Agencies and Field Instructors

 There are approximately 150 social service agencies that serve field education by providing diverse placement sites and day-to-day field teaching and supervision by qualified field instructors. These agencies are a critical component of the field curriculum and carry a large share of responsibility for the education of students in the field. Last year, the field coordinator and field liaisons made site visits to nearly all student placements at various agencies. Field education provided four field instructor trainings last year at our Hattiesburg, Gulfport, and Tupelo campuses. During these trainings, focus groups were conducted to gather information for improving field education. These groups consisted of social work professionals and field instructors. This year the field education has maintained communications with field instructors and agencies by making site visits, follow-up telephone calls, and sending e-mails. Field education is steadily enlarging the number of agency partnerships to meet future needs of students. There are approximately 20 new agency affiliations this year, along with the established field placements.

The School of Social Work is always willing to have community agencies express interest in becoming field instruction sites. We welcome new agencies that reflect the diverse populations they serve. We seek affiliations with agencies and field instructors that prepare and provide the student with social work values, ethics, knowledge, skills and cultural competencies in working with a wide range of clientele. Exploration may be initiated by either the agency or by the School to assess whether an agency would be appropriate for providing the type of field instruction that would carry out the objectives of the field education program.

Generally, Field Instructors are social workers who are employed in social agencies or other institutions and have some experience in supervision and recognition for competence in their work. There must be a willingness to accept and apply the educational objectives of the curriculum of the School of Social Work. They are considered part-time faculty by the School even though their time and expertise are donated. In a few instances, field instructors are members of the School faculty who are assigned the responsibility for field instruction. They are required to spend at least one hour per week with each student in individual supervision. New Field Instructors must attend training prior to supervising a student.

Field Education has consistently evaluated the program to keep up with the needs of the field instructors and students to provide the best experience for all those connected with our School of Social Work. We ask that you provide us the feedback we need in order to provide a quality program. The following questionnaire gives us the input for improving the outputs for the program. We appreciate all that you do for us and hope to continue our partnership in the future.

Field Instructors Survey

Please contact us if you have any questions:

Debbie Ford                                                 Jenine Housewright

Coordinator of Field Education                         Administrative Assistant

601-266-4173                                                      601-266-5569

(debra.ford@usm.edu)                         (j.housley@usm.edu)

FAX: (601) 266-4167