Bachelor of Social Work Field Manual

Behavior(s):

• Make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics within the profession as appropriate to the context.
• Demonstrate professional behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication.
• Use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes.
• Use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.

Behavior(s):

• Advocate for human rights at the individual, family, group, organizational, and community system levels.
• Engage in practices that advance human rights to promote social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Behavior(s):

• Demonstrate anti-racist and anti-oppressive social work practice at the individual, family, group, organizational, community, research, and policy levels.
• Demonstrate cultural humility by applying critical reflection, self-awareness, and self- regulation to manage the influence of bias, power, privilege, and values in working with clients and constituencies, acknowledging them as experts of their own lived experiences.

Behavior(s):

• Apply research findings to inform and improve practice, policy, and programs.
• Identify ethical, culturally informed, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive strategies that address inherent biases for use in quantitative and qualitative research methods to advance the purposes of social work.

Behavior(s):

• Use social justice, anti-racist, and anti-oppressive lenses to assess how social welfare policies affect the delivery of and access to social services.
• Apply critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Behavior(s):

• Apply knowledge of human behavior and person-in-environment, as well as interprofessional conceptual frameworks, to engage with clients and constituencies.
• Use empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to engage in culturally responsive practice with clients and constituencies.

Behavior(s):

• Apply theories of human behavior and person-in-environment, as well as other culturally responsive and interprofessional conceptual frameworks, when assessing clients and constituencies,
• Demonstrate respect for client self-determination during the assessment process by collaborating with clients and constituencies in developing a mutually agreed-upon plan.

Behavior(s):

• Engage with clients and constituencies to critically choose and implement culturally responsive, evidence-informed interventions to achieve client and constituency goals.
• Incorporate culturally responsive methods to negotiate, mediate, and advocate with and on behalf of clients and constituencies.

Behavior(s):

• Select and use culturally responsive methods for evaluation of outcomes.
• Critically analyze outcomes and apply evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

The Program Director provides leadership to all aspects of the BSW program operations on their respective campus.

The Director of Field Education serves as the statewide coordinator responsible for oversight of all practicum functions and all aspects of practicum instruction.

The Assistant Director of Practicum Education provides system-wide leadership in practicum education across both BSW and MSW programs. Reporting to the Director of Field Education, this position supports the implementation, consistency, and quality of practicum instruction, tools, and processes across all IUSSW campuses and learning formats.

Practicum Education Coordinators provide administrative support for all aspects of practicum education within their specific program and/or assigned curriculum. Practicum Education Coordinators have primary responsibility for recruiting and assessing practicum placement agencies and Practicum Instructors, engaging students in the practicum planning process to identify and place students in appropriate sites. Practicum Education Coordinators often act as consultants to Faculty Practicum Liaisons, Practicum Instructors, agency directors, and students in resolving practicum difficulties. 

The Agency-Based Practicum Instructor provides practicum instruction and educational supervision to the student at their placement site. The Practicum Instructor also evaluates the student performance and level of competency. 

An External Practicum Instructor provides educational supervision to the practicum student when there is not an Agency-Based Practicum Instructor available. This position carries the same responsibilities as an Agency-Based Practicum Instructor and also consults regularly with the Task Instructor. 

In some placement sites, there is an agency Task Instructor. This person may be one of the following:

• Day to day supervisor for the student when there is an external Practicum Instructor.
• Staff member assisting the Practicum Instructor by supervising students’ day-to-day service delivery.

The Faculty Practicum Liaison provides consultation to Practicum Instructors and students to ensure integration between classroom and practicum. The Faculty Practicum Liaison is in a strategic position to enhance communication regarding curriculum matters, practicum learning opportunities, new developments and demands of practice, and new projects undertaken by the School of Social Work. The Faculty Practicum Liaison is the professor for the seminars, conducts site visits with the student and agency representatives, and determines the student’s final grade.

Consistent with the mission and vision of the BSW program, the BSW Curriculum Committee is responsible for providing the conceptualization and implementation of the BSW curriculum implemented on all campuses. As it relates to practicum instruction, the Director of Field Education provides educational leadership and oversees the quality of the practicum curriculum and its implementation at all campuses.

