The Field Education Program

Introduction to the Field Education Program

The Field Education Program at the Boston University School of Social Work provides students with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts and principles to practice with clients who are consumers or planners of services.

The major objective of field education is to prepare students for competence in advanced social work practice by helping them develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values. They will need to assume a range of professional roles. The field education curriculum reflects the content of the School’s academic curriculum, with the various knowledge and skill areas integrated to meet the particular demands of the setting, the client population, and interventions.

All students, with the exception of advanced standing students, have both a foundation and an advanced field placement experience. To foster the integration process, each field placement is taken concurrently with methods courses.

The foundation placement teaches students basic social work knowledge and skills and exposes them to assignments in clinical and macro social work practice. Ideally, the foundation placement gives students the opportunity to work in settings and with populations or social problems that differ from previous work or volunteer ­experiences.

The advanced placement offers students in-depth experiences in their primary method and in a setting or with the population of their choice. The placement is seen as the bridge to the students’ career paths, helping them develop expertise and a network of colleagues and resources to call upon after graduation. Students are placed throughout New England (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, and Maine). The School of Social Work is affiliated with more than 700 agencies, and currently about 250 of these have students. Approximately 300 social workers in these settings serve as field instructors for Boston University School of Social Work students.

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Field Education Structure

The foundation placement is two days a week (16 hours) and the advanced placement is three days a week (24 hours). Both are typically scheduled from early September through early May.

Several alternative scheduling options are available for part-time students. Among these options are the summer block program (offered if there is sufficient enrollment) for qualified students to do the foundation placement (32 hours/week for 15 weeks) and the calendar-year option for the advanced placement (16 hours/week for 12 months). Students (except advanced standing students) also have the option to do one of their two placements at an agency at which they are employed, if the agency and proposed placement meet specified criteria (available from the Field Education Department).

The Placement Process

Placement assignments are made by the Field Education Department based on an educational assessment of the student’s learning goals and needs, work and volunteer experience, educational background, and career aspirations.

Incoming full-time students entering their foundation placement in September are oriented to the assignment process through small group meetings held in late spring and early summer. Continuing part-time students entering the foundation placement receive this orientation through a four-session integrative seminar taken during their first year of part-time study.

Students receive their assignments in early summer and then have the opportunity to interview at the agency. Students play a more active role in deciding the type of setting in which they will do their advanced placement by working collaboratively with their advisor and the Field Education Department.

All field placement assignments must be arranged by the Field Education Department.

For off-campus students, field placement assignments are made by the Off-Campus Program directors in conjunction with the student’s faculty advisor.

Field Instruction, Faculty Advising, and Integrative Field Seminar

In their field placement settings, students receive two hours a week of supervision from qualified field instructors who are agency employees. Primary field instructors must have an MSW and two years of post-master’s degree social work experience. Ongoing workshops and seminars on a range of relevant topics are provided by the Field Education Department for field instructors.

Students are also assigned to a Boston University School of Social Work faculty advisor, who serves as both the student’s academic advisor and the liaison between the School and the field placement agency. The faculty advisor is available for consultation, problem solving, mediation, and advocacy on a range of learning issues and needs.

All students in foundation placements participate in a required integrative field seminar taught by a member of the Field Education Department staff. The seminar meets monthly and covers topics such as learning contracts, recordings, supervision, evaluation, ethical and legal issues, and multicultural practice.

Off-campus students have integrative seminars that span the three years that they are in the program. The focus of the seminar depends on the year of the student’s program.

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Field Education Agencies

This list includes agencies which have provided field placements within the past few years. It is subject to changes and is not inclusive. Field placements are available throughout Massachussetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, and Vermont.

Abundant Life Counseling Center
Academy of Physical and Social ­Development
Academy School at the Northshore ­Education Consortium
Adams Farley Counseling Center (RI)
Adcare Hospital
AIDS Care Ocean State (RI)
AIP-ASPIRE Program
Alliance for Inclusion and Prevention
Allston-Brighton Community ­Development Corporation
ALS Association
Alternatives Programs (RI)
Alzheimer’s Association
Alzheimer’s Services of Cape Cod and the Islands
Andover Public Schools
Andover Senior Center
Angell Street Wellness Collaborative (RI)
Anti-Defamation League
Arbour Counseling Services
Arbour HRI Hospital
Arlington Youth Consultation
Ashland High School
Asian American Civic Association
Asperger’s Association of New England
Associated Early Care and Education
Attleboro Public Schools
Barnstable Public Schools
Barrington Public Schools (RI)
Bay Cove Human Services
Bay State Community Services
Bayview Associates
Beacon Hospice of Rhode Island (RI)
Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center
Bedford Policy Institute, Inc.
Behavioral Health Network
Berkshire Medical Center
BEST
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Beverly Council on Aging
Beverly Hospital
Big Sister Association (MA, RI)
Billerica Public Schools
Birchwood Middle School (RI)
Bird Street Community Center
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights
Boston Foundation
Boston Full Service Schools Roundtable
Boston Housing Authority
Boston Juvenile Court Clinic
Boston Medical Center
Boston Public Health Commission
Boston Public Schools
Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Boston University Danielsen Institute
Boston Veterans Center
Bournewood Hospital
Boys & Girls Town of New England (RI)
Bradley Hospital (RI)
Brandon Residential Treatment Center
Bridge Program Alternative Middle School
Bridges (NH)
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Brighton-Allston Mental Health Center
Brockton Family and Community ­Resources
Brockton Multi-Service Center
Brockton Neighborhood Health Center
Brookline Center
Brookline Council on Aging
Brookline Public Schools
Brookline School Community Partnership
Brooksby Village
Brookside Community Mental Health
Brown University Counseling Center (RI)
Burbank Hospital
Burlington Community Life Center
BUSSW Center for Addictions Research and Services
BUSSW Institute for Geriatric Social Work

