THE SPECIALIZED PRACTICE FIELD PLACEMENT PROCESS Field Learning & Community Partnerships Silver School of Social Work

INTRODUCTION Primary goal of the SP field placement is moving from generalist approach to increasingly complex and specialized practice. This webinar reviews the placement process: Timeline Fields of Practice Focused Learning Opportunities Factors in decision making

LOCATING PLACEMENT MATERIALS All placement materials are easily accessible on the SSW website under: field learning/manuals/forms: Consult: MSW manual Fields of Practice/FLO Document Specialized Practice Process Checklist Specialized Practice Field Placement Questionnaire

STEPS IN THE PLACEMENT PROCESS MEETING WITH YOUR ADVISOR: January/February-planning meeting with your FA Discuss the following: FOCUS ON YOUR PRIORITIES Educational goals for SP year: what opportunities you hope to have given gaps in GP year; populations of interest; settings Special needs? Requirements in a placement? Review Fields of Practice and Focused Learning Opportunities Any placement ideas you may have (there are no guarantees!!)

PLACEMENT PROCESS (CONT’D): SUBMITTING YOUR RESUME Complete online SP Questionnaire and update resume for submission to Field Learning Update all demographic information: current address, phone, email (professional) and GP placement information Provide alternate summer contact information Resume is agency’s FIRST impression of you: Should be professional and thorough Consult FA or Wassermann Center Field Faculty member will return unprofessional resume for revision before sending to agency

PLACEMENT PROCESS (CONT’D): COMPLETING THE SP QUESTIONNAIRE After FA meeting, you will complete SP online questionnaire Be clear, specific and thorough Field of practice choices are not rank-ordered Elaborate on specific interests and prioritize REMEMBER: One placement setting CANNOT offer everything you may be looking for!! Summarize and detail your GP placement experience so that your learning needs and goals are clear for SP year

QUESTIONNAIRE (CONT’D) If interested in Focused Learning Opportunity, indicate at the end of the form Apply to only one FLO FLO requires advisor reference and summary of your GP experience and interest in FLO

REQUESTING A SPECIFIC SITE Do not request specific field agency, but rather a prototype of where you would like to be placed Field learning office cannot guarantee specific site, especially when demand is high Field learning office welcomes new ideas for placements, however we ask that you do not arrange independently; provide the office with the contact information and we will assess feasibility Avoid settings where you might have “dual relationship”

MATCHING AND CONFIRMATION Questionnaires are sorted and given to appropriate field faculty member (area coordinators listed on the website) DO NOT BE CONCERNED: Process begins in March and continues throughout summer therefore some students inevitably placed earlier than others Once matched, you will contact agency for confirmation meeting (this is NOT a formal interview) Agency will follow up with field faculty member re: confirmation

MATCHING & CONFIRMATION (CONT’D) Questions and concerns may be directed to field faculty member who placed you If placement not confirmed, field faculty member will seek new site Once confirmed, and commitment made to agency, placement will only be changed for extenuating circumstances.

FIELDS OF PRACTICE Field Learning is organized along different fields of practice Consult Manual (pp 47-49) and Fields of Practice booklet online for listing of these They are as follows: Child, Youth & Family Services Adult Services (all psychosocial issues affecting adult populations, but NOT adult mental health specifically

FIELDS OF PRACTICE (CONT’D) Aging Health Mental Health Developmental Disability across the Life Cycle Social Work and Law School Based Services

FIELDS OF PRACTICE (CONT’D) Fields may overlap, therefore interests and priorities must be specified/clarified to facilitate best match

FOCUSED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES (FLOS) SP students are offered some focused learning opportunities that consist of field placement with concurrent enhanced learning: seminars, suggested courses, etc. Some FLOS have placement with stipend and are therefore competitive, requiring application and interview; most are available to all students pending interest and advisor reference Pay attention to notices of FLO opportunities (especially those funded) so as not miss FLO information sessions and application deadlines

FLOS (CONT’D) Field information sessions will be held in the month of February Fields of Practice covered FLOs covered (grant funded opportunities and non-grant funded) Must attend FLO session for competitive opportunity and meet all deadlines for application If not granted a placement with stipend, paperwork will be returned to field faculty member within that specific practice area for placement assignment

CLOSING Consult SP placement timeline to be sure you are meeting all required deadlines Questions? Consult: Faculty Advisor Field Faculty member of practice area of interest Email silver.fieldlearning@nyu.edu GOOD LUCK!!!