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Field Internship Facts
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Because Smith is a nationally based school, it affiliates with the finest placement agencies across the country. More than 120 agencies in 20 states currently participate in Smith's field program, providing students with training opportunities in schools, family service and child welfare agencies, child guidance and mental health clinics, medical as well as psychiatric units of hospitals, and college counseling centers under private and public auspices. |
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Well trained, experienced clinical supervisors are crucial for developing and sustaining excellence in clinical social work practice.
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Managed care and budget cuts have reduced the number of supervisory positions and support for advanced training for those who remain. |
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Changes in the context of practice have decreased support for supervisors and have also increased the stresses on supervisors, many of whom are paid on a fee-for-service basis - they essentially donate their time to provide supervision of our students. |
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Community-based practice settings are serving very vulnerable client populations; the level of acute need in clients is high. |
Internship Priorities
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Advanced Clinical Supervision Certificate |
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This year long certificate program was developed in response to the need for better trained supervisors and consists of two week-long academic sessions of intensive coursework at the School. In the period between the two academic sessions, participants apply theory and knowledge gained from the initial summer session to their current professional supervisory capacities and receive advisory consultation throughout the duration of the program. Designed to meet the need for top quality supervisors of our own students, any supervisor of a Smith intern receives an 80% grant toward the tuition of this program. With between ten and twelve supervisors attending, the tuition grants total approximately $20,000 per year; the principal needed to endow this initiative is $505,000. |
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Supervision Training and Annual Conference |
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While the School offers excellent continuing education and training during Annual Conference, many supervisors from distant states are unable to access this training on campus. A future goal is to provide additional training opportunities for supervisors, both in their home states and through distance learning. $10,000 per year or a $255,000 endowment would meet this current need. |
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Innovative Field Programs |
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In response to changing needs in the field, the School needs to be able to respond innovatively to student needs. For example, Integrative Field Seminars were developed to address the need for students to integrate theory and practice issues during the internship period. These seminars provide didactic trainings, case consultation and social support for students. They have proven to be extremely successful and are in high demand by the students. Unfortunately, many students are placed in low concentration areas and it is not possible to offer the above model of integrative seminar. For these students, it would be helpful to offer distance learning models online or video conferences to help them bridge the summer academic term and field-based learning. To develop these seminars and other innovative responses to the demands of field internship, an additional $20,000 per year or $505,000 in endowed funds is needed. |
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The Vision
Overview of Opportunities
Masters Student Support
Masters Field Support
Doctoral Student Support
Curriculum, Responsiveness to Diverse Populations and Evolving Changes in the Field
Faculty Development
International Initiatives
Certificate Programs and Institutes
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