University of Nevada, Reno │ School of Social Work, Field Education Program
Field Practicum Foundation Site Visit Form
Background and Instructions
According to the Council on Social Work Education, “Field education is systematically designed, supervised, coordinated,
and evaluated based on criteria by which students demonstrate the achievement of program competencies.” In order to
achieve this, the School of Social Work faculty liaison aims to develop a partnership with the student and their
agency/supervisors to develop, implement, and monitor generalist practice opportunities offered at each site for each
student. The School of Social Work utilizes a “formative” approach to assess field education settings. The belief is that
the success of a field placement rests on the unique combination of the student, the field instructor, the agency, and the
context of the field placement for any given year.
The purpose of this form and the site visit is to assess the student’s placement during the course of the semester so that
actions may be taken to address any issues as soon as possible. Thus, it is important that students critically assess their
placement, the opportunities, and their experiences to date. This form is to be completely solely by the student and will
not be directly shared with the field instructor or the agency. However, if there is an issue(s) that needs to be addressed,
the faculty liaison will make a plan with the student to inform the agency of these issues and work toward a resolution.
The completion of this form will prepare the student and the faculty liaison for a scheduled on-site meeting with the
student and their designated field instructor (and other supervisors as appropriate).
Current Semester (double click to select one) Faculty Liaison
Name (First and Last Name)
Fall
Spring
Placement Setting (Agency Name/Unit, etc.)
Field Instructor (Social Work Supervisor)
Task Supervisor(s) (if applicable)
Agency Address
Field Instructor Phone
City
Student Phone
Part One: General tasks and opportunities. To be completed by the student.
Briefly describe your basic tasks and opportunities that you have been doing to date:
Date of Site Visit
University of Nevada, Reno │ School of Social Work, Field Education Program
Part Two: Relationship of field setting experiences to competencies and practice behaviors. To be
completed by the student.
Review the Foundation “Competencies” and “Practice Behaviors” identified below in columns A and B. Check
the boxes next to each “Practice Behavior” that you feel you have been able to work on, to date, in your field
practicum (double click the box and select “checked”). Utilize column C to record any questions or concerns you
have about the competency/practicum opportunities and any plans to demonstrate behaviors not yet completed.
A. Foundation Competency
B. Practice Behaviors
(double click to select behaviors
you have been working on)
2.1.1 Identify as a professional
social worker and conduct oneself
accordingly
Advocate for client access to
the services of social work;
Practice personal reflection and
self-correction to assure continued
professional development;
Attend to professional roles and
boundaries;
Demonstrate professional
demeanor in behavior, appearance,
and communication;
Engage in career-long learning;
Use supervision and
consultation.
Social workers serve as
representatives of the profession, its
mission, and its core values. They
know the profession’s history.
Social workers commit themselves
to the profession’s enhancement
and to their own professional
conduct and growth.
2.1.2 Apply social work ethical
principles to guide professional
practice
Social workers have an obligation to
conduct themselves ethically and to
engage in ethical decision- making.
Social workers are knowledgeable
about the value base of the
profession, its ethical standards,
and relevant law.
2.1.3 Apply critical thinking to
Inform and communicate
professional judgments
Social workers are knowledgeable
about the principles of logic,
scientific inquiry, and reasoned
discernment. They use critical
thinking augmented by creativity
and curiosity. Critical thinking also
requires the synthesis and
communication of relevant
information.
Recognize and manage
personal values in a way that allows
professional values to guide practice;
Make ethical decisions by
applying standards of the National
Association of Social Workers Code
of Ethics and, as applicable, of the
International Federation of Social
Workers/International Association of
Schools of Social Work Ethics in
Social Work, Statement of Principles;
Tolerate ambiguity in resolving
ethical conflicts;
Apply strategies of ethical
reasoning to arrive at principled
decisions.
Distinguish, appraise, and
integrate multiple sources of
knowledge, including researchbased knowledge, and practice
wisdom;
Analyze models of assessment,
prevention, intervention, and
evaluation; and
Demonstrate effective oral and
written communication in working
with individuals, families, groups,
organizations, communities, &
colleagues.
C. Plans for completing tasks to
demonstrate behaviors not yet
completed.
University of Nevada, Reno │ School of Social Work, Field Education Program
2.1.4 Engage diversity and
difference in practice
Social workers understand how
diversity characterizes and shapes
the human experience and is critical
to the formation of identity. The
dimensions of diversity are
understood as the intersectionality
of multiple factors including age,
class, color, culture, disability,
ethnicity, gender, gender identity
and expression, immigration status,
political ideology, race, religion, sex,
and sexual orientation. Social
workers appreciate that, as a
consequence of difference, a
person’s life experiences may
include oppression, poverty,
marginalization, and alienation as
well as privilege, power, and
acclaim.
2.1.5 Advance human rights and
social and economic justice
Each person, regardless of position
in society, has basic human rights,
such as freedom, safety, privacy, an
adequate standard of living, health
care, and education. Social workers
recognize the global
interconnections of oppression and
are knowledgeable about theories
of justice and strategies to promote
human and civil rights. Social work
incorporates social justice practices
in organizations, institutions, and
society to ensure that these basic
human rights are distributed
equitably and without prejudice.
