Field Education

Field Educators

To become a Field Educator you must meet the following criteria:

• An M.S.W. degree or a B.S.W. degree with two years experience in the field of social work or a degree in a related field with two years of appropriate work experience and demonstrated knowledge of and capacity to convey the social work perspective.
• One year of supervisory experience.
• Ability to provide regularly scheduled weekly supervisory sessions of at least one hour.
• Availability and willingness to attend meetings of field educators called by Field Education Coordinator.

If you believe that you qualify please contact the Field Education Coordinator, Deborah Renzi, at (716) 878-5127.

Field Educators are expected to meet the following responsibilities:

• Attend field educator training sessions on the goals of the Social Work Department, the Curriculum Policy Statement, the NASW Code of Ethics, supervision, and student evaluation.
• Contract with student on the learning opportunities available in the agency to meet the objectives of the placement.
• Prepare plans for sequential learning, combining practice with theory over the course of student placement.
• Assess student's abilities and design learning experiences which will help student to strengthen areas of weakness and expand areas of strength.
• Regularly review student's work with clients to give critical feedback and positive reinforcement related specifically to field work assignments.
• Review student's written materials.
• Provide support for student's work with clients and interaction with other workers and staff.
• Hold students accountable for putting in required time at the agency and fulfilling required responsibilities.
• Provide or expose student to in-service training.
• Meet with student for final evaluations.
• Keep field faculty liaison informed of problems and/or concerns when they arise.
• Provide students with an orientation to the agency, including safety protocols, HIPPA regulations, and regulations specific to the agency