What develops is a relationship of reciprocity between a student, an agency, and its clients. As our field coordinator, Freve Pace has the job of organizing the field experience and serving as the liaison to students and agencies. This year, Ms. Pace is assisted by the department s new faculty member, Assistant Professor of Social Work Ruby Lipsco mb, who brings with her a range of practice and teaching experience. Dr. Lipscomb taught in social work programs at Ohio State University and Central State University. She was awarded her Ph.D. in social work from Ohio State University in 1995, and her background experience includes positions as a child welfare supervisor, psychiatric social worker, and field practicum coordinator.
Ongoing assessment is a critical component of the field experience.
Ms. Pace organizes a yearly orientation for all agency personnel who supervise students, as well as a spring luncheon to recognize the contribution agencies make to the Department of Soci al Work. Throughout the year, the documentation of site visits, as well as learning contracts and evaluation forms, serve as quality-control instruments, outlining the cooperative efforts of the department, agencies, and students. While in the field practicum, students develop and evaluate their practice skills in a three-course sequence. During fall quarter, Associate Professor of Social Work Miriam Clubok teaches a course that focuses on the context of social work practice, the a pplication of social work s ethical value system, and the development of analytical skills for engaging in the problem-solving process. In the sequence s second course, Rich Greenlee, assistant professor of social work, further develops the generalist app roach to problem solving and applies the model to working with groups, families, and communities.