The BSW program assumes the following responsibilities to assure quality practicum experiences for students:

1. Recommends and assigns students for placement and provides relevant information regarding students to practicum sites.
2. Implements practicum assessment methods.
3. Provides orientation meetings for both students and Practicum Instructors to review curriculum and practicum expectations.
4. Disseminates information, evaluation forms, and other relevant materials for the practicum experience to participating students and site personnel involved in practicum education.
5. Provides social work professional liability insurance coverage to all qualified students registered in a practicum course.
6. Assigns a Faculty Practicum Liaison who will engage and communicate with the site through site contacts, monitors and approves the Draft Learning Plan, Learning Plan, Midpoint Evaluation, and Final Evaluation, maintains a productive working relationship with the student and Practicum Instructor, and evaluates the student’s performance, learning opportunities, and quality of practicum instruction.
7. Determines whether a student is demonstrating the designated competencies and behaviors through the assessments of the Faculty Practicum Liaison and the Practicum Instructor.
8. Assures that it will not discriminate against any individual including, but not limited to, employees or applicants for employment and/or students, because of race, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status.

Multiple roles are involved in the personnel of the BSW program to fulfill the above responsibilities. These include the BSW Program Director, IUSSW Director of Field Education, Assistant Director of Practicum Education, Practicum Education Coordinator, and Faculty Practicum Liaison.

There is a designated BSW Program Director on each of the IU campuses which offer the BSW program. Responsibilities for this position, as they relate to the practicum education curriculum, are to:

1. Collaborate with the Director of Field Education and Practicum Education Coordinator(s) to assure the overall quality of the practicum education program. Overall quality includes meeting accreditation standards and adherence to all relevant IUSSW policies and procedures.
2. Collaborate with the Director of Field Education and other program directors to address common practicum-related issues and make recommendations.
3. Collaborate with the Director of Field Education and other program directors to support the organization, planning, and implementation of practicum policies, procedures, standards, and protocols.
4. Collaborate with the Director of Field Education and other program directors to support the Educational Assessment in developing and implementing assessment mechanisms to evaluate the outcomes of practicum instruction.
5. Support and provide assistance, as needed, to Practicum Education Coordinator(s) in carrying out delegated responsibilities and securing necessary resources on respective campuses.
6. Provide consultation as needed to Practicum Education Coordinator(s) and Director of Field Education.
7. Link appropriate faculty to service requests from agencies (such as seminars, in-service education, research, or program development and/or evaluation).

The responsibilities of the Director of Field Education include but are not limited to:

1. Provide leadership to assure the overall quality of practicum education. Overall quality includes meeting accreditation standards and adherence to all relevant IUSSW policies and procedures.
2. Review, approve, and assure currency of Affiliation Agreements from all agencies within which IUSSW students are placed for practicum at the BSW and MSW levels.
3. Maintain contact with legal and other relevant authorities of Indiana University to assure currency of language in Affiliation Agreements.
4. Manage the processes for professional liability insurance in Practicum Education for students and faculty.
5. Serve as Chair of System-wide Practicum Education Team meeting.
6. Serve on relevant school and university committees and participate in relevant professional organizations’ work.
7. Advocate for the role of practicum education at IUSSW.
8. Collaborate with the program directors to support the Educational Assessment in developing and implementing assessment mechanisms, to evaluate the outcomes of practicum education instruction.
9. In collaboration with Practicum Education Coordinators, establish processes and procedures to document the adequacy of a practicum site before an Affiliation Agreement is finalized.
10. In collaboration with Practicum Education Coordinators, design, implement, and maintain a Practicum Instructor training curriculum for use statewide.
11. In collaboration with Practicum Education Coordinators, establish processes and procedures to determine student readiness for practicum.
12. In collaboration with Practicum Education Coordinators, establish processes and procedures for the placement of students.
13. In collaboration with Practicum Education Coordinators, develop, revise, and maintain practicum education manuals.
14. Serve as the supervisor for all Practicum Education Team members and oversee personnel management of the Practicum Education Team.
15. Approve the hiring of External Practicum Instructors for each campus and program.
16. Facilitate communication and working relations among the Practicum Education Coordinators on respective campuses.

The responsibilities of the Assistant Director of Practicum Education include but are not limited to:

1. Supporting the recruitment and hiring of Faculty Practicum Liaisons.
2. Conduct orientation for new Faculty Practicum Liaisons and providing ongoing training and support for all Liaisons.
3. Training and supporting Practicum Education Coordinators.
4. Contributes to the development of practicum education tools, resources, and processes for use across campuses.
5. Supports problem-solving in collaboration with Practicum Education Coordinators and staff to ensure consistent implementation of practicum education practices with the CSWE standards.

