______________________________________________________________________________
College of Health and Human Services
Department of Social Work
Field Education
749 Chestnut Street
Terre Haute, Indiana 47809
Telephone: 812-237-2322
Fax: 812-237-8114
Assignment Options for Field Practica Learning Plans
The following items are provided as optional assignments for BSW and MSW generalist students
to use in creating individual learning plans that are utilized in field practica. In other words,
students may use the options listed below or may create unique items, in collaboration with Field
Instructor (FI)/Task Supervisor(TS), to satisfy the assignments that help to comprise the learning
and development of skill as outlined in each of the Practice Behaviors. Students may not ‘count’
one activity or assignment in multiple Practice Behaviors; each assignment counts only once.
Items in Bold/Red are required items for all students. Each Bold/Red item MUST be
written into the individual learning plan.
Competencies/Practice Behaviors identified in grey boxes are optional for BSW Junior Students
ONLY. BSW Seniors and All MSW students are required to complete all Practice Behaviors.
Competency 1:
Practice
Behavior
Assignment
1 Shadow workers and process with FI
2 Identify several links in community that address advocacy needs
3 Assist ct. in identifying resources
4 Attend 4 agency, court, or community meetings and participate
5 Provide education to several clients
PB 1. Advocate
for client access
to services of
social work.
6 Discuss agency relationships to the community delivery system
7 Seek necessary organizational change as directed by FI
8 Use planned change model in a specific agency task and process with FI
9 Read patient advocate manual & note how polices relate to ct. care
10 Contact legal aid & ask what services they offer for a vulnerable population
11 Create a resource manual for the agency
12 Research 2 laws specific to agency cts
13 Write several letters to legislation advocating for a population/service
1 Identify at least 2 areas of discomfort while working with cts and process with FI
PB2. Practice
personal
reflection and
self-correction to
assure continual
professional
development.
2 Identify at least 4 strategies to cope with discomfort
3 Develop an extensive written plan to improve one’s skills
4 Identify how one’s biases and/or life experiences affect the development of
professional relationships & demonstrate ability to modify one’s behavior accordingly
5 Attend a professional development training
1 Shadow & observe at least 2 other roles in the agency and discuss with FI how they
complement and contrast social work
2 Interview 2 other staff in agency (administrator, teacher, nurse, parent etc.)
PB 3. Attend to
professional roles
and boundaries.
3 Define the role of a social worker in relationship to other professional roles
4 Demonstrate understanding of role of SW in the agency setting
5 Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of boundaries and practice
6 Demonstrate ability to work satisfactorily in the agency structure
7 List five examples of boundary violations and five examples of healthy boundaries
PB 4.
Demonstrate
professional
demeanor in
behavior,
appearance, and
communication.
8 Recognize own limitations & abilities as a SW
1 Effectively use nonverbal communication & voice tone in at least 4 interactions and
seek feedback from FI
2 Demonstrate professional behavior within community and agency setting
3 Follow dress code consistently and articulate your personal standards to FI
4 Be on time and on scheduled days to agency and demonstrate protocol if late or sick
consistently
5 Exhibit professional social work habits and articulate your personal standards to FI
6 Introduce self effectively & engage with other workers professionally
1 Attend 2 professional workshops/lectures
2 Plan & conduct an in-service training event
3 Discuss & implement stress and time management strategies
4 Interview 3 workers on how they engage in self-care.
PB 5. Engage in
career long
learning.
5 Demonstrates initiative by asking questions to increase knowledge base in at least 3
different circumstances
6 Read 3 professional journals and summarize
7 Identify 2 aspects of your personal learning style and discuss how they affect your
learning with FI
8 Identify and utilize 3 opportunities to advance knowledge
9 Develop goals and objectives for assessing personal and professional growth
PB 6. Use
supervision and
consultation.
