1. Answer
The staff of the Office of Field Education arranges all placements. Students must
not initiate contact with agencies to seek placements without the approval of the
Director of Field Education or the Placement Coordinator. The Office of Field
Education is responsible for developing placement sites. Students are encouraged
to inform the Office of Field Education of new potential sites. The Placement
Coordinator will use your Field Questionnaire and agency information to make
the most appropriate placement match.
2. Answer
You may refer to the Agency Data Base which is on the Field Web Page at
http://www.csw.ohio-state.edu/field.htm . The data base is routinely updated.
You may also contact the field office to further check the status of an agency.
3. Answer
The agency has received information about you. The first page of your
questionnaire was faxed to the agency before you received your Referral and
Confirmation Form. The agency is expecting your call and any delay could be
perceived as your lack of interest in this placement.
4. Answer
No, the referral is for a pre-placement interview. The agency is under no
obligation to accept you if you are perceived as an inappropriate match for their
agency. You are encouraged to approach the pre-placement interview as a job
interview. Although a resume is not required, it is highly recommended.
5. Answer
The College provides Placement Informational Meetings before students begin
the placement process. It is important that you attend these meetings. Placement
processes and procedures will be fully covered. Often agencies representing a
broad range of services are invited to these meetings to share additional
information regarding student learning opportunities. It is also important to read
and become very familiar with your Field Practicum Manual. Again, you may
2
access the manual through the field web page at http://csw.ohiostate.
edu/field.htm.
6. Answer
The MSW generalist practicum provides learning activities which will prepare
you for advanced second year practicum. The generalist practice focuses on the
development of interviewing, assessment, service planning, linking, advocacy and
brokering skills. The practicum is integrated with your practice courses which are
taught concurrently.
7. Answer
We recognize that our students have varying levels of experience; however, the
Council of Social Work Education does not allow previous work, volunteer or
placement experiences to substitute for your graduate practicum.
8. Answer
Yes, students are required to get permission from The Director of Field Education
or Placement Coordinator to begin placements early. It is recommended that such
requests are in writing. The Office of Field Education must ensure that all
students are covered under our Professional Liability Insurance when in field.
9. Answer
Our agencies are surveyed each year regarding their placement preferences. On
the Agency Preference Form the agency is requested to list requirements for
student placements, such as use of car without mileage reimbursement, social
work licensure requirements, Background Investigation Check, drug screens, and
so forth. It is helpful to inform your Placement Coordinator of any pre-placement
request that you are unable to fulfill. Your Placement Coordinator will assist you
in problem resolution.
10. Answer
It is preferable that students are in placement during normal agency hours which
can be weekend and evenings for a few agencies. The College requires that your
3
field instructor is also on site and available to you for most of those hours. It is
also important for our students to be involved with the day-to-day operations of
an agency. Given these conditions, generally, students are unable to complete all
of their field hours during the evening and/or weekends.
11.Answer
This type of placement is called a Work–Study Placement. Students interested in
a Work-Study Placement must request a copy of the Work Study Proposal
Guidelines from the Office of Field Education or your Placement Coordinator.
The Proposal Guidelines may also be downloaded from the field web page at
http://www.csw.ohio-state.edu/field.htm . To be considered for a work study
placement you must have been on your current job for at least one year, and your
job site must be large enough to accommodate your placement in different
program or site and with a different supervisor. Your field days must be distinct
from your regular work days. As the proposal review process may take some time
you are encouraged to submit your proposal far in advance of your field
placement.
12. Answer
It is recommended that you first discuss your concerns with your field instructor.
It is important that you fully inform him/her of your concerns. If you are unable
to work out a resolution or if the field instructor is unable to meet with you,
contact your Faculty Fie ld Liaison. Your Faculty Field Liaison was assigned to
you when you first started field. This is the person from the College who
monitors your field work and who is responsible for assigning your field grade.
Your Faculty Field Liaison will probably arrange a contact with you and your
field instructor. If the problem cannot be resolved then your Faculty Field Liaison
may consult with the Director of Field Education regarding a change in
placement.
13. Answer
According to current legislative mandate, persons seeking certification as a school
social worker in Ohio must either have completed a field practicum in an
approved school setting or have had work experience as a “professional” in a
school setting. This means that if one meets all the course requirements but lack
the work experience or field practicum in an approved school setting, the y will
not be certified by the Ohio Department of Education.
14. Answer
The following are placement guidelines for school social work placements:
a. Three quarters of your second year field placement MUST be in a public
school or chartered school, K-12. Placement need not cover all grades (K-12)
but rather preschool and college/university programs are not acceptable.
b. Supervision provided by a field instructor with a graduate degree in Social
Work and at least 2 years of post- master’s experience; certification in school
social work is preferred but not required.
c. In the absence of an on-site field instructor with the above requirements, a
member of the College faculty may serve as the co- instructor with an on-site
task supervisor accessible to the student; however, the availability of this
supervisory model is limited.
