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THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
COURSE NUMBER:
SEMESTER:
COURSE TITLE:
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE HOURS:
SOWO 523 Section 957
Fall 2015
Foundation Field Seminar I
Theresa Palmer, MSW, LCSW, LMFT, AAMT Approved Supervisor
School of Social Work, Winston-Salem 3-Year Program
741 N. Highland Avenue Winston-Salem, NC 27106
Phone number: 336-703-3680 office / 336-416-5096 cell
Email: palmermt@email.unc.edu
Fridays during non-class hours and by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Assists students in integrating and applying classroom learning with the
foundation field practicum. Opportunities are provided for case presentation, discussion, and
peer consultation.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify in their agencies, the knowledge and skills common to interventions with
individuals, families, groups, organizations, and community systems including
assessment, planning, intervention, and evaluation;
2. Describe their personal beliefs and values as a social worker and recognize the
importance and impact of professional values through working with diverse client
populations;
3. Recognize and discuss ethical implications in relation to professional practice;
4. Demonstrate understanding and respect for differences including, gender, gender
expression, class, age, culture, religion/spirituality, lifestyle, disability, and sexual
orientation differences, and how these factors influence the client system;
5. Identify and continually assess appropriate learning goals for the field placement that
reflect an assessment of personal strengths, current level of skill and knowledge in the
profession, and intended professional growth;
6. Give and receive feedback constructively while developing insight into one’s own
professional behavior;
7. Understand how supervision is used to meet agency and school performance and
productivity requirements;
8. Maximize collaboration and group cohesiveness by sharing with, responding to, and
supporting others in seminar.
Foundation Field Seminar – Fall 2015
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EXPANDED DESCRIPTION:
This course is intended to help students apply foundation knowledge of social work skills,
values, and ethics to practice and to assist students in integrating classroom learning with the
direct experience of the practicum. The Foundation Field Seminar will provide the student with
learning opportunities that complement foundation academic courses, and provide a basis for
generalist practice. In this context, students will be expected to develop and discuss knowledge,
understanding, and skills concerning relationships with clients, supervisors, coworkers, and
external organizations. In addition, students will be expected to develop a foundation
understanding of the context of social work practice as it relates to diversity, multiculturalism,
social change and social justice. In the Foundation Field Seminar, students will share learning
experiences across a variety of field sites. Students will be active learners in group process and
group leadership skills. Lastly, students will discuss and understand the professional use of self
in the social work role.
REQUIRED TEXTS/READINGS:
UNC-CH School of Social Work, Field Education Program Manual 2015-2016: available online
http://ssw.unc.edu/files/pdf/2015-16manualfinal.pdf. Any other readings will be posted on Sakai.
TEACHING METHODS:
Foundation Field Seminar meets seven times during the semester. One objective of the small
group meetings is to provide students with the opportunity to participate in a group experience
with their seminar leader, and to learn about group process and their personal group interactions.
The success of the small group depends on the development of a supportive learning
environment; reflecting the values of the social work profession is essential for the success of
this class. A supportive learning environment is fostered by listening to the ideas and views of
others, being able to understand and appreciate a point of view which is different from your own,
articulating clearly your point of view, and linking experience to readings and assignments. Your
contributions to making this a safe and respectful class for learning and growth will be
appreciated.
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS:
Assignment
1. Attendance & Participation – 7 seminar meetings
2. Written assignments:
New Beginnings Reflection
Self-Care Reflection
End-of-Semester Reflection
3. Continuing Education Workshops– attend 4 hours total
TOTAL POINTS
Point value
5 each
15 each
TOTAL
35
45
2.5 each hour
10
90
NOTE: Points do not add up to 100, but Sakai will calculate your grade based on 90 points
Class assignments are subject to change.
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1. Attendance and Seminar Participation:
Attendance is crucial to both your learning experience and the learning of your peers.