1 Attend all weekly supervision meetings
2 Recognize & discuss personal bias
3 Be prepared & create agenda for meetings with FI
4 Discuss questions or concerns from at least 2 unique or rare cases and compare to how
your FI might address the cases
5 Identify several areas of strength and growth needed
6 Ask for, accept, and integrate feedback on a variety of issues
7 Keep log of experiences & reactions, aside from your journal, to discuss with your FI
8 Accept feedback without becoming defensive on multiple occasions
9 Practice assertiveness skills without being offensive, receive feedback from FI
10 Role-play to develop new skills
11 Seek supervision in addition to the scheduled supervision times, when appropriate
Competency 2:
Practice
Behavior
Assignment
1 Discuss the impact of personal values on ethical practice with FI
PB 7. Recognize
and manage
personal values
in a way that
allows
professional
values to guide
practice.
2 Discuss agency practice as it relates to the Code
3 Ask 3 social workers how their values impact practice
4 Demonstrate understanding of the value base of social work with FI
5 Discuss one section of the Code each week for 4 weeks
6 Present an overview of the Code during a staff meeting
7 Identify at least 3 clients whose values differ from your own and reflect on these
differences with FI
8 Analyze your own practice & discuss with FI
9 Review your effectiveness in using the Code with FI
PB 8. Make
ethical decisions
by applying
standards of the
National
Association of
Social Workers
Code of Ethics.
1 Identify at least 6 ethical and 6 unethical behaviors common in the agency setting
2 Research articles regarding the definition of ethical dilemma and discuss in
supervision
3 Review & discuss policy manual and identify potential ethical issues that may arise
4 Discuss your ethical decision making framework with a colleague and seek their
feedback
1 Initiate supervision regarding the application of ethics to work with cts
2 Discuss conflict resolution in supervision
PB 9. Tolerate
ambiguity in
resolving ethical
conflicts.
3 Discuss challenges and ethical dilemmas related to confidentiality confronting today’s
social workers
4 Discuss guidelines for self-disclosure to clients with FI
5 Review 2 articles on self-disclosure
6 In supervision, student will describe examples of his/her ability to tolerate ambiguity
in resolving ethical conflicts
1 Research 2 articles on Ethical Decision-making in social work and discuss with FI
PB 10. Apply
strategies of
ethical reasoning
to arrive at
principled
decisions.
2 Identify potential ethical dilemmas that surface in social work environments as related
to the NASW Code and create strategies to solve these dilemmas
3 Discuss Essential Steps for Ethical Problem-Solving with FI
4 Attend ethics committee meetings within the agency
5 Student understands and acts to protect the cts’ interests and can articulate through
discussion with FI
Competency 3:
Practice
Behavior
PB 11.
Distinguish,
appraise, and
integrate
multiple sources
of knowledge,
including
research-based
knowledge and
practice wisdom.
Assignment
1 Identify & articulate one’s own belief system with regards to cts, ct problems,
practice skills and intervention, and social policy
2 Demonstrate ability to raise important questions and problems in social work
3 Complete 2 biopsychosocial assessments by shadowing, completing with supervision,
and independently
4 Research info on ……… to gain additional knowledge
5 Interview members from an interdisciplinary team regarding the same issue
1 Observe intakes from 4 different staff and discuss the approaches that you would like
to try with your FI
PB 12. Analyze
models of
assessment,
prevention,
intervention, and
evaluation.
2 Compare and contrast models of assessment, prevention, intervention
3 Discuss specific interventions being used with population served
4 Research effectiveness of…… & present to FI
5 Demonstrate ability to evaluate the efficacy of assessment and prevention models
relative to population served
6 Demonstrate critical thinking skills through application of a model to a case
1 Review agency policy on written & verbal communication and discuss with TS
PB 13.
Demonstrate
effective oral and
written
communication
in working with
individuals,
families,
organizations,
communities, and
colleagues.
2 Verbally communicate clearly and effectively with clients and staff and receive
feedback from TS
3 Observe case note documentation of 4 other staff paying special attention to what is
and is not included. Discuss the analysis with FI
4 Complete mock case note documentation & obtain feedback
5 Complete documentation independently
6 Always document daily and concurrently and analyze then discuss your limits with
doing so with FI
7 Communicate needs to FI
8 Prepare written report that demonstrates ability to gather relevant information about
and with the client/group/or community
9 Demonstrate ability to write with clarity and purpose
10 Present an in-service project
11 Demonstrate willingness and ability to listen to others, accept client and supervisor
feedback and articulate what the feedback included to FI
Competency 4:
Practice
Behavior
PB 14. Recognize
the extent to
which a culture's
structures and
values may
oppress,
marginalize,
alienate, or
create or enhance
privilege and
power.