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Butler Hospital (RI)
Cambridge Court Clinic
Cambridge Educational Access
Cambridge Family and Children Services
Cambridge Guidance Center
Cambridge Health Alliance
Cambridge Public Schools
Canton Pubic Schools
Cape Ann Families of Wellspring House, Inc.
Cape Cod Behavioral Health
Cape Cod Child Development
Cape Cod Hospital
Cape Cod Human Services
Captain Isaac Paine Elementary School (RI)
Caritas Norwood Hospital
CASCAP
Casey Family Services
CASPAR
Catholic Charities (MA, ME, NH)
Catholic Medical Center (NH)
Catholic Social Services
CCHERS
Center for Family Connections
Center for Family Development of Health and Education Services
Center for Human Services
Center for Life Management (NH)
Center for Social Work Practice (RI)
Centro Presente
CHAMP House
Charleton Hospital—Southcoast Hospitals Group
Chelsea Human Services Collaborative
Child Care Resource Center, Inc.
Child and Family Services (CT, MA, NH, RI)
Children’s Advocacy Center—Suffolk DA’s Office
Children’s Friend and Family Services (MA, RI)
Children’s Friend, Inc.
Children’s Hospital
Children’s Trust Fund
City of Boston Assistance Program
City Councilor Chuck Turner’s Office
City Mission Society
Clark University Counseling Center
Coastal Education Collaborative
Codman Square Health Center
Combined Jewish Philanthropies
Community Dispute Settlement Center
Community Care Services
Community Council of Nashua (NH)
Community Counseling Centers (MA, ME, RI)
Community Health Link
Community Legal Services and ­Counseling Center
Community Nurse and Hospice Care
Community Therapeutic Day School
Communities United Inc.
COMPASS
Concord Family and Youth Services
Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries
Corrigan Mental Health Center
Coventry Public Schools (RI)
Cranston Public Schools (RI)
Crittenton Women’s Union
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Dare Family Services
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Day One (ME)
DCYF—Juvenile Probation (RI)
Dearborn Academy
Dedham Public Schools
Dennis-Yarmouth Public Schools
Dimock Community Health Center
Dorchester Cares
Dorchester House
Dracut Public Schools
Dress for Success Boston
Dudley Square Main Streets
Duffy/O’Neil Health Center
Easter Seals of New Hampshire
Edinburg Center
Elder Service Plan Winthrop Place
Elder Services of Merrimack Valley
Elliot Hospital (NH)
Ellis Memorial & Eldredge House, Inc.
Emerson College Counseling Center
Emerson Hospital
Employee Assistance Program, Inc.
Enable, Inc.
Erich Lindemann Mental Health Center
Essex County Juvenile Court Clinic
Exeter Hospital (NH)