2.1.6 Engage in research-informed
practice and practice- informed
research
Social workers use practice
experience to inform research,
employ evidence-based
interventions, evaluate their own
practice, and use research findings
to improve practice, policy, and
social service delivery. Social
workers comprehend quantitative
and qualitative research and
understand scientific and ethical
approaches to building knowledge.
Recognize the extent to which a
culture’s structures and values may
oppress, marginalize, alienate, or
create or enhance privilege and
power;
Gain sufficient self-awareness
to recognize the influence of
personal biases and values in
working with diverse groups;
Recognize, value, and
communicate their understanding of
the importance of difference in
shaping life experiences;
View themselves as learners
and engage those with whom they
work as experts of their own
circumstances/lives.
Understand the forms and
mechanisms of oppression and
discrimination;
Advocate for human rights and
social and economic justice;
Engage in practices that
advance social and economic
justice.
Use practice experience to
inform scientific inquiry
Use research evidence to
inform practice.
University of Nevada, Reno │ School of Social Work, Field Education Program
2.1.7 Apply knowledge of human
behavior and the social environment
Social workers are knowledgeable
about human behavior across the
life course; the range of social
systems in which people live; and
the ways social systems promote or
deter people in maintaining or
achieving health and well-being.
Social workers apply theories and
knowledge from the liberal arts to
understand biological, social,
cultural, psychological, and spiritual
development.
2.1.8 Engage in policy practice to
advance social and economic wellbeing and to deliver effective social
work services
Utilize conceptual frameworks
to guide the processes of
assessment, intervention, and
evaluation;
Critique and apply knowledge to
understand person and environment.
Analyze, formulate, and
advocate for policies that advance
social well-being;
Collaborate with colleagues and
clients for effective policy action.
Social work practitioners
understand that policy affects
service delivery, and they actively
engage in policy practice. Social
workers know the history and
current structures of social policies
and services; the role of policy in
service delivery; and the role of
practice in policy development.
2.1.9 Respond to contexts that
shape practice
Social workers are informed,
resourceful, and proactive in
responding to evolving
organizational, community, and
societal contexts at all levels of
practice. Social workers recognize
that the context of practice is
dynamic, and use knowledge and
skill to respond proactively.
2.1.10 Engage, assess, intervene,
& evaluate with individuals, families,
groups, organizations, &
communities
Professional practice involves the
dynamic and interactive processes
of engagement, assessment,
intervention, and evaluation at
multiple levels. Social workers have
the knowledge and skills to practice
with individuals, families, groups,
organizations, and communities.
Practice knowledge includes
identifying, analyzing, and
implementing evidence-based
interventions designed to achieve
Continuously discover,
appraise, and attend to changing
locales, populations, scientific and
technological developments, and
emerging societal trends to provide
relevant services;
Provide leadership in promoting
sustainable changes in service
delivery and practice to improve the
quality of social services.
Engagement
Substantively and affectively
prepare for action with individuals,
families, groups, organizations, and
communities;
Use empathy and other
interpersonal skills; and
Develop a mutually agreed-on
focus of work and desired outcomes.
Assessment
Collect, organize, and interpret
client data;
Assess client strengths and
limitations;
Develop mutually agreed-on
University of Nevada, Reno │ School of Social Work, Field Education Program
client goals; using research and
technological advances; evaluating
program outcomes and practice
effectiveness; developing,
analyzing, advocating, and
providing leadership for policies and
services; and promoting social and
economic justice.
intervention goals and objectives;
and
Select appropriate intervention
strategies.
Intervention
Initiate actions to achieve
organizational goals;
Implement prevention
interventions that enhance client
capacities;
Help clients resolve problems;
Negotiate, mediate, and
advocate for clients;
Facilitate transitions and
endings.
Evaluation
Critically analyze, monitor, and
evaluate interventions.
Part Three: Student assessment of field practicum setting. To be completed by the student.
The information provided in section two above captures how you are accessing practice opportunities to
demonstrate your core competencies. In this section, please describe your overall experience with your field
placement. Please briefly respond to the following questions (the boxes will expand as you type).
1. Overall, describe your experience in connecting the material you have learned in your classes with your experiences
in the field practicum.
2. To date, assess yourself as a learner in your field practicum (i.e. level of engagement, enthusiasm, commitment to
learning, communication, seeking out supervision/asking questions, following direction/instructions, etc.).
3. Describe how you were oriented to your field agency, the placement, and your role as a student.
4. Describe your experiences with supervision in your practicum (i.e. access to supervision, who is involved, structure,
format, frequency, strengths, challenges, etc.)
5. In general, what is working well or the best for you in your practicum?
6. In general, what is not working well or has been challenging for you in your practicum?
7. Please describe anything else you would like to share about your practicum.
University of Nevada, Reno │ School of Social Work, Field Education Program
Part Four: To be completed by Faculty Liaison during or following site visit.
Generalist practice opportunities were reviewed with student and supervisor(s).
Role of the student is clearly defined.
Student has adequate workspace.
Student has weekly supervision that is scheduled and consistent.
Student is on track to complete the required 225 hours this semester.
If applicable, needs, concerns, and special circumstances were appropriately addressed.
Description of any needed follow-up activities that are a result of the site visit:
Date:
Student Signature
Date:
Field Liaison Signature