Learning Contract Sample Task/Activities
Advanced Practice Behaviors
Competency 1: Identify with Social Work Profession
Continually employ and
1. I will communicate with my supervisor before and after group session
model conscious use of self,
to evaluate my role as a therapist and receive feedback and
self-reflection, selfcorrection as needed throughout the semester.
monitoring, and self2. I will compare and contrast how I interact with clients/patients
correction in practice
currently and how I interacted with clients/patients in the previous
situations.
semester. I will evaluate how I have grown and developed in a
professional manner. I will discuss this with my supervisor by the end
of January.
3. In weekly supervision I will discuss my reflections, questions and
concerns about my own limitations and identify my strengths.
Adhere to and model
1. Reflect on lessons learned about boundaries while at _____. Learn
professional roles and
how to utilize these lessons once graduated.
boundaries.
2. Talk with supervisor about roles and boundaries within the school
setting and within the client’s home.
3. I will explore my use of self-disclosure when interacting with clients in
supervision by __________date.
4. I will follow the facility dress code, be punctual, respectful and uphold
confidentiality at all times and discuss in supervision throughout the
semester.
5. I will identify and discuss with supervisor the differences in my role
when working with clients in group and individual settings.
Advocate for client systems 1. Spend at least one hour learning how to complete DHS assistance
in a manner that addresses
forms to better assist a client in the future with this task.
culturally influenced
2. Become educated on at least 4 available resources in the community
barriers to services
to effectively provide clients with referrals to agencies/organizations
presented by practitioners,
as needed.
organizations and larger
3. I will identify any cultural barriers that may prevent clients from
systems.
receiving services (i.e. religion, language, and sexual orientation) and
advocate for them to receive adequate services to meet their needs
and discuss in supervision.
4. I will create different charts for patients to use who may experience
barriers to communication. They can utilize these charts to converse
with health care professionals so it can be ensured their needs are
met and their concerns are known. This may be beneficial for
patients who are hard of hearing, or whose English is not their first
language.
5. I will produce a procedures manual to guide employee interaction
with consumers. I will also spend time working directly with
consumers to be able to address their needs.
Competency 2: Apply Ethical Principles in Practice
Demonstrate leadership in
applying ethical reasoning
for problem resolution.
Systematically question
statements of value and
recognize the underlying
ethics of policies, theories
and models
1. I will present one case consultation during a team meeting describing
an ethical dilemma and decision making model for problem
resolution.
2. I will promote ethical practice by identifying one situation each month
that dealt with ethics and discuss this with my supervisor, referencing
the NASW code of ethics as appropriate.
3. Apply ethics when it comes to family issues with confidentiality and
discuss with supervisor.
4. I will review the Advanced Care Planning materials for individual with
chronic illness and practice these situations with my supervisor during
supervisor meetings.
1. I will discuss in supervision a policy that affects our clients that is
based within the agency or mental health community of Grand
Rapids, brainstorming root causes of the policy and avenues for
improvement.
2. Compare the policy about counseling in schools for Blue Cross/Blue
Shield, Network 180, and the ____ agency and discuss with
supervisor.
3. I will assist at least 2 clients in advocating for themselves as necessary
to ensure that they are receiving the assistance and best care
possible, discussing in supervision the approach I used with client to
do so.
4. I will practice critical thinking regarding the “duty to warn” policy in
Michigan and apply to a particular case, discussing in a clinical
consultation with the appropriate therapist.
5. I will produce and distribute a Gentle Teaching manual for use by
employees during training sessions.
Competency 3: Apply Critical Thinking in Practice
Differentially select and
implement strategies for
assessment and
intervention utilizing
evidence based practice
and best practice methods
Produces practice ready
1. Research curriculum for bully prevention that is age appropriate and
make recommendation for the curriculum that best fits the need.
2. I will develop treatment plans using evidence based treatment
modalities (CBT, DBT, Mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing) and
discuss my progress in supervision.
3. Search and select evidence based models for treating clients/patients
with __________ and introduce these models to case managers and
nurses at ________.
4. I will administer the _________ standardized test to at least two
students during the semester to determine if they meet eligibility for
services. I will administer an anxiety screen to one student and score.
5. I will co-facilitate Seeking Safety Session I and discuss any concerns
and observations with supervisor and counseling department staff.
1. Complete one grant application by the end of the semester for review
presentations and
documents that could
include presentations,
journal articles, grant
applications, legislative
brief/summary (ies)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
by my field instructor.