Assignment
1 Read 6 various types of material on a population served by the agency and synthesize
the information in a discussion with FI
2 Attend trainings on culture, oppression, or empowerment and process how the content
applies to the population served by your agency
3 Discuss concerns in meeting the needs of cts.
4 Identify gaps in services
5 Identify several personal experiences with groups different than you and discuss how
these experiences affect your interactions with persons now as opposed to previously
6 Demonstrate ability to work with cts who are experiencing some form of
discrimination
PB 15. Gain
sufficient selfawareness to
eliminate the
influence of
personal biases
and values in
working with
diverse groups.
PB 16. Recognize
and communicate
their
understanding of
the importance of
difference in
shaping life
experiences.
1 Experiment with using person-first language and process with FI
2 Candidly discuss the impact of a couple of personal experiences with clients with FI.
Discussion should include biases, comfort level with client, language used and heard
in the experiences, and overall likes and dislikes about the client and why
3 Engage in an event that involves others that make the student the minority (an
interactive event) and process with FI what biases were experienced and how it
felt
4 Demonstrate ability to work with cts of various cultural, ethnic and racial
backgrounds and with a variety of problems and value-sensitive issues
5 Develop appropriate strategies for managing biases effectively in order to practice
without discrimination
6 Students use an instructor provided self-evaluation tool to assessing GIM skills
when working with 2 cts then discuss outcomes with FI. (Juniors use
engagement and assessment sections only; Seniors use all 7 measures of GIM).
Documents to be turned into course instructor when completed. (Assignment
not required for MSW students).
7 Self-reflect in journal (write several additional journal entries with this focus)
8 Attend community meetings( ex: Foster Care Review Board) and process with FI how
these meetings influence your work with clients
1 Participate in an international immersion event (not observation) Process the
event with FI form the perspective of how it felt to be different
2 Discuss the impact of diversity from the perspective of at least 2 cases
3 Discuss the impact of oppression, discrimination, prejudice, and stereotyping on clts
4 Complete genogram on a couple of your cases
5 Complete Ecomap on a couple of your cases
6 Compare & Contrast own childhood with experiences of 2 agency clts
7 Demonstrate communication with diverse population and process with FI. Include
components of language, non-verbal and verbal, as well as understanding of factors
that affect communication.
8 Engage in an in-depth discussion of your acceptance of a human difference with
your FI
1 Identify areas for future learning & development & discuss the importance of future
professional development as a social worker
PB 17. View
themselves as
learners and
engage those with
whom they work
as informants.
2 Describe the impact of culturally diverse factors at all system levels (micro, mezzo,
and macro).
3 Demonstrate effective and culturally competent interviewing skills to FI
4 Seek knowledge through verbal information with administrator, colleague, and clt.
Discuss synthesis of information and what you learned with FI
5 Demonstrate a demeanor of openness to learning. Process with FI what you think you
demonstrate and what FI observes. How congruent are the two perspectives?
6 Communicate with respect toward colleagues, FI/TS, administrators, staff, & clts.
What components of your style comprise ‘respect”? Process this with FI
7 Seek out an interpreter and translation service and learn how to use them
Competency 5:
Practice
Behavior
PB 18.
Understand the
forms and
mechanisms of
oppression and
discrimination.
Assignment
1 Identify how agency policies and procedures affect diverse populations eligible
for services
2 Discuss alternative means to meet ct’s needs
3 Research & report on social work legislation relevant to your agency
4 Pick one issue of oppression observed in community and discuss in supervision
5 Learn 3 ways culture of poverty hinders agency clients
6 Identify a socially outcast group and discuss the factors that 'make it so'
1 Review agency’s mission for its influence on social, economic, and political justice
2 Identify underserved needs of population served by agency
3 Attend a community meeting on advocacy that directly affects the population served
by your agency. What is the perspective that ‘fits’ with your agency?
