1. Foundation Year Students:
Practicum Orientation
Let the process begin!

2. Introductions Dr. Ann Riley, Field Education Coordinator
Pam Sanford, MSW, LCSW, Faculty Field Liaison
Linda Smith, MSW, CWPEP Coordinator
Carrie Jankowski, MSW, LCSW, Faculty Field Liaison
Levi Heperi, Field Education Support Specialist
Rachel Chapman, Grad. Assist. for Field office

3. FY Practicum: Top Ten+ Things to Know
1. What is the purpose of foundation year practicum?
2. What are the practicum options & hours required?
3. What courses do I enroll in?
4. What types of agencies are available for practicum?
5. How does the placement process work?
6. How do I apply for practicum?
7. How do I find a placement?
8. What do I need to know about an employment-based practicum?
9. What do I need to know about interviewing?
10. When does practicum begin and what is required?
11. What are my Field Unit options?
No worries! The Field office is here to help!

4. 1. FY Practicum Purpose
Field Education: Practicum integrates coursework with real life field experience in an agency setting with real clients, bringing together essential knowledge, values & skills. Practicum is required for purpose of professional SW development and the acquisition of essential core competencies for social work practice.
At the FY level, the focus is Generalist Practice; which encompasses all practice aspects with clients, case management and/or resource development, understanding impact of policy, application of theory, and overall exposure to the agency context and/or the field of practice.
The Concentration Year level is Advanced, so
those practicum experiences are specialized.

5. 2. When is Practicum? Foundation Year Practicum Options
Foundation Year Students have three options:
CONCURRENT: Fall 2016/Spring 2017
(15–18 hours per week)
BLOCK: Summer 2017
(38–40 hours per week)
Or delay program one year/see faculty advisor
CONCURRENT: Fall 2017/Spring 2018

6. FY: Practicum Hours Foundation Year Practicum = 460 hours required
CONCURRENT Fall/Spring:
230 hours required each semester
15-18 hours per week (12 weeks Fall + 16 weeks Spring)
Fall: 15 x 12 = 180 Eek!! = Unsatisfactory!!
18 (recommended) x 12 wks= seminar= 244 hours
Spring: 15 (lowest allowed) x 16 wks=240 hours
240 (Fall) (Spring) = 480 hours total
BLOCK Summer:
230 hours required each course
38-40 hours per week x 12 weeks ~ BE CAREFUL! ~
Notice: 38 x 12=456 hours Eek! BUT, 40 x 12 = 480 hours

7. 3. FY: Practicum Enrollment
CONCURRENT Fall/Spring:
Fall: SWK 5413 Practicum I - 3 hours credit
Spring: SWK 5423 Practicum II - 3 hours credit
Course credit over two semesters= 6 hours total
BLOCK Summer:
SWK 5413 Practicum I & SWK 5423 Practicum II
Course credit combined: = 6 hours total
When all orientation requirements have been completed,
then you will be given an override to enroll in the practicum courses.

8. 4. Practicum Agencies
Agencies are assessed as appropriate for each cohort level;
Retained under contract for the purpose of practicum;
Offered to students throughout Norman/OKC metro; and
Available if you reside beyond a 50 mile radius too.
Keep in mind that agencies are ever evolving!
Children, Youth & Family services
Corrections/Victim’s programs
Counseling, Mental Health & Substance Abuse agencies
DHS services ~ Child Welfare, Permanency Planning
Disability Services ~ Adults & Children
Gerontology/Older Adult programs
Healthcare settings ~ Hospitals, Clinics and Hospice
Homelessness services
LGBTQ services
School-based social work services
Veterans ~ VA Centers, Support Services

9. 5. Practicum Placement Process
Three phases:
1) Applying for practicum
2) Interviewing at placements
3) Securing your placement
STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO
MEET ALL PRACTICUM DEADLINES
Communication is the key!
Handout: FT Foundation Year Practicum Calendar
(Fall/Spring CONCURRENT only for now)
~~This will be your guide for the year~~
Website: socialwork.ou.edu/Field Education/Practicum Calendars

10. 6. Applying for Practicum
Phase I: Planning – for ALL students
Since you are here today ~ Next: Online Video Training
Links will be sent to your OU for completion
Subject: SWK PRACTICUM – (for all field correspondence)
1) Basic Practicum Orientation Overview (~30 mins)
2) Applying for Practicum through IPT (~6 mins)
(Intern Placement Tracking practicum system)
3) Google Forms Quiz must be completed
Note: An updated professional Resume is required!
See website: socialwork.ou.edu/Field Education /Norman Forms & Reference Materials/ Resume sample