Each campus has one or more designated Practicum Education Coordinator(s). The responsibilities of the Practicum Education Coordinator(s) are to:

1. Recruit, assess, and recommend practicum sites and Practicum /Task Instructors.
2. Plan and implement Practicum Instructor trainings, using the adopted School curriculum for such trainings, collaborating as necessary with directors and Practicum Education Coordinators.
3. Provide information to students regarding practicum placement opportunities consistent with core coursework.
4. Engage students in the practicum planning process and place students in specific practicum sites.
5. Plan and implement orientation sessions for students entering into practicum.
6. Provide relevant student information, via written and verbal communication, to Faculty Practicum Liaisons and Practicum Instructors prior to the beginning of the practicum.
7. Review and approve student employment-based petitions.
8. Review student petitions relating to placement exceptions (e.g., duplication of Practicum Instructor/practicum instruction agency) and make recommendations for exceptions to the Director of Field Education and respective BSW Program Director.
9. When necessary and appropriate, assist Faculty Practicum Liaisons, Practicum Instructors, and students in preventing and resolving practicum related difficulties.
10. Coordinate practicum activities with student services activities on their respective campuses or statewide, if necessary (for example, orientations and special events).
11. Collaborate with the BSW Curriculum Committee, Program Director, Director of Field Education, and the Associate Dean of IUSSW in the development and implementation of practicum instruction, evaluation instruments, and in the compilation of evaluative reports.
12. Contribute to ongoing review and update of practicum instruction manuals, forms, website, and other relevant informational media.
13. Perform related assignments as deemed necessary by the Dean or Associate Dean of the IUSSW, for reaffirmation of accreditation of the school’s programs and to ensure that, the quality of practicum instruction meets the standards of the Council on Social Work Education.
14. Maintain, in collaboration with practicum support staff, student field files, databases, and records of communication.

The Faculty Practicum Liaison is a faculty role designed to facilitate integration between the academic and practicum curriculum. The Faculty Practicum Liaison is assigned as the instructor of the practicum seminar, which is designed to integrate coursework and practicum education.

The responsibilities of the Faculty Practicum Liaison are to:

1. Complete required IU and IU School of Social Work online and/or in-person trainings.
2. Attend Faculty meetings as needed to maintain communication with the department, plan for the year, review practicum education policies and updates, and discuss success and challenges.
3. Co-facilitate required student practicum pre-orientation and/or formal orientation.
4. Follow provided course syllabus and develop Canvas course sites.
5. Schedule and facilitate required seminars.
6. Assign, provide instructions for, and grade seminar assignments as applicable.
7. Review, provide feedback, and approve Draft Learning Plan and Learning Plan forms.
8. Monitor completion and content of weekly Supervision Records as applicable.
9. Review Midpoint Evaluation and Final Evaluation forms to address and problem-solve areas for improvement and to calculate passing score and final course grade.
10. Monitor student attendance status in the seminar and practicum setting.
11. Monitor timesheets in Sonia to adhere to policy guidelines regarding number of hours completed per week and breakdown of direct/indirect practice.
12. Monitor to ensure students receive a minimum of one hour of supervision weekly by assigned Practicum Instructor.
13. Complete mid- and end-of-semester Sonia forms and timesheet audit to ensure all requirements are completed and approved.
14. Schedule and attend required site visits for each student. Document site visit feedback in students’ Sonia profile utilizing the Site Visit Feedback Form.
15. Monitor students’ performance within their practicum by maintaining ongoing timely communication with students and Practicum Instructors.
16. Professionally and proactively respond to students and agencies in a timely manner.
17. Respond to requests for or request additional student agency meetings to problem-solve and resolve issues of concern to support and advocate for students and agencies.
18. Monitor quality, effectiveness, and appropriateness of each practicum placement and assist with placement changes as needed.
19. Assist in identifying resources including new agency sites and External Practicum Instructors.
20. Create, implement, and monitor performance improvement plan(s) when necessary.
21. Attend Student Review Meetings to resolve significant student performance issues.
22. Respond to direction and requests of Practicum Education Coordinator, Assistant Director of Practicum Education, Director of Field Education, and/or Program Director.
23. Provide consultation to Practicum Instructors about the BSW curriculum and the educational planning for assessment of student mastery of core competencies.
24. Submit final grade to Registrar.

