Congratulations, and welcome to the final segment of Theory and Practice of Social Work. You are probably reading this because you have completed your Theory and Practice I and II field placement and are now preparing to enter your final semester of field, Theory and Practice III. In order to make the process of obtaining your placement as smooth as possible, please read these pages before you have a field placement interview with Mitch. Hopefully this material will give you a lot of the basic information about the macro field placement, so you can spend your time with Mitch discussing your specific plans.

Prior to talking or meeting with Mitch please:

1. Read these pages
2. Review the agency list
3. Complete and print the Theory and Practice III Field Application form (please sign indicating that you have read these field placement pages)
4. Give the application form to Mitch Kahn

 You are about to embark on an exciting time in your social work education – your final undergraduate field placement. Many social work students had a better idea of what to expect from their micro (direct practice) placements than from this macro placement. Nonetheless, most find this an invaluable part of their social work experience, one that expands their understanding of what lies behind the direct practice in agencies. Most social workers engage in a combination of direct and macro practice in their jobs. We want to make sure that you develop a full range of skills.

At Ramapo College, the Theory and Practice III placement is 200 hours (approximately 16 hours per week) over the course of the fall semester of the senior year, generally at a different agency than practice I and II. Like the first two semesters in field, this placement runs concurrently with the course, and you are expected to apply concepts learned in the class. The focus of Theory and Practice III is practice with communities and organizations.

Time Expectations

The Theory and Practice III placement begins early in September and is completed by mid December. You will have Thanksgiving off, but agency holidays, sick time, and snow days cannot be counted; they must be made up.

Supervision

You will be assigned to a social work agency or host setting where social work, community organizing, and/or advocacy are practiced. An experienced macro practitioner or administrator will supervise you. This person will mentor you, give you your assignments, and is responsible for the educational component of your supervision.

The field instructor will meet with you for at least one hour a week. S/he will review your work, read any written work, discuss your work and help you develop new skills. You are expected to go to supervision prepared to discuss your work. We suggest students prepare an agenda before they go into a supervisory session.

Task Expectations – what will I do there?

You will complete tasks designed to develop your advocacy and organizational skills, as well as increase your understanding of the power structure of the organization and of the community. You may work behind the scenes to sustain the organization and/or participate in direct outreach activities. Your tasks will vary according to the agency's purposes and needs, many of which may include:

• arranging and organizing public meetings and demonstrations
• preparing leaflets, mailings and fund raising to sustain the organization
• community organization
• program planning
• program evaluation - research
• community planning
• grant writing
• other agency administrative tasks
• learn decision making and power structure of the organization
• direct outreach activities
• develop agency data base for mailings
• chart the decision making process and power structure of the community being discussed
• social policy analysis
• lobbying
• attending and testifying at legislative and other public forums

How will I know that I am doing the right things at the agency?

During the school year, the teacher of your section of the practice course will follow your experiences in the field. In class, all students are expected to discuss fieldwork in relation to the course topics. Your teacher (called a faculty-field liaison in this role) will make several telephone calls and at least one visit during semester to your agency.

Placement Procedures

Mitch Kahn, who will take your needs and thoughts into consideration, assigns students to the Theory and Practice III placement.

1. Read this material
2. Think about your interests, learning needs, and prior experiences
3. Review the agency list
4. Complete the application form.
5. Make an appointment with Mitch Kahn G229 after mid April

The purpose of the application form is for you to make your needs known to Mitch. Please include all of the necessary information. Add any written comments you want to make.

In making the placement assignment, we consider several points:

• What types of clients interest you? (i.e. children, elderly, young adults…)
• What problem areas interest you? (i.e. domestic violence, substance abuse, developmental disabilities)
• Location (we try for the same county - we cannot aim for your specific town)
• Your current level of skill and learning needs
• The presence of appropriate assignments at a given agency
• The presence of adequate supervision – and a good match between student and field instructor

The list of social agencies is an inventory of most of the agencies that have been field placement sites in the past, though we do not presently use all of the agencies. Use it as a general guide. Students may be placed in agencies not on this list. You may want to talk with the present seniors to hear about their experiences.

We will consider placements at specific agencies not previously used for Practice III. Please be aware that not all agencies or field instructors can provide a good macro practice experience. If you have an agency that you believe can provide the experiences outlined above, please have the potential field instructor write a letter to Mitch Kahn. In the letter the person should state in detail what the agency does, what macro practice projects the student will work on, and how supervision will be provided. Mitch will follow up with the agency director.

When will I know my placement?

At the interview you and Mitch will discuss possible placements. He will then contact appropriate agencies for your placement. When such an agency is identified, you will be requested, by letter, e-mail, or telephone call, to contact the agency, and arrange for an interview. Please attend that interview as soon as possible to confirm the placement. Unless you or the field instructor find a major reason why that placement is not appropriate, it is considered confirmed.

Please be aware that an increasing number of social agencies now require criminal background checks and/or fingerprints. These might be at either the agency or student expense.

Students are not placed in competition with other Ramapo students for a placement. Only one student per available site is sent for an interview.  Agencies are not placed in competition with each other for a student. Student are sent to one agency at a time for an interview. Please do not ask to interview at several agencies and then expect to pick one. Ramapo College is only one of 15 colleges and universities seeking to place students in these agencies.
 

Next Steps

• Read the list of social agencies Practicum Sites
• Complete the application for field placement Theory and Practice III Application Form
• Sign up for an appointment with Professor Mitch Kahn after mid April
• Interview at the agency
• Good luck on your end-of-semester finals, and have a pleasant summer.

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