11. 7. Finding a Placement – Field Units
Phase II: Foundation Year Field Units
Students do not ‘find’ a placement on their own
Field office considers individual student needs/interests, in conjunction with cohort needs overall, & the agency’s
FY students recommended to agencies within Field Units
Students preference their top 3 Field Units
Field office reviews applications & refers students to the specific field instructor/agencies within the Field Units
Students must interview and secure their practicum

12. 8. Employment-based Practicum
Top Points to Know:
Must represent new learning different from job responsibilities
Must have different Field Instructor from job Supervisor
Student must negotiate the practicum/employment placement
Final approval determined by the Field Education Coordinator
Application process is for your protection
Proposals are carefully and thoroughly reviewed
Students should read all EBPP info (Field Education Manual, p. 15–18)
To apply, additional application documents are required for the EBPP:
Practicum Application Part III – located on website
+ Job Description of current position
+ Job Description of proposed practicum position
+ Recent Job Performance Review
+ A schedule reflecting work, school & practicum
EBPP approved students will be assigned to a Field Unit.
All requirements for group participation with liaison applies.

13. 9. Interviewing for Practicum
Phase II: Interviewing See website: socialwork.ou.edu/Field Education/NF&RM/ Pre-Placement Interview Information
Interviewing: Professionalism is the key!
Take Documentation:
1) your updated Resume,
2) the Practicum Calendar, &
3) Student Placement Form
Students negotiate own weekly schedule with the site.

14. 10. When does Practicum begin? At Foundation Seminar!
Foundation Year Seminar & Training are required…
& purposefully designed to prepare you for practicum.
FT FY Practicum Calendar Specifics:
CONCURRENT 2016/2017: Thurday on Aug. 25, Sept. 1 & Sept. 8, ~ 9:00 - 5:00
Location: Zarrow Hall – Community Room, first floor
Required Training: Online + Friday, Sept. 23, 2016 ~ 2:00 – 4:00 (3 hours total)
Student practicum hours = 24! [21 seminar (7 hrs x 3 days) + 3 training = 24 hrs]
BLOCK Summer 2017: Monday, May 8 & Tuesday, May 9, 2016, 9:00 – 5:00
Location: Zarrow Hall, Room 210
Required Training: Online + Friday, May 12, 2016 ~ 2:00 – 4:00 (3 total)
Student practicum hours = 17! [14 seminar (7 hrs x 2 days) + 3 training = 14 hrs]

15. Foundation Year Field Units: Preference from these Options
“Child Welfare”
“Child/Family – Schools”
“Community-Based”
“Corrections”
“Healthcare”
“Mental Health”

16. Child Welfare 9 placements
Infant Parent Intervention Center
Oklahoma County CASA
Sunbeam – Senior Shelter
OK – DHS Child Welfare
OK P3: OKDHS/OKCPS/Voc- Rehab (Foster Teens)

17. Child/Family – Schools 4 placements
Norman Public Schools – Kennedy Elementary
OKC Public Schools (Special Ed & Counseling)

18. Community-Based 6 placements
Homeless Alliance: Building Foundations/ Day Shelter/ Journey Home/ Permanent Supportive Housing
Goodwill’s SSVF (Supportive Services to Veterans & Families)
Southern Oaks Community Center/Youth Initiative

19. Corrections 3 placements
Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma
OK Juvenile Affairs (OJA) – Female Facility
OKC Family Justice Center

20. Healthcare 6 placements
Heavenly Hospice
Mission Hospice
Valir Hospice
OU Medical Center: Child Protection
OU Medical Center: Mother & Baby
OU Medical Center: Outpatient

21. Mental Health 8 placements
COCMHC – Adult Outpt + Library
Inspirations of Norman – Gero Psych
Mental Health Assn of Ok – Teen Screen
Oklahoma Families First – Shawnee/Norman
Red River Youth Academy
St. Anthony’s Gero Behavioral Health
Thunderbird Clubhouse
VA Center of Norman

22. (We hope you’re excited. We are!!)
Congratulations! You are at the next step of your journey toward a social work degree We look forward to helping you be successful in practicum & in your professional development as a social worker.
(We hope you’re excited. We are!!)