The institute involved 31 participants (21 working librarians and 10 students) in a two-semester program which began in August, 1971. The rationale behind the program was that the problems of providing library service to a pluralistic society are problems of inter-group and cross-cultural communication. Some of the unique features of the institute…

A survey of human service agencies elicited information concerning their current and projected computer use for direct and indirect practice and the perceived issues, benefits, and emerging training needs for responsible and effective computer use. (MSE)

A survey of 82 graduate social work students revealed low levels of physical and psychological stress associated with graduate work. Symptoms were reported at higher levels in relation to classroom work than field practice. No major differences were found by sex or marital status, but class standing did produce significant differences. (MSE)

Specific strategies for incorporating information relevant to the effects of racism and ageism in our society into the curricula of social work programs are described. Participant observer roles, development of a resource book, information networks, health, mental health, and housing service areas are discussed. (MLW)

In a field practicum based in a low-income community, social work students' sense of empowerment depended on the kind of feedback they received from others. The critical source of feedback was the field instructor. A field setting with limited structural supports is liberating to most students but overwhelming for some. (Author/MSE)

A survey of 287 deans of social work schools investigated the nature of benefits awarded to undergraduate and graduate field instructors in social work. Most frequently awarded benefits included use of library holdings/equipment, continuing education, and designation as adjunct faculty. It is recommended that programs be more attentive to this…

An organizational model for developing partnerships between universities and community agencies for delivery of social work field instruction at new sites is described. Application of the four main components (outreach, partnership, direction planning, change) is demonstrated in three case studies. The partnerships facilitate field opportunities…

This study evaluated the impact of social work field instructor training on student perceptions of the field experience. Students with seminar-trained field instructors (n=30) were more satisfied with faculty field liaison than students with other instructors, and trained instructors demonstrated expected supervisory behavior more often for most…

Arguably, living and working in rural communities can pose significant challenges for human service practitioners--challenges that are different from those encountered by their urban counterparts. Human services employers, like many other employers in rural areas, have difficulty in recruiting and retaining staff. There is now considerable…

Given two million deaths annually in the U. S., social work education and training have been cited as woefully inadequate in end-of-life care. In response, two of the authors developed two post-Masters programs in end-of-life care for social work. This paper describes their curricula and the methods used to evaluate both programs, including…

A discussion of ethical responsibility, professional boundaries, and legal liability in social work field experience programs looks at specific issues in the complex network of dyadic relationships between the student, client, field instructor, and field liaison. Specific situations are used to illustrate the issues. (MSE)

The growing practice of arranging foster placement of abused children with relatives provides an opportunity to redefine relationships between extended families and the child welfare system and to develop five areas of the social work curriculum: human behavior and social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work practice,…

Major themes of a workshop on social work education and practice in rural and northern areas of Canada held in 1976 were: (1) purposes and goals of social work education; (2) needs, wants, and aspirations of rural/northern people; (3) social work education for professional competence; (4) continuing education; and (5) organization and…

An international study investigated social work field instruction in 51 countries and the educational context in which it occurs. Results are reported, including (1) general findings concerning program affiliation and size, student age, program length, placement, field instructor affiliation and training, and payment patterns; and (2) summaries of…

A survey of 121 undergraduate and graduate social work students and 96 field instructors found that many students had experienced verbal and physical abuse and that most instructors had experienced verbal abuse and physical violence. Although students received some instruction on safety, practicum agencies often had no safety policies. Curriculum…