“If I Did It Over There, I Can Do It Here”: U.S. Latinx Social Work Students in Costa Rican Service Placements Deepening Their Professional Identity and Skills

ABSTRACT

Social work student participation in global experiences continues to increase despite limited research on the impacts of these educational experiences on knowledge and skill development. This article reports on professional identity and skill development for 25 U.S. Latinx students who completed internships or service-learning projects in Costa Rica while living with host families. Three groups of MSW students spent 6 weeks in full-time summer internships and one group of primarily BASW students completed two-week summer service-learning projects and language immersion course work. Through longitudinal qualitative data collected before, during, and after the time abroad, and the use of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards as a conceptual framework to assess learning outcomes, three key areas of professional gains emerged: demonstrate ethical and professional behavior, engage diversity and difference in practice, and engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This study reveals specific benefits of opportunities for students assumed to already be culturally competent with clients of related backgrounds because of language or ethnic similarities. Discussion on the findings and implications for social work educators and students is included.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tasha Y. Willis

Tasha Y. Willis is Associate Professor at California State University, Los Angeles.

David Wick

David Wick is Assistant Professor at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey.

Tyler M. Han

Tyler M. Han is a Ph.D. student at the University of Denver.

Jacqueline Rivera

Jacqueline Rivera is a Mental Health Therapist at Five Acres.

Joanna K. Doran

Joanna K. Doran is Associate Professor at California State University, Los Angeles.