Practicum education at the baccalaureate level is a collaborative endeavor between the BSW program and community agencies in the education of students for generalist social work practice. Through appropriate learning experiences at the site, students have the opportunity to apply knowledge as well as acquire professional skills useful in working with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. At the same time, students contribute to the delivery of services and share their classroom learning with the staff.

Given the importance placed upon practicum coursework, the BSW program sets the following criteria for agency participation:

• Sites used for practicum education maintain social welfare service as a recognized function of the agency or have planning, coordinating, and/or advocacy activities relevant to providing or improving human services.
• Sites should have identification with the purpose, program, and professional standards of appropriate accrediting bodies, where such bodies exist.
• Board of directors and the site’s executive officer must be in full accord with the use of the agency for education of students from the BSW program.
• Agency’s mission, values, programs, and services align with the social work profession.
• Sites have a clear role in their community, provide services that enhance it, and are a collaborator by nature.
• Sites are able to meet the educational competencies of the social work practicum education program, provide learning experiences for the student to work with diverse populations and in all client systems (individual, families, groups, community, and organization).
• The site should be able to provide a range of learning experiences consistent with the service functions of the site, the students’ learning needs, and the demonstration of the CSWE core competencies.
• Practicum sites should include opportunities to integrate and consolidate learning from all areas of the curriculum and to develop relevant skills for bachelor’s level practice. If a site is not able to provide full practice experiences, the student will be required to have these experiences in other ways with the assistance and direction of the Practicum Instructor.
• Meet the Practicum Instructor qualifications, the student does not supplant a staff member but instead enhances the work and there are the physical supports and resources available to the student.
• Sites are expected to provide the student with adequate physical facilities (desk, chair, telephone, private interviewing space, etc.), and sufficient technology to accomplish assigned tasks. For example, if a student is expected to electronically document a medical record, then a student would need computer access.
• Agencies assure that they will not discriminate against any individual including, but not limited to,
• employees or applicants for employment and/or students, because of race, religion, ethnic or national
• origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status.
• Agencies should support the Practicum Instructor by adjusting the workload in order to supervise and teach students, review, approve and prepare forms and reports for the BSW program on students’ progress, attend periodic practicum education meetings, and confer, as needed, with the appropriate BSW program faculty and staff.
• Site policies and practices should stimulate the professional growth of its workers and encourage staff membership and participation in appropriate professional organizations.

The following represent Indiana University School of Social Work site policies:

• The site is encouraged to reimburse students for expenses incurred to complete the practicum at their site and while providing service to agency clients. For example, parking, background checks, health screenings, mileage, and travel reimbursement, etc.
• A signed active Affiliation Agreement must be on file with the School of Social Work before a student can begin their practicum with an agency.
• IUSSW does not offer simulations to supplement the practicum education experience. All of a student’s hours in practicum are within an assigned site working with or on behalf of the site’s client system.

Practicum Education Coordinators draw from a pool of agencies to place students according to their interests and the requirements of generalist practice. The following procedures describe how the practicum team selects sites for this pool.

The initial step in selecting practicum settings is the Practicum Education Coordinators identify organizations in their communities or the communities that the students reside which may be prospective sites to host our students. Or organizations contact the practicum office directly as they are interested in hosting a BSW student and the appropriate Practicum Education Coordinator responds to this agency’s interest.

The second step is for a practicum representative to schedule a meeting with site directors, program supervisors, or the proposed Practicum Instructor. The purpose of the initial meeting is to ascertain the agency’s purpose/philosophy and goodness of fit with the IUSSW BSW program mission, goals, and competencies. The explicit criteria and policies that agencies must meet are explained above. These include a commitment by the agency to social work professional values, ethics, and practice principles; time relegated to staff members for practicum instruction; capacity to provide the range of learning experiences consistent with generalist practice across systems and the BSW program competencies; commitment to diversity and adherence to nondiscrimination standards and practices; adequate physical facilities to accommodate a student or students; and, a willingness to cover essential expenses incurred with hosting a student in placement.

Also, during this step the practicum representative will schedule subsequent meetings to follow-up on individual aspects of the criteria to host a BSW practicum student. The assessment of the potential practicum site is documented by the practicum representative in the Criteria Checklist for Selection of Practicum Settings. This form is uploaded into Sonia and the practicum representative indicates whether the site is approved or unapproved as a practicum site.

