3.00 Credits
This internship is the first of two advanced-level, graduate semesters (total 450 hours) of field instruction in social welfare agency settings which are offered to advanced-level students and required, under the supervision of a professional social worker. Students apply advanced knowledge of families in the social environment, advanced competence, and the highly articulated values and ethics of advanced generalist practice with and on behalf of families. Through supervision, students crystallize their unique professional use of self in the context of their placement. They refine written and oral communication skills necessary for analysis of professional practice and apply critical analytic skills for differential assessment, selecting interventions, implementing and evaluating agency policies and programs. Students operationalize the unique values, functions and roles of professional social work practice in their practicum setting and develop competency in identifying and assessing situations where the relationship of people and their social environment needs to be enhanced or changed. The professional responsibility of advocacy toward change and recognition of the impact of policy and programs on oppressed groups is an integral part of the applied learning, as is refinement of professional identity. Must be taken concurrently with SWK 582, Advanced Theories of Social Work Practice I.