Students are expected to attend all seminars, to be on time, and to stay for the duration of the
class. Students with more than one absence will not earn an H. It is your responsibility to
notify the instructor in advance if you will miss a class. Each seminar is worth five points.
Class expectations
Level of engagement in class; listening skills, respectful behavior and class
preparation
Student contributes to discussion by frequently offering ideas and asking
questions; student contributes and responds to ideas of other students; student
is always respectful of the contributions of other students
Student sometimes contributes to discussion by offering ideas, asking
questions and responding to other students; student consistently demonstrates
engagement in discussion by respectfully listening to others and through other
verbal and nonverbal behaviors
Student occasionally contributes to class discussion; student sometimes
demonstrates engagement in discussions by contributing to the discussion and
by listening respectfully
Student rarely contributes to class or asks questions and does not appear
engaged in discussion
Did not attend class
Point
range
4-5
3-4
2-3
1-2
0
Participation by each student is essential. The matrix above will be used to measure class
participation. Class attendance and participation account for 39% of the course grade. The
responsibility for class discussion is shared by the instructor and the students. Class participation
includes being prepared to discuss assignments and any readings; sharing ideas, information, and
insights from the field education experience; and providing follow-up discussion on points raised
by other members of the seminar.
2. Written Assignments:
All assignments will be submitted to the instructor using the Sakai Drop Box feature. There will
be three reflective writing assignments. Essays are to be at least 300 words in length. One point
will be deducted for late postings. No postings will be accepted after one week from the due
date.
Grading Rubric for Written Assignments
Point value
15
Outstanding
14
Connections
(Comprehension &
Application)
There is a strong
connection to practice
Elements of essay
Ideas
Writing
(Synthesis)
Ideas are well
developed and
synthesized
Professional language is
consistently used; no more
than one grammatical or
spelling error; appropriate
application of APA style if
references or citations used
A combination of outstanding (↑) and acceptable (↓) element criteria
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Acceptable
12
11 & below
Below Expectation
0
Essay makes a
limited connection to
practice
4
Ideas are
beginning to
develop and
synthesize
Professional language is
inconsistently used; two to
three grammatical or
spelling errors; inconsistent
application of APA style if
references or citations used
A combination of acceptable (↑) and below expectations (↓) element
criteria
Essay makes minimal Ideas are not
Professional language is
connection to practice sufficiently
not developed; four or
developed or
more grammatical &
synthesized
spelling errors; did not
comply with APA style if
references or citations used
Did not submit anything
Assignment 1- New Beginnings Reflection
New Beginnings Reflection is due by 9/9 on Sakai.
Reflect upon the following questions.
1. Which competency areas are strengths for you? Which areas need further development?
Were there any surprises?
2. Which skills do you want to focus on during your foundation year?
3. Review the syllabi for your classes. Which discussion topics, readings, and assignments
most directly apply to your personal learning goals?
4. Which of the learning opportunities that exist within your field placement most intrigue
you? Which apply most directly to your personal learning goals?
Assignment 2 – Self-Care Reflection
Self-Care Reflection essay is due 10/7 in Sakai Drop Box. Students will be given a handout to
guide this reflection essay.
Assignment 3 – End-of-Semester Reflection
End-of-Semester Reflection essay is due in Sakai Drop Box on 11/11 in Sakai Drop Box.
Students will be given a handout to guide this reflection essay.
