Overview of Field Education
Field Education in Social Work refers to agency-based learning experiences, which involve client-centered practice with individuals, families, groups, and community client systems.
The Social Work program's Field Education experience requires a 500-hour supervised field experience during the final semester of the Social Work curriculum.
Field Education reinforces the student's identification with the purposes, values, and ethics of the profession, fosters the integration of empirical and practice-based knowledge, and promotes the development of professional competence at the generalist level of practice. It is designed to give the student the opportunity to apply his or her knowledge base and skills under supervision.
In all field experiences, the student is expected to abide by the National Association of Social Worker's Code of Ethics (1996) and work within the participating agency's mission and practice protocols.
Additional details regarding the Field Education experience can be obtained from the Field Education Manual, available at the Campus Bookstore and on-line on the Forms & Manuals page.
CWEB PROGRAM (Child Welfare Career Opportunity)
An excellent opportunity for the student wishing to work with children and families is available through the CWEB (Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates) program. CWEB was designed to address the lack of qualified social workers in Pennsylvania by financially assisting undergraduate student in order to provide them with the proper training and credentials.
CWEB provides an opportunity for those interested in child welfare to essentially get the last two semester of college paid. Child welfare includes working with child protective services, adoption, foster care, family preservation and family support services.
The program has two options; a 500 hour child welfare experience completed during SWK 4452, or a 975 hour child welfare experience beginning in the summer following the junior year and completed during SWK 4452.
Students enrolled in CWEB must sign a contract agreeing to work in a Pennsylvania child welfare setting for at least one year after graduation.
Interested students should contact Dr. Tiffany Welch (570.662.4494 or twelch@mansfield.edu).