![Sample our Health and Social Care journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5938/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Health-Social-Care.jpg"})
Abstract
Practice incorporating policy and political social work is a key component of the social work profession and an area in which students would benefit from exposure during social work education. Field education presents a significant opportunity for students to develop policy and political practice skills; however, individual and structural barriers may prevent students from developing practice experience in this area. Based on a survey of bachelor of social work and master of social work field directors in the United States, this field note examines the current state of policy and political practice field opportunities and examines barriers to offering such opportunities more widely. Ideas to facilitate these field opportunities, including curriculum-wide education about policy practice, relationship building, creativity, and identifying diverse placement sites, are presented.
Notes
1 The survey was administered over 2 months to accommodate the wide range of spring break schedules and varying crunch times for assigning students to field placements. Respondents were identified through CSWE’s member listing, program websites, and staff. Questions were gleaned from existing literature and expert informants.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Suzanne Pritzker
Suzanne Pritzker is assistant professor at the University of Houston. Shannon R. Lane is associate professor at Adelphi University.
Shannon R. Lane
Suzanne Pritzker is assistant professor at the University of Houston. Shannon R. Lane is associate professor at Adelphi University.