3. Continuing Education Workshops:
Foundation seminar students are required to complete four hours of continuing education
workshops during the fall semester. The Winston-Salem Clinical Lectures series is an excellent
opportunity to meet this requirement and there is no charge for students enrolled in the WinstonSalem 3-Year Program. There is also a Clinical Lecture Series at the School of Social Work in
Chapel Hill that is offered monthly on Mondays that is also free for SSW students. In addition,
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the School of Social Work’s Student Services sponsors a series of professional development
workshops and a series of workshops on leadership in Chapel Hill. Students may count one of
the leadership workshops toward their continuing education requirement for this course if they
choose to attend. There are also free and low cost online workshops offered through the various
Area Health Education Centers (AHECs) throughout the state. There are also a limited number
of free or low cost online continuing education offerings available to student members of NASW
as well as in-person NASW Local Program Unit events offered in various regions throughout the
state. Any other continuing education workshops taken outside of the School of Social Work, the
AHEC system, or NASW must be approved by your field seminar instructor in advance. We
utilize the honor system for documentation of this course requirement. In support of the honor
system for the Continuing Education Workshops, students need to arrive at the start of the
workshop and remain for its entirety. Students must complete and turn in the form Continuing
Education Workshops (last page of this syllabus) no later than the last day of seminar (Nov. 13)
with certificates of attendance or completion attached.
ASSIGNMENT NOTE: Agency Gift
In the spring semester, students are required to complete an agency-specific community,
management, and policy practice (macro) gift. Examples of possible projects are: developing a
media campaign or public service announcement; writing a grant; planning a fund raising event
or a community awareness event; developing a needs assessment survey or evaluation
instrument, a resource directory, an agency safety plan, or a training; writing a brochure, a new
policy, or an article for the newspaper or internal newsletter; researching and presenting best
practices on a service area or population. The agency gift, which is a macro practice project, is to
be included in the development of the Foundation Learning Agreement. The agency gift should
be planned in consultation with the field instructor/task supervisor and field faculty. An Agency
Gift Proposal will be due at the first seminar of the spring semester so planning with the field
instructor should begin in the fall semester and be included in the Learning Agreement, although
completion of the actual project itself is not due until the end of the spring semester. The student
will need to present the agency gift to the agency and in class to their seminar group by midApril.
GRADING SYSTEM
H = 94-100
P = 80-93
L = 70-79
F = 69 and below
POLICY ON INCOMPLETES AND LATE ASSIGNMENTS
One point per day (including weekends) will be deducted for late postings. No postings will be
accepted after one week from the due date. A grade of Incomplete is given on rare occasions
when there is sufficient reason to warrant it. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate a
conversation with the seminar instructor to request an Incomplete; instructors have no
responsibility to give an Incomplete without such a request.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Please refer to the APA Style Guide, The SSW Manual, and the SSW Writing Guide for
information on attribution of quotes, plagiarism, and appropriate use of assistance in preparing
assignments. It is expected that all posts to SAKAI abide by the UNC Honor Code, which is that
students have not given or received unauthorized aid in preparing their written work. In keeping
Foundation Field Seminar – Fall 2015
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with the UNC Honor Code, if reason exists to believe that academic dishonesty has occurred, a
referral will be made to the Office of the Student Attorney General for investigation and further
action as required.
POLICY ON ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Students with disabilities or medical conditions that may affect their participation in the course
and who may need accommodations should contact the Accessibility Resources and Service
(962-8300) http://disabilityservices.unc.edu. Accessibility Resources and Service will notify the
instructor regarding recommended accommodations. Instructors will not provide
accommodations to a student without communication from Accessibility Resources and Service.
POLICIES ON THE USE OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES IN SEMINAR
The use of electronic devices in the seminar is prohibited. Exceptions will be made only for
students with written documentation of a disability. For these students the use of electronic
devices for non-class related activities (e.g. checking email, playing games) is strictly prohibited.
COURSE OUTLINE
Seminar
Date
1
August 28
2
September 11
3
September 25
4
October 9
5
October 23
6
November 6
7
November 13
Topic
Welcome and Ice-breaker
Establish Group Norms
Discuss first weeks of field
Discuss New Beginnings Reflection
Peer Consultation
Topic: Supervision
Peer consultation
Topic: Self-Care
Discuss Self-Care Reflection
Peer consultation
Topic: Client & Colleague
Engagement
Peer consultation
Topic: Ethics & Documentation
Peer consultation
Topic: Best Practices
Discuss End-of-Semester Reflection
Peer consultation
Submit Continuing Education Forms
Course evaluations
Due Dates
New Beginnings Reflection
due 9/9 (Wednesday)
Self-Care Reflection due 10/7
(Wednesday)
End-of-Semester Reflection
due 11/11 (Wednesday)
Continuing Education Forms
due 11/13 (Friday)
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Continuing Education Workshop Opportunities
Numerous free workshops and colloquia are presented at the School of Social Work in Chapel
Hill throughout the year and will be posted on the School’s Google calendar which can be
accessed through the School’s website at http://ssw.unc.edu/students/calendar.
