5 Core Principles
Principle 1
Prioritize intentional action over standard logistics
Order of persons the student should turn to for assistance (4)
1. Supervisor; 2. Practicum Faculty Adviser; 3. Associate Director / Director of Practicum Learning; 4.Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Basic requirements
30 hours/week at agency site, including short daily breaks (recommended 30 minutes), at a minimum of 4 days/ week, for a total of 960 hours in agency from roughly start of September-end of April
How many breaks and dates for them
Fall Break: November 28 & 29
Winter Break: December 20 to January 6
2. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues (10)
2.01 Respect
2.02 Confidentiality
2.03 Interdisciplinary Collaboration
2.04 Disputes Involving Colleagues
2.05 Consultation
2.06 Sexual Relationships
2.07 Sexual Harassment
2.08 Impairment of Colleagues
2.09 Incompetence of Colleagues
2.10 Unethical Conduct of Colleagues
Principle 2
Ensure accountability at the individual, program and institutional levels and that there are meaningful processes for repair and reconciliation:
Agency Safety on Staffing Weapons, Drugs and Alcohol
Staffing plan (students should never be alone in the agency with clients); and posting of a policy regarding provision of services to clients who carry or have guns and weapons, if appropriate; Formulation and posting of a policy regarding provision of services to clients who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Start and end date of Internship
For the 2024-2025 internship year, the start of Practicum is September 6th, 2023, and the last day of Practicum will be April 26th, 2024.
Time student can take off from internship without need to be made up
Students may take up to 8 days/60hrs off from practicum for any reason, including medical appointments, important self-care, mental health days, and in response to ongoing stress and/or trauma in the environment. These 8 days/60hrs do not need to be made up.
3. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities in Practice Settings (10)
3.01 Supervision and Consultation
3.02 Education and Training
3.03 Performance Evaluation
3.04 Client Records
3.05 Billing
3.06 Client Transfer
3.07 Administration
3.08 Continuing Education and Staff Development
3.09 Commitments to Employers
3.10 Labor–Management Disputes
Principle 3
Center communities that have been marginalized for their strength, knowledge and beauty
Agency Safety about Building and office security, emergency procedures, and when working with agitated clients
Building and office security; Agency protocols regarding emergency procedures; Safety plan when working with agitated clients, including the use of signal or code word to initiate help, de-escalation techniques, use of police or security, and evacuation
What is the 1st year practicum seminar
The course is taught by a faculty adviser and meets for 10 sessions (one evening for 2 hrs/month; meets twice in October and January) in virtual classrooms.
Who should be notified and when, if taking any of those 8 days?
In using these days, students must notify clinical supervisor and practicum faculty advisor (with as much notice as possible)
4. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities as Professionals (8)
4.01 Competence
4.02 Discrimination
4.03 Private Conduct
4.04 Dishonesty, Fraud, and Deception
4.05 Impairment
4.06 Misrepresentation
4.07 Solicitations
4.08 Acknowledging Credit
Principle 4
Ensure that Black faculty and staff and faculty and staff of color are hired and retained at all levels of power in the organization:
Policy on Security of Belongings
All students are expected to have a secure place to keep bags and other belongings while at their internship. It is preferable that the space be one that can be locked, and could be in a desk drawer or filing cabinet. It is best not to leave bags and other personal articles visible and unattended, even in an office with the door closed.
Practicum Assignments to PFA
Monthly narratives (one/month at internship - 8 total)
Structural assessment paper, “Understanding Your Agency”
Clinical Issue Paper
What is not allowed to be done with those 8 days?
Students are not permitted to take the full 8 days consecutively unless they’ve received the explicit approval from their clinical supervisor. Students are not permitted to “save” or “bank” this time off. (e.g. two weeks in a row away from placement)
5. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to the Social Work Profession (2)
5.01 Integrity of the Profession
5.02 Evaluation and Research
Principle 5
Stay open to and actively engage with change
Name 3out of the 6 Prohibited Student Activities
1. Physical restraint of clients;
2. Providing client care at the agency at times when there are no other staff present;
3. Distribution, administer, and/or delivering medication;
4. Transportation of a client with recent history of violent behavior;
5. Clinical responsibility for extremely high risk clients without regular supervisory review;
6. Any activities beyond the scope of social work practice.
What goes into the 1st Year Learning Plan
Student completes all sections and brings draft to discuss together with supervisor. Supervisor and student make edits/additions as necessary and both individually sign and submit the Learning Plan from their Sonia accounts. PFA reviews and signs.
How many days for Conferences and SSW Committee Days?
Students may take up to three days during the internship year for attendance at conferences (at student or agency’s expense) and/or SSW committee work days, such as Curriculum Day.
6. Social Workers' Ethical Responsibilities to the Broader Society (4)
6.01 Social Welfare
6.02 Public Participation
6.03 Public Emergencies
6.04 Social and Political Action