Host a Social Work Student
Let your Organization benefit from the knowledge and passion of a Social Work Student.
Overview
Would your organization benefit from the knowledge and passion of a social work student? Are you committed to mentoring social work students in their field education? If so, hosting a social work student for their field placement could be a fit for you.
The School of Social Work at Portland State University is seeking organizations that are interested in hosting social work students in field placements. We partner with over 300 field placement sites and match over 500 students a year in educationally focused field placement experiences. Field placements should provide opportunities for students to be exposed to a range of roles and skills, client populations, service delivery models, culturally-responsive approaches, policy advocacy areas, while developing competence in social work skills and professional values.
Benefits of Hosting a Social Work Student
• Collaborate with students on innovative projects and practices that support agency strategic direction
• Attend our continuing education trainings and earn free continuing education units (CEUs)
• Network with other professional social workers
• Develop a workforce pipeline in your agency
• Get faculty privileges to the PSU Library
How Field Placements Work
Placements typically begin in September and end in June. Students complete 16 hours per week, for a total of 500 hours at the field placement. Students get 1 hour of supervison per week with a qualified field instructor.
Types of Field Placements We Can Provide
Generalist placements encourage students to have direct contact with service users (individual, family and/or group) and to have learning opportunities at the organization and community levels.
Advanced placements encourage students to develop expertise with a specific population, field of practice, or service delivery mode within the student’s chosen concentration. Advanced concentrations include:
- Clinical Social Work Practice
- Health Across the Lifespan
- Children, Youth and Families
- Practice and Leadership with Communities and Organizations
Learn more about advanced concentrations »
Field Placement Roles
MSW Field Instructors
MSW field instructors are required to have a MSW and two (2) years post degree experience. Field instructors provide weekly individual and/or group educational supervision.
BSW Field Instructors
BSW field instructors are required to have a BSW and two (2) years post degree experience. Field instructors provide weekly individual and/or group educational supervision.
Task Supervisors
Task supervisors work in the agency or program and provide day-to-day support to the student when the field instructor is not available.
Faculty Liaisons
Faculty liaisons conduct site visits with the student, field instructor and task supervisor and serve as liaison to the organization.
Apply
Apply to be a Field Instructor »
Apply to be a Field Placement Site »
Contact Jessica Hayes if you experience any difficulty accessing the forms: jessica.hayes@pdx.edu