Winston-Salem Clinical Lecture Series
The Clinical Lecture Series offers periodic lectures by innovative speakers to enhance the
clinical curriculum for students and other interested practitioners. The Winston-Salem Clinical
Lectures Series is held at the Northwest Area Health Education Center in the Deacon Tower
Learning Center at 475 Deacon Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC. There is NO COST for students
enrolled in the Winston-Salem 3-Year Program or current Field Instructors and Task Supervisors
to attend; however, pre-registration is required. Helpful links:
 Information on the Winston-Salem Clinical Lectures Series: http://cls.unc.edu/upcomingprograms-2015-2016/winston-salem-cls/
 To register for the Winston-Salem Clinical Lecture Series: http://ssw.unc.edu/sswevents/
All lectures are held on a Wednesday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Northwest AHEC. The fall
2015 speakers for the Winston-Salem Clinical Lectures Series are as follows:
 September 16—Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: Transforming Relationships from
Distress to Secure Bonds, with Lorrie Brubacher, M.Ed., LMFT
 November 4— The Human Rights and Ethical Issues of Involuntary Commitment, with
Tara Bohley, MPA, LMFT
Chapel Hill Clinical Lectures Series
The Chapel Hill Clinical Lecture Series events take place in the auditorium of the Tate-TurnerKuralt Building. All lectures occur on Mondays from 12:00 to 2:00 pm. These events are free
for students but pre-registration is required at http://ssw.unc.edu/sswevents/events. For detailed
descriptions of the lecture topics, go to http://cls.unc.edu/
The fall 2015 Clinical Lecture Series schedule for Chapel Hill is on Mondays from 12:00 to 2:00
pm as follows:
 September 21—“I don’t see them in my practice:” The Ethics of Serving Refugee and
Immigrant Survivors of Torture and Trauma, with Josh Hinson, LCSW, LCAS and Laura
Garlock, MSW
 October 26—Singing the Blues: Honoring Emotional Experience through MindfulnessBased Treatment of Depression, with Noga Zerubavel, PhD
 November 16—Insight and Change Through Behavioral Analysis, with Eric Gadol, PhD
AHEC link:
 To view online offerings through Area Health Education Centers go to
http://www.aheconnect.com/newahec/courses.asp and select “Connect to Your Online
Learning Solutions” to search the array of online workshops offered and their cost
See information on pages 4-5 of the syllabus for further information related to continuing
education workshops requirements.
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Continuing Education Workshops Attended
Total of 10 points (2.5 points per workshop hour)
Student Name: _______________________________________
1. Workshop Title: _____________________________________________________________
Presenter: __________________________________________________________________
Location: __________________________________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________
Hours Earned: ____________
2. Workshop Title: _____________________________________________________________
Presenter: __________________________________________________________________
Location: __________________________________________________________________
Date: ______________________________________
Hours Earned: ____________
Honor Code
It is the responsibility of every student to:
 Obey and support the enforcement of the Honor Code, which prohibits lying, cheating, or
stealing when these actions involve academic processes or University, student, or
academic personnel acting in an official capacity;
 Conduct all academic work within the letter and spirit of the Honor Code, which
prohibits the giving or receiving of unauthorized aid in all academic processes.
My signature below attests that I arrived at the start of each workshop listed above and remained
present for the entirety of each workshop.
__________________________________________
Signature of Student
________________________
Date
NOTE: Please attach another page if needed for additional workshops.