scholarly journals Increasing Social Work Students’ Participation in Macro Specializations

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 709-724
Author(s):  
Dawn Apgar
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
The United States ◽  
System Level ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Master Of Social Work ◽  
Black African ◽  
Attitudinal Barriers ◽  
Macro Practice

Much effort has been made to increase the number of social work students in macro practice specializations in graduate school. Despite the development of pedagogical techniques which have shown to increase interest in and appreciation for macro practice, the proportion of macro students has stayed low and stable over time. Using survey data collected from 474 Master of Social Work students and graduates, this exploratory study identified both structural and attitudinal barriers which impede specialization in macro practice. Data reveals that despite exposure to these methods, those whose original motivation to enter the profession was based on a desire to do clinical work are unlikely to concentrate on macro practice. Structural barriers such as the lack of availability of macro programs also prevented increased specialization in macro practice. Social workers who are Black/African American are more likely to concentrate in macro practice, perhaps due to a recognition of the need for systems change in the United States to promote equal opportunities and rights for those who have historically been marginalized. Findings indicate that current efforts to increase the number of graduates with macro specializations may not be effective. Treatment of macro methods as a specialization, rather than integral to social work education, should be revisited if the profession wants to ensure enough graduates are able to make system-level changes to rectify current societal inequities.

scholarly journals Harnessing Technology for Research During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Diary Study Protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692098604
Author(s):  
L. Y. Saltzman ◽  
L. D. Terzis ◽  
T. C. Hansel ◽  
J. M. Blakey ◽  
D. Logan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Phase 1 ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Diary Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Master Of Social Work ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Msw Students ◽  
Changes Over Time

Project Title: Psychosocial Reactions to a Global Pandemic: A Diary Study During COVID-19. Design: The study uses a mixed methods design that includes both a cross-sectional quantitative survey and qualitative diary entries submitted online eight times by student participants. Context of Study: The study timeline spans the full shutdown, phase 1 reopening, and phase 2 reopening of New Orleans Louisiana. Objectives: The study has three primary objectives: (1) To better understand the experiences of Social Work Students during the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) To explore risk and protective factors that influences Social Work Students’ ability to cope with stressors and changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; and (3) to track changes over time in coping among Social Work Students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Population: Current Master of Social Work (MSW) Students enrolled at Tulane University during the COVID-19 Pandemic will be invited to participate in this study.

Examining Social Work Students Knowledge of and Attitudes About Abortion and Curriculum Coverage in Social Work Education

Affilia ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 088610992110682
Author(s):  
Heather Witt ◽  
Maha K. Younes ◽  
Erica Goldblatt Hyatt ◽  
Carly Franklin
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Affiliation ◽  
Reproductive Justice ◽  
Social Work Practitioners ◽  
Abortion Attitudes ◽  
Curriculum Coverage ◽  
Work Education ◽  
And Training

Despite social work's stated commitment to abortion rights, research on this topic is not prolific within the discipline (Begun et al., 2016). If we are to live up to our ethical principles, this should be changed. The authors posit that increasing students’ exposure to and understanding of abortion is necessary in the preparation of competent social work practitioners. Using Begun et al.’s (2016) Social Workers’ Abortion Attitudes, Knowledge, and Training questionnaire, the authors expanded the survey by creating additional questions about social work curriculum coverage and training experiences, as well as further content on abortion. Findings indicate that most social work students believe abortion should be legal in at least some circumstances, and also that abortion laws should be less restrictive in the United States. Reported religion and political affiliation had significant effects on several of the abortion attitude statements. Only 7.2% of respondents indicated that abortion is regularly discussed in social work classrooms, and only 2.7% of respondents report they have received training on the topic of abortion in their field placement. The results suggest that social work curriculum coverage on reproductive justice is tenuous and inconsistent at best, leaving students to grapple without the necessary professional foundation.

Teaching for Transformation: Master of Social Work Students Identify Teaching Approaches That Made a Difference

2019 ◽  
pp. 154134461986594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thecla Damianakis ◽  
Betty Barrett ◽  
Beth Archer-Kuhn ◽  
Patricia Samson ◽  
Sumaiya Matin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Transformative Learning ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Professional Practice ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Learning Experience ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Master Of Social Work ◽  
Engagement Strategies

Transformative learning captures the process by which students engage in their learning, experience a change in perspective, of themselves or society, and then enact their new understanding. The purpose of this 4-year, four-cohort study was to identify the transformative learning experiences of Master of Social Work students and specific student engagement strategies they felt made a difference in preparing them for professional practice. Six focus groups ( n = 40) were conducted using established focus group methodology. All focus groups were audio recorded, professionally transcribed verbatim, and subject to qualitative content analysis. Students identified six themes in student engagement strategies that facilitated their transformative learning, including transformative aspects of the curriculum, experiences with peers, qualities in their relationships with faculty that fostered critical reflection, a sense of identity, and mentoring. This study will help educators better identify teaching strategies to engage students in their personal and professional transformative learning.

People First: A Case Study in Partnering with the Community

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas D. Bordelon
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Community Organization ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Social Work Educators ◽  
Macro Practice ◽  
People First

This case study demonstrates the process by which a class composed of senior social work students learns macro practice values and skills by partnering with a community organization. The products of this collaboration emerge from the real-life problem scenario in which students, community partners, and the social work educator collaborate to develop the skills necessary to resolve problems. Through community partnership, social work educators are in the position to expand the opportunities for students to develop critical thinking skills, and provide opportunities to practice community organization within the classroom setting.

scholarly journals Intersectional impact of multiple identities on social work education in the UK

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 226-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Chi-pun Liu
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Learning Difficulties ◽  
Social Work Students ◽  
Lower Probability ◽  
Learning Difficulty ◽  
Structural Barriers ◽  
Social Work Training ◽  
Work Training ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Uk

Summary The study reviews the records of 671 social work students and graduates including the seven intakes from the first cohort in 2003/2004 to the intake in 2010/2011 to examine the interacting effect of learning difficulties, ethnicity and gender on the completion of social work training at a university in the South East of England. Findings Among the students, 79.9% of them were female, 50.1% were black, 27.9% white, 10.7% Asian and 11.3% other ethnicities. A majority of students did not report any disability. Among those who did ( n = 84), 52.3% ( n = 44) reported a learning difficulty. The percentage of students who have successfully completed the training is 76.4%, a completion rate that is comparable to the UK's national figure. Having controlled the confounding variables, hierarchical logistic regression identified the risk factor for dropout from undergraduate social work programme as black female students with learning difficulties (odds ratio = 0.100, 95% confidence interval = 0.012–0.862, p < 0.05). Findings suggested that students with multiplicity of identities, i.e. being black and female and with a learning difficulty, have a lower probability to complete the programme successfully. Applications Strategies for tackling the intersecting disadvantages of race, gender and disabilities in social work training should embrace three principles: providing continuous support, focusing on how the support is provided and addressing contextual and structural barriers.

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