Develop an 8 week, 1 hour curriculum and present it to the treatment
team for implementation by the end of the semester.
Develop a presentation for case manager nurses on evidence based
practice models for treatment of ____________.
I will edit three assessments and write ten progress notes by ______.
These will be reviewed with my supervisor.
Take part in and document a student’s IEP by _______________ date.
I will assist my supervisor in continuing education presentations on
chronic pain throughout the month of February.
I will develop a Power Point presentation on the Medical Home
Survivorship for cancer patients and present this information to my
supervisor by the end of December.
Competency 4: Incorporate Diversity into Practices
Transform one’s behavior
in response to a recognition
of one’s biases based in
difference and culture
Modify and adapt
mainstream knowledge and
interventions to meet
needs of diverse
populations and that
challenge oppression
Apply strengths and
empowerment
perspectives as practice
approaches with diverse
groups at multiple levels.
Examine one’s role as the
life-long learner in the area
of diversity and culture.
1. By November 1, I will write a reflection of one experience and discuss
with my supervisor my awareness of personal values and how that
impacted my interaction with the client.
2. I will identify two biases and consult with my supervisor/team in
regards to how to place them aside in order to provide clients with
the best care possible.
3. Identify ways students and families views are different my own in at
least two supervision sessions during the semester.
1. I will learn about treatment modalities for older adults age 50 and
older and discuss any treatment modifications with my supervisor.
2. I will learn about treatment for the LGBTQ population and use this
knowledge to adapt treatment plans to their specific needs and
strengths.
3. Attend motivational interviewing training and find ways to
adapt/utilize for school/child setting.
4. Attend art therapy training on ____________date and apply it to
practice with children and families. Discuss outcomes in supervision.
1. I will ask each client their strengths and document them in the initial
assessment. I will bring these strengths into sessions to encourage
and affirm the client’s abilities. This will be reflected in progress
notes.
2. I will write all treatment plans to fit the stage of change my client is
currently at and receive feedback from my supervisor upon review of
these plans.
3. I will encourage our patients to take part in empowering activities
such as support groups and the “Look Good, Feel Better” program
during new patient meetings. I will attend a support group to be a
part of the process.
1. I will use opportunities within the agency to engage diverse
populations and record cultural interactions in a journal for seminar
and case notes.
2. I will continue to stay updated on Patient Assistance Program
available to cancer patients and search for other organizations
currently unknown. I will update the spreadsheets utilized weekly.
COMPETENCY 5: ADVOCATE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Demonstrate necessary
skills to change social
institutions to be more
humane and responsive.
Identify weakness in
various systems and
develop and propose social
policies that promote social
justice.
1. I will review the agency policies/procedures regarding relapse and any
repercussions from the program to the relapse to see if the policies
adhere to the NASW standards and discuss with my supervisor.
1. Identify a policy that has inequities built into it and research how to
improve such policies
2. Identify weaknesses in the team through use of data. Talk with the
supervisor and coordinator to address these issues.
3. Research the Medicaid policies in the State of Michigan and find
weaknesses with the current system as it pertains to spend downs
and individuals who are not documented US residents. Based upon
the research I will write a letter to the Dept. of Health explaining my
concerns by April.
COMPETENCY 6: ENGAGE IN INFORMED RESEARCH
Design and implement
various steps in the
research process.
Integrate qualitative and
quantitative research in all
aspects of advanced
generalist practice.
1. I will design a research interview process to find a deeper meaning to
how incarcerated mothers parent their children while in jail. It will be
a voluntary interview and improved by my supervisor.
2. Design a cost-benefit analysis research surrounding the _____
program.
3. I will assist in researching the connection between trauma and
substance use, producing articles to be used for a presentation in the
spring. Co-present the topic with my supervisor.
4. Research activities to be utilized in the social skills group setting and
implement the strategies within the group.
5. Research the impact of the change in temperature on chronic pain for
clients. Explore findings with my supervisor and how this can be
useful to programming.
6. I will conduct a review of the literature discussing symptoms and
effective interventions when working with individuals with Asperger’s
Syndrome to inform my practice. Findings/literature review will be
presented to my supervisor/team meeting.
1. I will integrate qualitative research through the interview process and
share my finding with my supervisor and the team to better inform
practice and the development of the _______ program.
2. Review qualitative and quantitative research on medication assisted
treatment programs (methadone) and present my findings/literature
review to my supervisor/team.
3. Collect qualitative and quantitative research regarding high utilizers in
order to determine effectiveness of ________program.