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Fall River Public Schools
Falmouth Hospital
Falmouth Human Services
Families in Transition (NH)
Family Center, Inc.
Family Continuity Program, Inc.
Family Guidance Center of Milford (NH)
Family Nurturing Center
Family Services Associations
Family Strength, Inc.
Faulkner Hospital
Fellowship Health Resources
Fenway Community Health Center
Foley Senior Residences
Forensic Health Services
Forestview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
Foster and Associates (NH)
Foxborough Regional Charter School
Framingham Public Schools
Framingham State College
Franklin Park Coalition
Freedom House, Inc.
Friends of the Shattuck Shelter
Frisbie Memorial Hospital (NH)
Full Circle High School
Gateway Healthcare, Inc. (RI)
Generations, Inc.
Germaine Lawrence School
Gifford School
Gosnold on Cape Cod
Great Brook Valley Health Center
Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age ­Center
Greater Boston Interfaith Organization
Greater Boston Legal Services
Greater Lawrence Mental Health Center
Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational High School
Habit Management
Haitian American Public Health Initiatives
Hale Barnard Services for Older People
Hallmark Health Hospice
Hampstead Hospital (NH)
Harbor Schools and Family Services, Inc.
Harvard University Criminal Justice ­Institute
Hasbro Children’s Hospital
Haverhill District Court—Probation ­Department
Healthcare Dimensions Hospice
Health Care for All
Health and Education Services
HEARTH
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged
Henry Lee Willis Community Center
Heritage Manor
Highpoint Treatment and Outpatient ­Services
Hillsborough County Department of ­Correction (NH)
Hillsborough County Human Services (NH)
Holy Family Hospital
Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island
Home Health Care and Community ­Services (NH)
Home Health and Hospice Care (NH)
Home for Little Wanderers
Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod
Hospice of the Good Shepherd
Hospice of the North Shore
Hospice Outreach
Housing Assistance Corporation
Hull Public Schools
Hyde Square Task Force, Inc.
Independence House
Ingraham-Bridge Program (ME)
Inner Edge (ME)
Institute for Community Inclusion
Institute for Health and Recovery
International Institute of Boston
International Institute of Rhode Island
Italian Home for Children
Ivy Street School
Jewish Community Housing for the ­Elderly
Jewish Family and Children’s Services
Jewish Family Services (MA, RI)
JML Care Center
John Hope Settlement House (RI)
Jordan Boys & Girls Club
Joseph Smith Community Health Center
JRI Health
Judge Baker Children’s Center— Manville School
Just a Start House
Justice Resource Institute
Kent County Mental Health Center (RI)
Kit Clark Senior Services
La Alianza Hispaña
Lahey Clinic
Lakes Region Family Service Association (NH)
Lasell House
Latin American Health Institute
Lawrence General Hospital
Lawrence Public Schools
Leaders of Tomorrow, Inc.
League School of Boston
Lesley University Counseling Center
Leventhal Sidman Jewish Community Center
Lexington Public Schools
LGBT Aging Project
Life Care Center of Raynham
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Lowell Adult Day Treatment
Lowell Community Health Center
Lowell General Hospital
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School
Lowell Public Schools
Lowell Youth Treatment Center
LTG Counseling (NH)
LUK
Lutheran Social Services

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M-POWER
Madison Park Technical Vocational High School
Maloney Properties, Inc.
MAPS
Marlboro Hospital
Marshfield Public Schools
Martha Eliot Health Center
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services
Mashpee Human Services
Mashpee Public Schools
Mass Bay Community College
Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy
Massachusetts Behavioral Health ­Partnership
Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition
Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care
Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition
Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Massachusetts Department of Social ­Services
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts Human Services Coalition
Massachusetts Mental Health Center
Massachusetts N.A.R.A.L.
Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance
Massachusetts Public Health Association
Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Massapoag Public Schools
Massasoit School
MATCH-UP Interfaith Volunteers, Inc.
Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services
McLean Hospital
Medical Foundation
Melrose-Wakefield Hospital
Mental Health Association of Greater Lowell
Mental Health Center of Greater ­Manchester (NH)
Merrimack School
Merrimack Valley Hospice
Met School
Metrowest Community Health Care Foundation
Metrowest Medical Center
Middlesex County District Attorney’s ­Office
Middlesex Juvenile Court Clinic
Milford Public Schools (NH)
Milford Regional Counseling Services (NH)
Minuteman Senior Services
Miriam Community Hospital (RI)
Mission Main Resident Services
MITSS—Medically Induced Trauma ­Support Services
Monadnock Family Services (NH)
Mt. Auburn Hospital
Mt. Hope High School (RI)
Nashoba Valley Nursing Services
Natick Public Schools
National Association of Social Workers (MA, ME)
National Association for Parents of ­Children with Visual Impairments
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Needham Youth Commission
Neighborhood Legal Services
Network Health
The Network/La Red
NeuroDevelopment Center
Neurohealth
New Bedford Family and Probate Court
New Bedford Public Schools
New England Medical Center
New England Network for Child, Youth & Family Services (VT)
New England Sinai Hospital and ­Rehabilitation Center
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
New Hampshire Hospital
New Hampshire State Prison
New Hope, Inc.
Newport County Community Mental Health Center (RI)
Newton Community Development ­Foundation
Newton Public Schools
Newton Senior Center Council on Aging
NFI—North Crossing
Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office
Norfolk Probate and Family Court
North Attleboro Public Schools
North Central Human Services
North Charles Institute for Addictions
North Providence Public Schools (RI)
North River Collaborative
North River Counseling, Inc.
North Shore Community Action ­Programs, Inc.
North Shore Education Consortium
North Shore Medical Center
North Suffolk Mental Health Association
Northeast Center for Health Communities
Northeastern University
NRI Community Services (RI)
NWW Committee for Independent ­Living, Inc.
Old Colony Hospice
Old Colony Y—Fall River Programs
Old Colony Y—Boys Assessment and ­Stabilization Unit
Oriol Health Care/Wachusett Extended Care