The responsibilities of practicum sites are further articulated in the Agency Affiliation Agreement, which is signed by the agency administrator with legal responsibility for such agreements (CEO, Executive Director, or other designated individual with such authority), the IUSSW Director of Field Education, and the Deputy General Counsel of Indiana University. The IUSSW uses a standard Affiliation Agreement for each of its agencies ensuring that the school’s criteria are satisfied to assure compliance with accreditation standards. In the cases where practicum sites request edits to the agreement, the Director of Field Education works in conjunction with the Office of the General Counsel to review, negotiate and approve edits, again ensuring that it is in compliance with the accreditation standards. A current Affiliation Agreement is in place before a student is able to begin their practicum at a site. The fully executed Affiliation Agreements are documented and stored at the Indiana University Office of the Vice President and General Counsel as well as with IUSSW in Sonia.

During the agency screening process, Practicum Education Coordinators will determine the goodness of fit of the agency with student learning needs and general practice interests (mental health, children, aging, etc.). These will be documented in the practicum sites profile in Sonia, so that all Practicum Education Coordinators, agency personnel, students and liaisons have access to this information.

While the selection of the Practicum Instructor involves collaboration between the agency and the BSW program, the final appointment remains with the BSW program. In addition, the Practicum Education Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the work of Practicum Instructors, to determine ongoing compliance with the practicum education policies.

The following criteria have been established to ensure appropriate Practicum Instructor selection:

1. The individual appointed as Practicum Instructor for S481 Social Work Practicum I and S482 Social Work Practicum II, will have: (1) a MSW from a CSWE accredited social work program, with a minimum of two years’ post-MSW social work practice experience or (2) a BSW from a CSWE accredited social work program and a minimum of two years post-BSW social work practice experience.
2. The assigned agency-based Practicum Instructor is responsible for providing a generalist social work focus to the practicum experience and for assisting the Task Instructor with teaching when appropriate.
3. This individual should have knowledge of and conviction about the school’s mission and the BSW program mission, goals, and objectives, and a commitment to the education of undergraduate students and practice with at-risk populations.
4. The individual must be ready to assume a teaching role, which includes the ability to 1) link theory to practice, 2) develop and structure learning experiences which take into account individual student learning needs and patterns, 3) assist the student in expanding knowledge beyond the scope of the practicum setting, 4) aid the student in the reflection processes of professional supervision, 5) provide feedback and suggestions to enhance the student’s learning, and 6) evaluate and document the student’s performance.
5. This individual should have the ability to objectively handle disagreements and conflicts that may arise between the site and the student(s).
6. The Practicum Instructor should be willing to devote sufficient time to carry the responsibilities of practicum instruction and to work closely with the BSW program. This work includes weekly supervision with the student(s), review, preparation, and approval of assessments and evaluations for the BSW program on students’ progress; attendance at periodic BSW program meetings with other Practicum Instructors and faculty.

Social work students are expected to adhere to the standards and ethics of the (2021) National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics and the standards of the Council on Social Work Education. Prior to beginning practicum placement courses (S481 and S482), students are expected to review the entire NASW (2021) Code of Ethics in preparation for ethical practice and review/submit the Code of Conduct Form indicating an understanding of and commitment to adhering to the Code. Ethical violations during practicum can result in discontinuation of practicum placement and/or failure of the course. In addition, ethical violations can result in possible legal/civil actions apart from university consequences.

When students begin their practicum placements or are involved in any other activities in which they have direct client contact, they must accept the responsibilities of a practicing professional. This professional practice includes adherence to the principles of confidentiality. The following statements are designed to protect client anonymity, and to assist students in knowing how to handle privileged information responsibly. Students should review the NASW Code of Ethics section on Confidentiality and Privacy.

• Students must become familiar with and follow confidentiality policies of the sites in which they are placed or in which they have client contact.
• No identifying information regarding specific clients, their families and/or other significant persons is to be revealed outside of the agency. Within coursework, students will use pseudonyms or third person references in all oral presentations and written assignments (process recordings, supervision records, case studies, etc.). No client information or situations should be shared in any courses outside the School of Social Work.
• Identifying information includes names, addresses, telephone numbers, and any background information by which clients might be identified.
• For community or professional presentation or for written material distributed outside of a class, students must alter case information to eliminate identifying information.
• Students are responsible for the protection of any professional information or records they might have in their possession.
• Students should not remove records containing privileged information from their placement site.
• When in doubt about the integrity of any confidentiality issue or practice, students should feel free to seek consultation and advice from their Practicum Instructor, Faculty Practicum Liaison, or Practicum Education Coordinator.