4. I will assist in conducting interviews with clients to gather information
for the pilot Seeking Safety group for Network 180 to be used for
evaluation of new practice techniques.
5. This intern will assist counseling staff with requirements of Seeking
Safety Group by complying with all directives regarding group process
and research documentation requirements.
COMPETENCY 7: APPLY KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR IN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
Differentially apply theories
and frameworks of human
behavior and the
environment, recognizing
underlying assumptions,
values, strengths, and
weaknesses of these
theories.
1. Use theories of human behavior to address the needs of high utilizing
clients; utilize all information available in order to address their
needs.
2. I will attend the 2 day Motivational Interviewing training on dates
_________ to understand how clients approach counseling at
different levels of readiness to change their behavior and how to
tailor an intervention to each level.
3. Assess articles on evidenced based practices for working with
individuals with prior felonies and their re-integration into the
community after incarceration. Write a one page summary and
interview two individuals with prior felony convictions on the
challenges they have faced since returning to their communities.
COMPETENCY 8: ENGAGE IN POLICY PRACTICE TO ADVANCE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING
Analyze, evaluate,
formulate, and advocate
for policies that respond to
emerging local, regional,
and societal trends to
advance well-being.
Analyze specific policies
and practices and their
impact on diverse
populations.
1. Identify a policy that negatively impacts the uninsured/Medicaid
population I serve and write to local legislators about potential harm
of such policies.
2. Research the new Health Care Reform Act and how it impacts
individuals with co-occurring disorders and discuss my finding in
supervision.
3. Work with team to evaluate policies surrounding integrated health.
Address these issues when developing program presentation to the
board association.
4. I will analyze a policy from the county CMH/coordinating agency
which directly impacts my clients, highlighting strengths and barriers
to clients within the framework of the policy.
5. I will analyze and evaluate current domestic violence policies in ____
County to determine ways in which to appropriately advocate for
clients and discuss with my supervisor or one of the therapists.
1. Analyze policies in ______County that influences individual’s ability to
access high quality healthcare.
2. I will write a summary of the key features expected to develop in
health care reform by the end of February. I will show this to my
supervisor and discuss these features.
COMPETENCY 9: RESPOND TO CONTEXTS THAT SHAPE PRACTICE
Analyze context and
demonstrate the ability to
initiate innovative and
resourceful action with
regard to emerging local,
regional and societal trends
and needs.
1. Review current trends in addiction and mental health treatment and
discuss my finding with my supervisor.
2. I will engage in discussions about changing trends within the
community mental health field and __________ county in team
meetings as well as in supervision and seminar.
3. Research anti-bullying legislation and learn the local and regional
responses to the new legislation.
4. I will consider the “person in environment” perspective when working
with clients to implement appropriate therapeutic intervention to
meet the needs of the clients.
5. Research the availability to secure permanent housing with little to no
income, HUD, Grand Rapids Housing Commission and MSHDA laws.
Summarize findings in one page summary.
COMPETENCY 10: ENGAGE, ASSESS, INTERVENE, AND EVALUATE WITH INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES,
GROUPS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES
Demonstrates increasing
ability to independently
assess clients, and develop
collaborative plans based
on assessment.
Design and implement
intervention or prevention
approaches that effectively
influence multiple system
dimensions.
Evaluate practice
interventions across
complex systems at
multiple levels with diverse
populations.
1. Complete a client assessment and treatment plan with a client and
review with supervisor.
2. Maintain a caseload of __ clients and utilize assessment results in
forming client goals.
3. During the semester I will continue to assess clients and specifically
seek direction from my supervisor when using the DSM for clinical
impressions.
1. I will create appropriate, strength based, and achievable goals for
clients and receive guidance from my supervisor on way to improve
goal development.
2. Integrate multiple systems into a treatment plan (housing, legal,
health, behavioral health) to ensure the needs of the client are being
met and discuss with my supervisor.
3. By the end of the semester I will conduct my own Advanced Care
Planning meeting. I will ask the clients/patients to take a survey
regarding their experience and discuss the process with my
supervisor.
1. Conduct follow up evaluations on __ clients to evaluate program
effectiveness.
2. Utilize data to determine what practice approaches work with high
utilizing patients at all levels of care (emergency department,
ambulatory clinic, primary care, mental health clinic).
3. I will evaluate client satisfaction of my services through gathering
client feedback data from progress notes.
4. I will analyze and evaluate the actions of our supports coordinators
work with diverse populations. I will seek to improve the efficiency of
their practice, and to alleviate burdens they are experiencing.