This toolkit is intended to be a support and resource for field educators and students who may need virtual field placement guidance, ideas, and support.
This brief video (3 mins) provides an overview of UBSSW Field expectations for 2020-2021.
We understand that field placements may look different in light of COVID-19. We also understand that training social work students in the realities of practice is of utmost importance. Engaging students in your work - in getting experience in telehealth, virtual interventions, virtual trainings - is all so important for skill and competency development.
1. Is a remote/ virtual field placement ok? YES! We can reimagine field placements as long as the core components of a placement are in place.
2. What are the essential elements of a field placement? There is a lot we can be flexible and creative with in Field placements. As long as the core components of a field placement are ensured, we can be flexible with the rest (like modes of intervention and physical setting of students). Core elements of a field placement:
3. Is telehealth, shadowing staff virtually, and/or other technology-based modes of intervention ok? Absolutely! Technology has become an integral part of social work - and training and exposure to technology-based interventions is permissable and encouraged.
In this video [13 mins], Tina LaMendola (Social Worker and Field Educator at Hamburg High School) and student Meagan Reed share their experience as they transitioned Meagan's field placement to a virtual format in the Spring of 2020.
In this video, Field Educator Jennifer Carlson (Sheridan Medical Group) discusses her ideas for field education in 2020 and the important learning opporutnities that COVID has presented her practice and students.
You are welcome to use any/all of the material found in the Virtual Field Placement Toolkit for educational (non-commercial) purposes only. Please let us know if you have found them helpful.
If you are using them from outside the UB SSW, we ask that you read over the Creative Commons licensing agreement, let us know that you will be using the materials, include the original citation information that is on them, as well the web address for our site, as an acknowledgement of where it was downloaded from and so people are able to explore our site if they’re interested.
McClain-Meeder, K., Lewis, L. (2020). Virtual Field Placement Toolkit. Located at http://socialwork.buffalo.edu/field-educators-liaisons/field-educator-resources/virtual-field-placement-toolkit.html
During the summer of 2020, a workgroup of practitioners, faculty, and the UBSSW field staff gave time, wisdom, and input into crafting plans for the Fall. This group was a wealth of ideas, inspiration, and support. Thank you to all who participated in the Field workgroup:
Field Educators/Community Practioners: Megan Andrews and Jocelyn Bos-Fisher, Child and Family Services EAP; Scott Bohosian, GA Family Services, Foster Care Program; Jennifer Carlson and Alfred Womack, Sheridan Medical Group; Glenn Frost, Roswell Park Cancer Center, Arlene Kaukus, UB Career Services; Whitney Walker, VOICE Buffalo' Joanne Wilton, Cheektowaga Sloan Union Free School District-Family Solution Center
UBSSW Faculty Name: Louanne Bakk, Anna Ball, Melanie Sage, Deborah Waldrop
Let us know if you are utilizing the Virtual Field placement Toolkit, if you have found it helpful, and if you have ideas or resources to add.
Reach out to us at sw-field@buffalo.edu and we can set up a time to check-in