IUSSW adheres to pertinent standards in the NASW Code of Ethics concerning dual relationships and conflicts of interest. In addition, in practicum instruction, dual relationships may occur when a Practicum Education Coordinator, Practicum Instructor, or Faculty Practicum Liaison maintains a relationship with a student(s) in more than one area, whether it is professional, in the classroom, or social. Dual or multiple relationships can occur consecutively. For example, a previous social work course instructor may now be the Practicum Instructor for a student in the site where they work full time. In such a case, the student and the Practicum Instructor need to discuss the relationship and clarify boundaries as per Standard 3.02(d) below.

• Standard 1.06(a) Social Workers should be alert to and avoid conflicts of interest that interfere with the exercise of professional discretion and impartial judgment.
• Standard 1.06(c) Social Workers should not engage in dual or multiple relationships with clients or former clients in which there is a risk of exploitation or potential harm to the clients.
• Standard 3.02(d) Social Workers who function as educators or practicum educators for students should not engage in any dual or multiple relationships with students in which there is risk of exploitation or potential harm to the student. Social Work educators and Practicum Instructors are responsible for setting clear, appropriate, and culturally sensitive boundaries. (NASW, 2021).
• If in any aspect of practicum education, the potential of a dual relationship exists, the student or Practicum Instructor should notify the Faculty Field Liaison, Practicum Education Coordinator, or the BSW Field Director.

The Practicum Education Coordinators conduct information sessions in junior year classes or at a time and place that is convenient for students and provide an overview of practicum requirements and the placement process. The Practicum Education Coordinators also instruct the students to complete their pre-placement forms and upload their resume into Sonia. Once students submit their pre-placement required forms and resume, the coordinators meet with each student individually in the spring of their junior year to begin discussion about different placement options. The attention given to students in their junior year to identify the optimal practicum opportunity is considered essential to successful placements. An optimal practicum placement is one that matches well with students’ interests and learning needs. After an appropriate placement is identified, students interview with agency personnel at the site. Once a placement has been confirmed by the agency, the IUSSW Student and Site Placement Agreement form is completed in Sonia.

When the matching process is complete, students and Practicum Instructors are assigned to a Faculty Practicum Liaison. The liaison has a responsibility to oversee their students’ learning in the practicum site, conduct integrative seminar classes thus maintaining regular contact with assigned students, and provide guidance for student activities in practicum. Faculty Practicum Liaisons also visit each practicum site for individualized meetings with students and Practicum Instructors. Practicum Education Coordinators have the responsibility to assist Faculty Practicum Liaisons, Practicum Instructors, and students in preventing and resolving practicum related difficulties.

It is imperative that students are prepared for practice experience through coursework before they begin their practicum. Students must have taken or be currently enrolled in the appropriate practice classes at the time of their practicum.

Students must have completed S102, S141, S221, S251, S322, S331, S332, S352, and S371courses before beginning practicum. Students enrolled in 481/482 are required to take S423, S433, S442, and S472 as pre- or co- requisites.

BSW students will not be permitted to enter a practicum with more than one Deferred (“R”) or Incomplete (“I”) in any social work course that is a prerequisite or co-requisite to the practicum course. However, if a student has received a Deferred grade in S481 Social Work Practicum, or an Incomplete in S423 Generalist Social Work Practice II: Knowledge and Skills or S442 Integrated Practice/Policy Seminar, the student will not be allowed to begin S482 Social Work Practicum II.

Pre-placement processes include but are not limited to: attending practicum information sessions held by practicum education faculty, completing documentation requirements found in Sonia, and the completion of pre-placement interviews with the Practicum Education Coordinator to discuss placement options.

