Field Directors

Hello All, 

I hope someone can help Answer these questions.

We are updating our Field Manual (s) to the new 2022 EPAS and combining the BSW and MSW into one "Super Field Manual". In the past we included our forms. However, we moved to an electronic field management system in the fall and the forms are not easily converted to the format for the Field Manual. It looks messy and adding to forms would make the manual really long. 

I've looked at other field manuals and about half of the programs I've reviewed do not include forms.  Thoughts?

1. is it a requirement to have the forms in the field manual;
2. if the forms are not included, is there a way to indicate the forms are located in the Electronic Field Management System; and 
3. I would like to discuss the pros and cons of having a combined manual.

I value the feedback from this forum.

Thank you,

Bonnie Rinks, LCSW 

Director of Field Education 

University of Southern Indiana 

berinks@usi.edu

812.465-1106

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Bonnie Rinks
Director of Field Education
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville IN
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Hi Bonnie, I don't think that it is required to have the forms in the field manual - we have several forms that are not included in the manual (i.e. a professionalism and gatekeeping contract, COVID-19 contract, and employment based contract). We track those forms in our Teams space; however, I am hoping to be able to modify IPT to house some of these forms. We indicate these forms are required in our field manuals and then send those to the agencies via email. We have separate BSW and MSW manuals. Hope this helps.

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Dana Holcomb, DSW, LMSW-Clinical
Associate Professor and Director of Field
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI 49307
231-591-2763
danaholcomb@ferris.edu
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Thank you Dana

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Bonnie Rinks
Director of Field Education
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville IN
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Original Message:
Sent: Aug 03, 2023 13:22
From: Dana Holcomb
Subject: Field Manual Question

Hi Bonnie, I don't think that it is required to have the forms in the field manual - we have several forms that are not included in the manual (i.e. a professionalism and gatekeeping contract, COVID-19 contract, and employment based contract). We track those forms in our Teams space; however, I am hoping to be able to modify IPT to house some of these forms. We indicate these forms are required in our field manuals and then send those to the agencies via email. We have separate BSW and MSW manuals. Hope this helps.

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Dana Holcomb, DSW, LMSW-Clinical
Associate Professor and Director of Field
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MI 49307
231-591-2763
danaholcomb@ferris.edu
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Bonnie,

We use our learning management system BrightSpace, and before that BlackBoard, to post forms so as to avoid a lengthier manual since students don't read. We also use SONIA as a case management system and post forms there as well. The idea was to have the information in as many places as possible speaking to accessability.

Best, Warren

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Warren Graham, LCSW, ACSW, CASAC
Asst Dean of Practicum Education/Clinical Assoc Prof.
SUNY Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
631-444-3161
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Thank you Warren

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Bonnie Rinks
Director of Field Education
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville IN
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Original Message:
Sent: Aug 07, 2023 09:52
From: Warren K. Graham
Subject: Field Manual Question

Bonnie,

We use our learning management system BrightSpace, and before that BlackBoard, to post forms so as to avoid a lengthier manual since students don't read. We also use SONIA as a case management system and post forms there as well. The idea was to have the information in as many places as possible speaking to accessability.

Best, Warren

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Warren Graham, LCSW, ACSW, CASAC
Asst Dean of Practicum Education/Clinical Assoc Prof.
SUNY Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY
631-444-3161
------------------------------

Hello Bonnie, 

I agree with Warren, it's important to show multiple examples of how field/practicum forms are shared with students. Have you thought about speaking with the field management system to see if they are able to offer support with the formatting of some of the information you need to put in the manual?  Just a thought. Thanks so much...Karen

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Karen E Edmond
Assistant Professor
Daemen University
Buffalo NY
716-839-8515
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Thanks Karen

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Bonnie Rinks
Director of Field Education
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville IN
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Original Message:
Sent: Sep 14, 2023 12:55
From: Karen E Edmond
Subject: Field Manual Question

Hello Bonnie, 

I agree with Warren, it's important to show multiple examples of how field/practicum forms are shared with students. Have you thought about speaking with the field management system to see if they are able to offer support with the formatting of some of the information you need to put in the manual?  Just a thought. Thanks so much...Karen

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Karen E Edmond
Assistant Professor
Daemen University
Buffalo NY
716-839-8515
------------------------------

Hi Bonnie:

I am late to the questions, but we merged our field manual into one (e.g. The Social Work Department Field Manual).  We use Sonia as our student tracking system and were able to load a copy of the form, rather than adopting their format for our field manual.  Is it a possibility to use a link in the program, rather than loading a form?  Also we have forms posted in multiple places on our Department website, so students can access the forms in multiple ways.  It would be a good question to ask your field management support team.  They should have some level of flexibility to work with how your program operates.  Good luck.

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[Sibyl] [Beaulieu] [DSW]
[Director of Field Education and Assoc. Professor]
[University of Massachusetts, Global
[City]
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Hi Sibyl,

thank you for taking the time to respond to this question. I haven't tried linking the form from TEVERA. I am going to try it. 

Bonnie 

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Bonnie Rinks
Director of Field Education
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville IN
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: Oct 02, 2023 12:34
From: Sibyl Beaulieu
Subject: Field Manual Question

Hi Bonnie:

I am late to the questions, but we merged our field manual into one (e.g. The Social Work Department Field Manual).  We use Sonia as our student tracking system and were able to load a copy of the form, rather than adopting their format for our field manual.  Is it a possibility to use a link in the program, rather than loading a form?  Also we have forms posted in multiple places on our Department website, so students can access the forms in multiple ways.  It would be a good question to ask your field management support team.  They should have some level of flexibility to work with how your program operates.  Good luck.

------------------------------
[Sibyl] [Beaulieu] [DSW]
[Director of Field Education and Assoc. Professor]
[University of Massachusetts, Global
[City]
------------------------------