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PACT Program
Paine Social Services
Peabody Public Schools
Peace Games
Pelham Academy— JRI
Pembroke Hospital
Perkins School for the Blind
Phillips Brooks House
Phoenix Houses of New England (RI)
Pine Manor College Counseling Center
Planned Parenthood League of ­Massachusetts
Portland Public Schools (ME)
Portsmouth Pavilion (NH)
Prevention Now!
Project Bridge
Providence Center (RI)
Providence Public Schools (RI)
Quincy Medical Center
RALLY Program
REACH
READS Academy
Resist, Inc.
RESPOND, Inc.
Revere Public Schools
Rhode Island College Counseling Center
Rhode Island Department of Corrections
Rhode Island Family Advocacy Program
Rhode Island Hospital
Rhode Island Training School
Riverbend (NH)
Riverside Community Care
Road to Responsibility
Roger Williams Medical Center (RI)
Roxbury Comprehensive Community Health Center
Roxbury Youth Works
St. Anne’s Hospital
St. Anselm College
St. Francis Counseling Center (RI)
St. Joseph’s Hospital (NH)
St. Luke’s Hospital
St. Mary’s Women and Children’s Center
St. Vincent’s Home
Saints Memorial Hospital
Salem High School
Salvation Army
SCCAT Program
SEEM Collaborative
Self Help, Inc.
Senator Karen Spilka’s Office
Senator Susan Tucker’s Office
Shore Educational Collaborative
Shrewsbury Youth and Family Services
Shriners Hospital
Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center
Solutions for Living
Somerville-Cambridge Elder Service
Somerville Council on Aging
Somerville Early Head Start
Somerville Home
Somerville Mental Health Center
South Africa Partners
South Bay Mental Health Center
South Boston Behavioral Health Center
South Boston Collaborative Center
South End/Lower Roxbury Youth Workers Alliance
South Kingston Public Schools (RI)
South Shore Mental Health Centers (MA, RI)
Southborough Youth and Family Service
Southcoast Hospitals Group
Southern Jamaica Plain Health Center
Southern New Hampshire Regional Medical Center
Southern New Hampshire Services, Inc. (Headstart)
Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation
Spectrum/Boston Road Clinic
Spurwink School (ME)
SSTAR

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Steps to Success
Stone Center —Wellesley College Counseling Center
Stonehill College Counseling Center
Stoney Brook Counseling Center
Stopover Services of Newport County (RI)
Stoughton Youth Commission
Sumner Community Learning Center
Sunrise Family Resource Center (VT)
Sweetser (ME)
Taunton Public Schools
Taunton State Hospital
Tewksbury Hospital
Transition House
Trauma Center/Project Joy
Tri-County Mental Health Center (ME)
Trinity Church Pastoral Counseling Center
Tufts Health Plan
Two Brattle Center
Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry
United Counseling Service (VT)
United for a Fair Economy
United States Probation Office
United Teen Equality Center
United Way of Central Massachusetts
United Way of Mass Bay
University of Massachusetts-Boston ­Counseling Center
University of Massachusetts Correctional Health
University of Massachusetts Medical ­Center
University of Massachusetts Medical School at MCI-Framingham
Upham’s Corner Health Center
Upham’s Elder Service Plan
Urban Edge Housing
Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts
Veterans Administration Medical Centers, Hospitals and Clinics (MA, VT, NH, RI)
Victory Programs, Inc.
Volunteers of America
Walden Behavioral Care
WalkBoston
Walker Home and School
Walnut Street Center
Wareham Clinic
Warwick Public Schools (RI)
Watertown Public Schools
Wayland Public Schools
Wayland Youth and Family Services
Wayside Youth and Family Support ­Network
W.E.A.T.O.C.
Wediko Children’s Services
Wellness Corporation
Wesley Child Care
Westboro Middle School
Westboro State Hospital
Westford Academy
Westwood Lodge Hospital
Wheaton College Counseling Center
Wheelock College Counseling Center
White Mountain Mental Health Center (NH)
Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital
Wilmer Hale LLP
Woburn Public Schools
Womansplace Crisis Center
Women’s and Infants Hospital (RI)
Women’s Center of New Bedford
Women’s Crisis Center
Women’s Lunch Place
Woonsocket Public Schools (RI)
Worcester Community Action Council
Worcester Senior Center
Worcester State Hospital
You, Inc.
Youth Advocacy Project
Youth Council (NH)
Youth for Understanding
Youth on Board
Youth Services (VT)
Youth Services Providers Network
Youville Hospital and Rehabilitation ­Center

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Published by Trustees of Boston University
One Sherborn Street
Boston, MA 02215

18 September 2007
Boston University
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