PB 19. Advocate
for human rights
and social and
economic justice.
4 Complete a ct education project (newsletter, brochure, bulletin board)which will help
cts be better self-advocates
5 Identify gaps in community resources and discuss with FI
6 Develop advocacy strategies to meet these needs at all system levels (micro, mezzo,
and macro)
7 Review Patient Advocate Manual and discuss its effectiveness with FI
1 Research area agencies that advocate for population served & present in supervision
2 Attend LEAD Day
PB 20. Engage in
practices that
advance social
and economic
justice.
3 Attend treatment team/interagency council meetings
4 Discuss with your FI the criteria for accessing agency services, paying special
attention to possible access gaps
5 Assist several cts in completing paperwork
6 Identify your position of privilege and power in relation to ct system and process with
FI
Competency 6:
Practice
Behavior
Assignment
1 Discuss program evaluation to assess one agency program
2 Discuss the effect of research on agency practice and/or policy
PB 21. Use
practice to
inform scientific
inquiry.
3 Write a formal report on a topic, utilizing literature review, for agency
4 Conduct needs assessment
5 Identify theories & practices related to client population served by the agency
6 Review outcome measures and engage in a discussion with FI that demonstrates your
understanding of the meaning of the information
7 Develop/complete exit surveys
8 Review and/or assist in the completion of monthly reports
1 Discuss value of research as an integral part of social work practice
2 Read two journal articles about agency population & present to FI
3 Research two methods to develop intervention with ct.
4 In Supervision, identify a practice issue and research ways that the issue is addressed
in various settings
PB 22. Use
research evidence
5 Complete a literature review on in-service topic/practice issue
to inform
6 Demonstrate ability to clearly articulate an understanding of the relationship between
practice.
theory and social work practice
7 Complete a research project within the agency (including obtaining permission in
writing, IRB approval if needed, collecting and analyzing data, and providing a
written report as a product of the project.)
Competency 7:
Practice
Behavior
Assignment
1 Explore the theoretical frameworks used for practice within the agency setting
2 Read newspaper/watch news for related issues impacting cts and discuss with FI
PB 23. Utilize
conceptual
frameworks to
guide the
processes of
assessment,
intervention, and
evaluation.
3 Create an Eco-map
4 Complete comprehensive, culturally sensitive, bio-psycho-social-spiritual assessments
5 Research Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to assist in creating goals with cts
6 Research & apply Erickson’s developmental stages with two agency cts.
7 Practice using systems theory & strengths perspective & discuss with FI
8 Research & apply person-in-environment perspective and provide example during
supervision
1Review ct charts to learn about ct’s personal/family/mental health history
PB 24. Critique
and apply
knowledge to
understand
person and
environment.
2Evaluate & identify three environmental factors that affect ct situations
3Complete a case review during supervision
4Complete an Eco-Map
5 During supervision or staffing contrast two theories through one case
Competency 8:
Practice
Behavior
PB 25. Analyze,
formulate, and
advocate for
policies that
advance social
well-being.
Assignment
1 Describe social policies, laws, practices that impact the ct system or delivery of
services
2 Describe services and resources provided by the agency to its cts and identify well
utilized services as well as service gaps
3 Identify key stakeholders and the primary interest of each in the agency’s services
4 Review the agency's operating budget and review the agency's organizational chart
through the lens of fiscal effectiveness with FI
5 Research health reform policy & discuss strengths and weaknesses as it relates to cts
in your agency
1 Discuss understanding of policy development
2 Review policy manual and identify strengths and limitations in how it is written
3 Discuss community and political processes involved in linking direct practice with
broader social change objectives
PB 26.
Collaborate with
colleagues and
clients for
effective policy
action.
4 Interview workers on policies impacting practice to gain a perspective of why and
how the policy was created
5 Describe services and resources provided by the agency to its cts
6 Advocate with FI on changing one state or national policy
7 Contact legislators regarding one policy applicable to agency setting (with
permission)
8 Have an in-depth conversation with an agency leader (or FI) about a policy that
effects generalist practice
Competency 9:
Practice
Behavior
Assignment
1 Discuss five resources in the community that match most of the agency cts' needs
PB 27.
