeks prior to the first day of class. What are the requirements of my Field Education Supervisor? They must hold a master’s degree in social work (MSW or MSSA), along with two years of postgraduate experience. They cannot be a current supervisor. They can be located at your current facility, or perform their functions via webcam or Skype (i.e., work remotely). What is the Supervisor commitment? In addition to assisting you in finalizing your Proposal, they will also commit to meeting with you for 60 or 90 minutes each week, and attend a mandatory 1 hour webinar training session.

****Please note at no time will either you or your Field Education Supervisor be required to visit our campus in Cleveland, Ohio. However, we do welcome and encourage you to visit. We can arrange for you to tour the school and meet with our faculty and current on-campus students.