The Application Process

1. The Application Process What is Field How do I get there?

2. Excited / Nervous • Practice doing and integrating • Develop competence • Develop Professionalism • Test out career path • All social work education

3. Field Basics Five Classes in the Field Sequence: • Field lab - Self Awareness, Professional Development • 490 (field) 3 credits – fall (You arrange hours) • 492 – (seminar) 1 credit - fall • 491 (field) 3 credits – winter (You arrange hours) • 493 – (seminar) 1 credit - winter 225 clock hours per semester / 450 hours total • Seminar – 2 hours every two weeks • Collaboration of three parties: Student, School, Site

4. FIELD REQUIREMENTS • Candidacy Completed Conditional Candidacy • 2.5 overall GPA • 3.0 in Social Work courses • Successful completion of all Jr. Level Courses

5. Field Placement Process • Relationships with agency • Knowledge of Students • Connect student to agency • Communication

6. How Do We Know Sites? • Affiliation agreement The GVSU Approach Understand Agency Welcome ideas • Years of exposure/experience • They become adjunct faculty

7. Baxter Community Center Bethany Christian Services Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Muskegon County Birchwood Care Center The Bridge Brookcrest Nursing Home Caledonia Community School Catholic Social Services of Grand Rapids Catholic Social Services of Muskegon Cherry St. Clinic Child & Family Steele School Child & Family Resource Council Children’s Resource Network Christian Rest Home Clark Retirement Community Clark, M.J. Memorial Home Community Action House Community Mental Health of Mecosta County Interfaith Hospitality Center Kent Client Services Kent County Community Mental Health Kent County Family Independence Agency Kent County Family Court Kent County Head Start Love, Inc. – Jenison Lutheran Child and Family Services McAuley Place – Muskegon Michigan State Housing Development Authority – Family Self-Sufficiency Program Muskegon Child and Family Muskegon Community Mental Health – Assertive Community Treatment North Ottawa Ethnic Diversity Alliance Ottawa County Probate Court Ottawa County Family Court Ottawa County Friend of the Court Ottawa Community Coordinated Child Care – SCAN Park School Porter Hills Presbyterian Village Project Rehab / Family Ramoth House Recuperation Center Resources Against Violent Encounters (R.A.V.E.) Rest Haven Care Center St. Ann’s Home Safe Haven Ministries, Ramoth House St. Mary’s Living Center Salvation Army Homeless Assistance Program Senior Neighbors Shiloh Family Shore Haven Nursing Home Steepletown Center Wedgewood Christian Youth and Family Services Weed and Seed Westside Health Clinic Women’s Resource Center Partial List of Agencies for Field Practicum

8. How Do We Know Students? • Class • Candidacy • Application

9. Application Completion • Application • Essay • Picture • Resume • Two Audiences

10. BACHELOR OF SOCIAL WORK (BSW) APPLICATION FOR FIELD EDUCATION • Note: Student must answer all questions. Use additional paper if necessary • IDENTIFYING INFORMATION • Student Name: ____________________ _____________________ _________________________ • (Last) (First) Middle • Local Address: ______________________________________________________________________ • ___________________________________________________________________ • (City) (Zip Code) • Telephone Number: _________________________________________________________________ • (Home) (Business or Cell Phone) • Email Address: _______________________________________________________________________ • ================================================================================= • Field Education I begins in Fall semester contingent upon the nature and availability of the placement and educational needs of the student. Field Education II continues during the winter semester. Questions with an asterisk (*) are optional.

11. SOME FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION IN ASSIGNING FIELD EDUCATION PLACEMENT1. Are you fluent in any language other than English? Yes ☐ No ☐ If yes, list the language(s) below and indicate your level(s) of proficiency: i. __________________ Speaking☐ Reading☐ Writing☐ ii. __________________ Speaking☐ Reading☐ Writing☐2. Please rate your computer skills (check one): Not Proficient ☐ Proficient ☐ Advanced ☐3. Do you have a valid driver’s license? Yes ☐ No ☐4. Will you have access to a car on days when you will be at your field agency? Yes ☐ No ☐5. You are required to meet your own transportation needs to and from the field agency. Do you anticipate any transportation problems or limitations i.e. no license, no car, etc.? Yes ☐ No ☐  If yes, explain:

12. ACADEMIC STATUS6. My Candidacy status is: Full Candidacy _____ Conditional Candidacy_____ If conditional which courses do you need to complete? _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 7. List all the courses (by name) you intend to take during your 2 semesters of Field Education.

13. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION8.Do you plan on holding a job during the semesters you are enrolled in field education? Yes ☐ No ☐If yes, how many hours per week will do you plan on working? ______________________ 9.Students in the Bachelor of Social Work program complete a total of 420 field education hours over two semesters. Of these hours, 210 field hours in two semesters, Bachelor of Social Work students are expected to intern at Field Site for approximately 13 hours per week during the fall and winter semesters. Do you have availability to complete your hours of field education during regular business hours? Yes ☐ No ☐10.Are you able to accept a Field Education Placement that provides Field Education Hours beyond the standard work day i.e. 8 or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.?Yes ☐ No ☐Or that included weekends?Yes ☐ No ☐

14. What skills do you expect or hope to learn from Field Education? 13. What are your preferences as to the kind(s) of populations or issues with which you would like to work with in Field Education? Please explain why.14. What kind(s) of populations or issues would not be comfortable working with in Field Education? Explain why.FIELDS OF PRACTICE15. Provided below is a list of field of practice. From the list, select 3 fields of practice where you would like to complete your Field Education. 1. ____________________________________________2. ____________________________________________3. ____________________________________________

15. Fields of Practice • Administration Developmental Disabilities Aging/Gerontology Domestic Violence Mental Health Criminal Justice • Substance Abuse Policy • Family Services Administration • Military Social Work • Child Welfare • Group Services • Program Evaluation • Community Planning • Health • Housing • School

17. In each essay: (1) include a definition of your understanding of the field’s practice, including any previous work/volunteer experience in this area; (2) outline skills that are essential for social work practitioners in the field of practice; (3) share your interest and suitability for the practice area. Refer to course texts and journal articles for an accurate understanding of each practice area.  

18. CRIMINAL HISTORY BACKGROUND INFORMATIONAn increasing number of Human Service Agencies are requiring student interns to submit to a criminal history background check. It is therefore critical that you are informed of how a criminal history background may impact your Field Education. Please initial in the spaces provided below to indicate that you understand and agree to comply with the following: _____ I understand that any past, current or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, and/or penalties against me in any jurisdiction may make me ineligible for Field Education Placement. _____ I understand that I am required to disclose any past, current, or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, and/or penalties in this application._____ I understand that failure to disclose any past, current, or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, and/ or penalties in this application may result in disciplinary action by Grand Valley State University School of Social Work._____ I understand that along with the rest of my Field Education Application, the “Criminal History Background Information” portion of my Field Education Application, will be made available to Field Sites that I will interview with for Field Education Placement. _____ I understand that even though the “Criminal History Background Information” portion of my Field Education Application will be made available to Field Sites, I am required to disclose all past, current, or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, and/or penalties when I interview for Field Education Placement with a Field Site.

19. I understand that failure to disclose any past, current or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, and/or penalties when I interview for Field Education Placement with a Field Site will result in disciplinary action by Grand Valley State University School of Social Work._____ I understand that it is my responsibility to inform the Field Site and the School of Social Work’s Field Education office at Grand Valley State University of any new felonies, criminal charges, convictions, and/or penalties that occur after I have begun Field Education Placement. Failure to disclose such new felonies, criminal charges, convictions, and/or penalties can result dismissal from the Field Site and disciplinary action by Grand Valley State University School of Social Work._____ I am aware that it is my responsibility to educate myself on how past or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, and/or penalties may affect my ability to be licensed as a social worker. Do you have any past, current or pending felonies, criminal charges, convictions, and/or penalties in any jurisdiction? Yes☐ No☐If yes, please explain (use an additional sheet of paper if necessary):

20. Application – Continued • Resume • Career Services • Types of Experiences • Photo • Your introduction to field instructor • October 24 • 2 Copies: 1 paper to Michelle 1 Electronic – Lehkerd@gvsu.edu

21. The Placement and Matching Process • Review application • Email – Complete or not • Interview –Interests, ideas (Nov./Dec.) • Contact with agency • Notice to student to contact agency • Interview with agency • Letter from agency • Notice to student • Seminar section notification

22. What you can do…. • Focus on application • Interview – Dress and Homework • Being open to range of possibilities

23. Timelines • October 24 - Field Application Due • Confirm application accepted – Mid November • Placement Notification – Mid November – March • Placement confirmation – December – April • Start Placement – August 2012

24. Trouble-Shooting • Contact our office • Do your homework • Visit your agency • Go to the interview Unsure about placement?

25. Points and questions… • Importance of relationship • What if it doesn’t work out? • WWW. GVSU.EDU/SSW Documents

26. Seminar • Small Group • Development of Professionalism • Sharing real issues with colleagues • Journal and Agency Report • Engagement

27. Learning Contract • Holds Student and Site Accountable • Ten Competencies and each Practice Behavior • Treatment Plan for you – Concrete and Specific • Basis of Semester Evaluation