Continuously
discover,
appraise, and
attend to
changing locales,
populations,
scientific and
technological
developments,
and emerging
societal trends to
provide relevant
services.
2 Explore current technology to shape practice & discuss with FI. Practice usage only
with permission of FI/TS and within agency policy
3 Identify how program budget loss affects ct services at agency
4 Discuss social trends in responding to client needs
5 Describe the scope of problems the agency addresses
6 Articulate the agency’s mission, scope of services, and limitations
7 Shadow an agency leader for a day and discuss the impact that leadership has on
services offered and delivery modality
8 Develop your own extensive resource file
9 Provide relevant referrals to several clients. Discuss with FI to assure that you are
comprehensively addressing needs without unnecessary overlap.
10 Visit several referrals sources/agencies to understand the breadth of referral options
as well as potential problems that might arise with referral
11 Discuss or present effective use of strength's perspective to FI related to a case
PB 28. Provide
leadership in
promoting
sustainable
changes in
service delivery
and practice to
improve the
quality of social
services.
1 Identify agency policies and procedures that impact the quality of service delivery and
discuss with FI
2 Discuss with FI opportunities for improvement within agency services
3 Identify one area of service delivery and evaluate 360 degrees: from client, family
member, community, employee, leadership, political leader, and government
perspectives and discuss with FI
4 Provide an in-service to staff on an issue relevant to clts and propose a different way
to address the issue. Be sensitive to the audience, and present it in a receptive and
positive way. Use FI guidance in preparation and for review
5 Compare the formal & informal decision-making process within agency
Competency 10:
Practice
Behavior
PB 29.
Substantively
and affectively
prepare for
action with
individuals,
families, groups,
organizations,
and communities.
PB 30. Use
empathy and
other
interpersonal
skills.
Assignment
1 Reveiw ct charts before interacting regularly and discuss how this prepares you for ct
contact with FI
2 Consult with FI/TS regarding 4 cts to assure that you have properly prepared to meet
the cts
3 Gather relevant data in an organized manner and discuss with FI/TS
4 Observe multiple assessments/intakes and process with the individuals that you were
observing
5 Schedule and complete follow-up appointments with several cts and process with
FI/TS
6 Prepare for meetings by having relevant information needed for the meetings in an
organized and efficient manner
7 Create recommendations based on information gathered for at least 4 cts and discuss
with FI/TS
8 Maintain a case load throughout the practicum and regularly process with FI to assure
proper preparation for action
9 Demonstrate through case load management a thorough understanding of generalist
social work practice
10 Develop and demonstrate generalist social work skills in the interactive process with
at least 3 cts
1 Seek input from FI regarding interpersonal skills
2 Demonstrate ability to “start where the client is”
3 Demonstrate appropriate non-verbal skills
4 Discuss confidentiality with FI or agency official
5 Establish rapport with at least 2 ct systems
6 Demonstrate ability to verbalize empathic statements and process your style of doing
so with your FI
7 Self-reflect through at least 3 unique journal entries on use of empathy
8 Demonstrate ability to establish purpose and build comfort for ct
9 Complete a process recording or video session, as directed by FI/TS, specifically
focusing on empathy
10 Demonstrate ability to create and maintain therapeutic relationships with cts.
1 With FI, develop a plan of care including goals, objectives/outcomes for at least 2
cts
2 Discuss strategies to support and assist cts to find new ways of coping
3 In collaboration with ct systems, develop clear and timely service goals
PB 31. Develop a
mutually agreedon focus of work
and desired
outcomes.
4 Develop measurable objectives designed to meet agreed upon goals with focus on 2
cts then review the effectiveness with FI/TS when completed with cts
5 Complete 3 care plans
6 During your work with 2 cts, identify a mutually agreed upon problem and discuss
agency and community resources to address the need and create a mutually agreed
upon intervention, then evaluate the success of the intervention with the cts
7 Co-facilitate groups at agency
8 Facilitate groups independently
9 Demonstrate use of the generalist intervention model using strength's perspective
10 Demonstrate use of the generalist intervention model using ecological systems
perspective
11 Demonstrate knowledge of group development process via discussion with FI
B: Assessment.
