Field Instructor Benefits & Support Services

The Office of Field Instruction supports the efforts of field instructors in a variety of ways. A biannual workshop is held, whereby field instructors are invited to attend a new field instructor orientation (which covers policies, procedures, roles, responsibilities, expectations, etc.). In addition, other professional development workshops are offered through the School of Social Work (SSW) Department of Continuing Education. There is no fee for the new field instructor orientation and Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are provided.

Continuing Education Programs

The School of Social Work (SSW) offers numerous continuing professional education opportunities for field instructors and the social work community at large. Effective January 15, 2012, U-M SSW field instructors who maintain "active" status (supervising a student during the current academic year: September-August) may register for any workshop and/or minicourse for FREE. Please note that institutes and certificate programs are not included in this offer.

This is an incredible benefit to help field instructors support lifelong learning goals and fulfill licensing requirements. It is just one way to show our appreciation and thank you for your service to the School and our students. For more information and a complete listing of our continuing professional education programs, visit http://www.ssw.umich. edu/programs/ce

SSW Office of Field Instruction Agency Fair

Field instructors are invited to partner with the School in various recruitment efforts several times throughout the academic year this includes the opportunity to participate in the Agency Fair in which approximately 70 fieldwork sites gather to share their mission and vision with potential students who are visiting the School during the Spring Open House.

Additional Benefits

Materials: Field instructors are provided with web-based field instruction materials (such as the Field Instruction Manual: http://ssw.umich.edu/programs/msw/ofi/fieldInstructionManual.pdf ) that include information, guidelines, and policies related to the field instruction program and curriculum. The OFI web site is also an excellent resource: http://ssw.umich.edu/programs/msw/ofi/)

M-Cards: Field instructors are eligible for M-Cards, which are a University-sponsored benefit that entitles "active" (currently hosting a student in the current academic year) field instructors benefits that include discounts on some University-sponsored events, various bookstore discounts, public transportation discounts, etc. Field instructors are also eligible for on-site privileges from the campus libraries using their M-Card. The application for these cards is available in the Office of Field Instruction ([email protected]).

UM SSW Library Resources

Field instructors are eligible for various library resources on a limited basis as indicated below:

The U-M Library

· On-site access to library resources

· Includes links to many free databases, government information and other resources

· All on-site library resources are solely accessible from terminals in the library and require an MCard for usage

The University of Michigan Directory of Open Access Repositories, “Open DOAR” (http://www.opendoar.org/)

If you click on the "Search Repository Content" link, it takes you to a custom Google search box that finds full text versions of research materials available for free. For additional help with the Social Work library resources, please feel free to contact Sue Wortman [email protected] 734-764-5198.

Faculty Collaboration Opportunities: Faculty occasionally conduct research projects in conjunction with fieldwork sites. For further information, contact the Director of Field Instruction or the Associate Dean for Educational Programs.

Cultural/Intellectual Events: Field instructors may attend a variety of cultural and intellectual events on the campus; and, on an individually arranged basis, may attend specific sessions of courses offered by the School of Social Work.

Section 3.13

SSW Community Advisory Board

The Community Advisory Board consists of exceptional social work practitioners who are usually field instructors and who have been nominated by the faculty, field instruction staff and/or students. Additional members include the Associate Dean for Educational Programs, the Director of Field Instruction, the Assistant Dean of Student Services. The Board is responsible for providing the School with consultation and advising on curriculum initiatives, developing and evaluating field opportunities, strengthening the field instruction program/processes, and working on special projects and research collaborations. This group functions as a "sounding board" for maintaining the integrity of the interface between social work education and practice, and will collaborate with faculty regarding the School's mission and philosophy.

The Board provides consultation in the following areas: Office of Field Instruction

o Developing new and innovative field opportunities

o Strengthening the field instruction curriculum and program Curriculum

o Review/critique of current curricular content o Developing new curricular initiatives

o Providing leadership in the integration of class and field learning experiences

o Developing/evaluating the role of technology and distance learning in class and field instruction o Developing new teaching, learning, and research collaborations

Special Projects/Grants: Some previous examples:

o Whittaker Grant: An effort focusing on the development of curriculum (school-based and field-based) aimed at an intensive focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)

o Alternative Reaffirmation Project: A school-wide re-accreditation effort focusing on promoting socially just practices in the field

o Others as they are developed

The School's Community Advisory Board meets twice annually. Membership is voluntary and members are appointed on a term basis.