Sonia Pre-Placement Requirements include:

• BSW 481/482 Practicum Application
• Background History Form
• Student Code of Conduct Form
• Student Practicum Contract
• Develop and post a resume to be used in the agency interview process

Students must complete all pre-placement requirements in Sonia. The Practicum Education Coordinator(s), set due dates for the completion of the requirements in order for the students to have a qualified practicum site during the subsequent term. Students’ failure to complete the requirements in a timely manner will result in the Practicum Education Coordinator and Program Director determining whether the student may progress into practicum during the subsequent term or delay the practicum placement until the next available course cycle.

Once a placement is identified as an appropriate match for the student’s interests and learning needs, the student must complete a practicum interview with a site contact and be confirmed by the agency and Practicum Education Coordinator, in the IUSSW Student and Site Placement Agreement form found in Sonia.

All students are required to complete the IUSSW Student Practicum Orientation prior to having any client contact in the practicum site.

A student’s place of employment may serve as a practicum site at the BSW level if it provides appropriate learning experiences that meet the educational standards outlined by CSWE.

The Practicum Education Coordinator evaluates the suitability of a placement based on the student’s ability to engage in work activities or access additional learning opportunities aligned with the generalist practice learning experiences. These experiences must directly correspond to CSWE’s nine social work competencies and behaviors and fulfill all other practicum requirements.

To minimize conflicts of interest and avoid dual relationships, the Practicum Instructor responsible for practicum educational supervision and employment supervisor must be different individuals. In an employment-based practicum, the agency must provide a qualified Practicum Instructor to provide the practicum educational supervision. At the practicum site, students must have opportunities to advocate for policies relevant to their placement that enhance the social well-being of clients. They should also be able to collaborate with agency personnel and clients to take effective policy actions.

The Practicum Education Coordinator will make the final decision to approve or deny an employment-based practicum.

1. To pursue an employment-based placement, the steps in the process are as follows:
   On the Practicum Application, the student indicates interest in completing a practicum placement at the current employer.
2. The student completes and submits the Petition for Employment-based Practicum in Sonia for the Practicum Education Coordinator’s review.
3. The Practicum Education Coordinator reviews the petition and, if needed, may request additional information.
4. The Practicum Education Coordinator, student, current supervisor, and proposed Practicum Instructor meet to discuss the practicum requirements, roles, and responsibilities.
5. The Practicum Education Coordinator, who may consult with pertinent practicum team members, determines approval or denial. The student is notified of the final decision.
6. If approved, in Sonia, the student completes the Student and Site Placement Agreement Employment Based Practicum section and submits it for the Agency Contact’s review, completion, and submission.

If there is a change in employment during the practicum, the Practicum Education Coordinator works with the student, Practicum Instructor and/or Task Instructor, and Faculty Practicum Liaison to determine if the student can continue their practicum at that site. If it is determined that the student is no longer able to complete their practicum the Practicum Education Coordinator requests a Student Review with the Program Director to determine their ability to complete the practicum coursework.

A student’s place of employment can be used as a practicum site at the BSW level when there are conditions of extreme hardship and/or special circumstances. Determination of the appropriateness of the placement by the BSW Practicum Education Coordinator is based on the ability for the student to engage in generalist practice learning experiences that are directly linked to the nine social work competencies and twenty-two behaviors and to meet all other field requisites. The practicum and employment supervision must be provided by separate individuals to minimize conflict of interest and avoid dual relationships. In this placement site, the student must be able to advocate for policies that are relevant to the placement in order to enhance the social well-being of clients and be able to collaborate with agency personnel and clients for policy action that is effective. The BSWPracticum Education Coordinator will approve or not approve an employment-based practicum in consultation with the BSW Program Director and/or Field Director.

Some sites may have the ability to offer funded practicum experiences in the form of stipends, paid internships, or special fellowships. The student must notify the Practicum Education Coordinator immediately about an offer of a funded practicum placement. With these opportunities for funded placements, the Practicum Instructor/agency representative completes the Practicum Compensation Acknowledgement form in Sonia. The student reviews this form acknowledging their responsibilities for completion of activities as directed by the approved Learning Plan.

Some sites may offer to compensate students after a placement has started. In such cases, the student should notify the Practicum Education Coordinator and such placements may be considered paid practicums. 

An academic file is created and maintained for each social work student to facilitate the advising process. The 481 and 482 Learning Plan, Midpoint Evaluation, and Final Evaluation become part of the student’s academic file.

An academic file is created and maintained for each social work student to facilitate the advising process. The 481 and 482 Learning Plan, Midpoint Evaluation, and Final Evaluation become part of the student’s academic file.