Creating Macro Social Work Field Placements Through a University Campus Social Justice Issue

ABSTRACT

Providing hands-on experiential learning opportunities to supplement hypothetical classroom lessons involving macro social work often presents challenges for educators. Applying theoretical lessons to real-world settings has the potential to significantly boost student critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities. Skill acquisition in these settings can help create job-ready graduates who apply for management or leadership positions. This article provides an overview of a social work field placement setting developed on a university campus in the U.S. Deep South. The mission of the field placement program is to address the needs of underserved students, staff, and faculty who were experiencing food insecurity or who lacked other vital resources. Lessons learned by graduate students along with implications for social work education are provided.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tamara E. Hurst

Tamara E. Hurst is Associate Professor of Social Work at The University of Southern Mississippi.  Her teaching, research, and publications focus on the topics of child maltreatment, human trafficking, and social work leadership skills. In 2016, as part of her service to the university, Dr. Hurst opened the USM Eagle’s Nest food pantry.  In this capacity she mentors undergraduate and graduate interns, work study students, and volunteers as they work to serve the Southern Miss community.

Susan Hrostowski

Susan Hrostowski is Professor of Social Work at The University of Southern Mississippi where she teaches human diversity and social justice, social welfare policy, community development, and gerontology.  Her research has centered on resilience, healthcare policy, and HIV/AIDS.