University of Nevada, Reno │ School of Social Work, Field Education Program
Field Practicum Concentration 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 Concentration “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. Concentration 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
Initiate and facilitate socially
responsive and just practices across
systems;
Advanced generalist practitioners
identify with the human rights
values of the social work profession,
the centrality of relationships, and
the interconnections between client
issues and larger social problems.
Advanced practitioners in general
practice take leadership in ethically
and competently working to improve
the wellbeing of clients, families,
and communities.
Provide social work leadership
within practice contexts and as a
member of the profession;
2.1.2 Apply social work ethical
principles to guide professional
practice
Is able to critique ethical issues
within complex environments to
formulate innovative responses and
approaches;
Advanced generalist practitioners
readily recognize the range of
complex, multidimensional ethical
dilemmas that often characterize
practice settings. They are adept at
utilizing the advanced conceptual
frameworks required to explore,
navigate and resolve these complex
circumstances.
2.1.3 Apply critical thinking to
Inform and communicate
professional judgments
Advanced generalist practitioners
synthesize multiple sources of
information as they seek to
understand “what is” and clarify
“what’s possible” in addressing
issues that arise across system
levels. In turn, they effectively
communicate this information to
diverse client, multidisciplinary
team, and stakeholder groups.
Cultivate and apply leadership
qualities of self-awareness and other
awareness.
Employ strategies of ethical
reasoning in practice settings where
policies or values conflict with the
delivery of social work services,
personal values, or professional
ethics.
Question, evaluate, synthesize
and apply information from multiple
sources in framing ill-defined, ever
changing, multifaceted practice
issues;
Question, evaluate, select and
implement appropriate assessment,
intervention, and evaluation
strategies in complex, fluid,
multidimensional practice situations;
Produce practice-ready
presentations and documents (i.e.,
case presentations, intervention
demonstrations, journal articles,
grant applications, legislative briefs).
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
Advanced generalist practitioners
recognize that human diversity
includes and goes beyond
conventional categories of ethnicity
or culture and recognizes the
intersectionality of human
differences. Cultural humility
characterizes their professional
interactions across system levels.
2.1.5 Advance human rights and
social and economic justice
Advanced generalist practitioners
identify, analyze, and address
mechanisms of oppression and
injustice embedded within social
institutions, theoretical assumptions,
research endeavors, intervention
practices and policies. In doing so,
they are able to analyze complex
political, economic and social forces
that influence the distribution of
power and resources.
2.1.6 Engage in research-informed
practice and practice- informed
research
Advanced generalist practitioners
critically appraise and integrate data
from multiple sources to inform
practice decisions. Advanced
generalist practitioners also collect,
analyze, interpret, and
communicate data for program
development, evaluation and
ongoing improvement of services.
2.1.7 Apply knowledge of human
behavior and the social environment
Advanced generalist practitioners
integrate multiple theories about
human behavior and the social
environment to complete
comprehensive assessments and
develop and implement intervention
plans across system levels.
Advanced generalists give equal
importance to understanding
individual uniqueness and the
broader social issues that support
or deter well-being.
Demonstrate leadership in
collaboratively examining underlying
assumptions and developing
interculturally effective policies,
programs, and interventions;
Effectively navigate conflicts
between diverse identities within and
among individuals, families, groups
and organizations.
Approach practice with an
understanding of the complex and
interrelated factors impacting power
and oppression (i.e., interconnectedlocal, regional, national and globalfactors, both historic and
contemporary);
Identify, develop, implement
and evaluate strategies to address
policies, practices, and language that
are discriminatory and oppressive.
Question and critically evaluate
the strength and application of the
evidence in regard to assumptions,
context, and culture;
Employ evaluation frameworks
in assessing the impact of
intervention, programs, and policies;
Collaborate with the research
enterprise in identifying and
addressing questions emanating
from the practice arena.
Integrate understandings from a
variety of theoretical perspectives in
formulating comprehensive,
multidimensional assessments and
interventions;
Identify and question underlying
theoretical and ontological
assumptions about human behavior
guiding agency practices, program
and policies.
University of Nevada, Reno │ School of Social Work, Field Education Program
2.1.8 Engage in policy practice to
advance social and economic wellbeing and to deliver effective social
work services
Advanced generalist practitioners
utilize a range of analytical
frameworks to assess the efficacy,
costs and consequences of policy
choices. In turn, advanced
generalists use these data to
develop and advocate for socially
and economically just policies that
promote the human rights and
dignity of all.
2.1.9 Respond to contexts that
shape practice
Grounded in the profession’s
person-in-environment perspective,
advanced practitioners recognize
and attend to the cultural,
organizational, and social elements
that continually influence and shape
social work practice.
2.1.10 Engage, assess, intervene,
& evaluate with individuals, families,
groups, organizations, &
communities
Advanced generalist practitioners
are ethical, competent leaders who
are able to practice reflectively and
autonomously in complex
environments across system levels
with diverse groups. Advanced
practitioners integrate the systems,
person-in-environment, and
strengths perspectives with an array
of theoretical models and
intervention approaches to
collaboratively frame and address
complex issues, questions and
problems. Thus, advanced practice
involves the continuous, dynamic
interplay of engagement,
multidimensional assessment,
intervention and evaluation
processes- across system levels.
Apply analytical frameworks to
critically assess the intended and
unintended outcomes of existing and
proposed policies, especially with
respect to vulnerable populations;
Formulate and advocate for
policies that promote socially and
economically just practices and
services at all system levels.
Based on evidence, facilitate
and formulate innovative responses
within ambiguous and changing
practice contexts;
Critically analyze and apply
relevant data and emerging
interventions and technologies to
evolving practice contexts;
Analyze and effectively navigate
contextual structures (e.g., power,
resources) encountered in emerging
practice contexts.
Engagement
Attend to the interpersonal
dynamics, cultural and contextual
factors that support or threaten
client-worker relationships;
Establish a relationally based
process that encourages clients to
be equal participants in the
establishment of intervention goals
and expected outcomes.
Assessment
Adapt, modify and use
multidimensional tools in conducting
comprehensive, culturally effective,
integrative case assessments;
Identify client system strengths
and coping capacities;
Assess client system readiness
for change;
Select and modify intervention
strategies based on continuous
evaluation and assessment.
Intervention
Critically evaluate, select and
apply best practices and evidenceinformed interventions;
Capable of autonomous
practice, in competently applying
University of Nevada, Reno │ School of Social Work, Field Education Program
appropriate intervention techniques
for a range of presenting issues,
problems, or questions;
Develop and implement
collaborative multidisciplinary
interventions.
Evaluation
Use process and outcome
evaluation findings to inform and
shape the ongoing development of
social work interventions;
Work collaboratively with
evaluators/researchers in identifying
questions emanating from practice,
as well as assessing intervention
efficacy and effectiveness.
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.
Advanced 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