Practice
Behavior
Assignment
1 Observe at least 4 assessments
PB 32. Collect,
organize, and
interpret client
data.
2Complete assessments and interpret the plan of care with FI
3Attend several treatment team/staff meetings and process with FI
4 Read 3 ct files and focus on initial evaluations and if all relevant information was
collected and used in designing a plan of care
5 Evaluate your own process and effectiveness in a case
1 Observe ct interaction assessing ct’s strengths and limitations
PB 33. Assess
client strengths
and limitations.
2 Present one case study in supervision assessing the ct’s strengths and limitations
3Through the interviewing process, identify at least three areas of strength & challenge
4 Develop and/or implement needs assessment survey. Assess agency needs and
capabilities
PB 34. Develop
mutually agreedon intervention
goals and
objectives.
1 Review two plans of care/treatment plans selected by FI and discuss
2 Discuss examples of realistic and measureable goals and importance of timeframe
3 Develop clear and timely interventions to meet goals with measureable objectives
with clients
PB 35. Select
appropriate
intervention
strategies.
C: Intervention.
Practice
Behavior
1 Observe intervention strategies specifically noting which cts work best in the
intervention
2 Discuss intervention strategies with FI/TS and process your thoughts about
intervention to develop awareness of your own effectiveness in planning
3 Research intervention strategies related to at least 4 potential ct needs
4 Student will be able to select from an array of intervention strategies and discuss why
the strategy was chosen
Assignment
PB 36. Initiate
actions to achieve
organizational
goals.
1 Discuss with FI the agency’s organizational goals/strategic plan
PB 37.
Implement
prevention
interventions that
enhance client
capacities.
1 In supervision discuss prevention intervention utilized by agency
PB 38. Help
clients resolve
problems.
2 Develop a mock strategic plan
3 Evaluate program effectiveness
2 Implement and continually assess progress towards goal attainment for at least 2 cts
3 Revise intervention plan accordingly
4 Develop a case plan with identified tasks and desired outcomes
1 Discuss with FI theoretical frameworks
2 Apply a theoretical framework while working with a ct toward goal attainment and
discuss the specific components of the theory that address the ct goal with FI
3 Evaluate ct’s progress toward an identified goal
4 Provide supportive comments and encouragement to ct, as appropriate to your scope
of practice
5 Co-facilitate a group
6 Explore and try different evidence based techniques used to facilitate ct goals
with FI/TS approval
7 Demonstrate understanding of the planned change process through a case discussion
with FI
1 Connect ct to appropriate resources and referrals to promote goal attainment
PB 39. Negotiate,
mediate, and
advocate for
clients.
2 Advocate for needed services for cts
3 Provide education to cts
4 Utilize confrontation effectively when advocating for a ct and process with FI
5 Discuss roles of a generalist social worker, such as broker, evaluator, teacher,
community planner etc. in the process of advocating for a ct. How many different
roles did this particular advocacy require and how many interactions were used?
PB 40. Facilitate
transitions and
endings.
1 Discuss in supervision preparation for termination with ct systems/social work
program
2 Demonstrate ability to assess successful goal attainment and plan termination
accordingly
3 Successfully terminate the helping process and empower cts. Discuss with FI how
you addressed the cts feelings about termination
4 Process thoughts and feelings about termination in supervision
5 Make appropriate referrals as part of termination with several cts
D: Evaluation.
Practice
Behavior
Assignment
1 Continuously evaluate intervention, not only at termination, throughout work with
several cts
2 Evaluate results that test the efficacy of interventions used and monitor successes,
failures, and progress in achieving outcomes
PB 41. Critically
analyze, monitor,
and evaluate
interventions.
3 Become familiar with assessment tools utilized at the agency and be able to discuss
the validity and reliability of each
4 Participate in evaluating own professional performance and effectiveness with cts
5 Self evaluate ability to advocate for cts at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels and
compare to feedback from FI
6 Practice agency documentation at least five times during the semester and review
with FI for progress/mastery