Field Directors

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  • 1.  Online and In person MSW Programs: pulse check regarding screening policies before entering field placement

    Posted Sep 27, 2022 14:14
    Greetings, 

    We are an online MSW program in pre-candidacy (hoping for candidacy early 2023) and I would like to do a pulse check.

    Which of the following policies does your program follow?

    A. NO university or third party background or caregiver checks.  Agencies are notified students have not been screened and to follow their agency regulations, policies and procedures for student criminal background checks. 

    B. Some screening: Differs by state and some states require student information for state registry.  This can be done by a third party vendor. 
    Criminal background checks completed by agency per their regulations, policies and procedures. 

    C. All screenings and criminal background checks are completed by a third party vendor paid by the university.  Agencies are informed students are fully screened.

    Thank you in advance! 

    Best, 









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    Cynthia Baker, EdD, LCSW, MSW
    Director of Field Education
    Herzing University
    Milwaukee
    414-212-3107
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  • 2.  RE: Online and In person MSW Programs: pulse check regarding screening policies before entering field placement

    Posted Sep 28, 2022 10:44
    Good morning. We follow policy A from your list above. Because there is such a variety of requirements depending on the agency, we inform both students and agencies that our program does not background check students, but rather that they should be in communication about any expectations for screening. There are some agencies that do request our assistance with reviewing background checks from third party vendors in order to complete an attestation letter and we do assist in those cases. 

    Best,
    Amanda

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    Amanda Campbell
    Assistant Director of Field Education
    MSU Denver
    Denver CO
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  • 3.  RE: Online and In person MSW Programs: pulse check regarding screening policies before entering field placement

    Posted Sep 28, 2022 12:46
    Hi there,
    we also follow policy A although we have some placements, mostly in clinical or medical settings, that do require background checks which the student is responsible to coordinate and complete.

    Best
    KAT

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    Katharina Werner
    Director of Field Education
    University of Montana
    Missoula MT
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  • 4.  RE: Online and In person MSW Programs: pulse check regarding screening policies before entering field placement

    Posted Sep 28, 2022 14:11
    We follow policy A. We used to have student's do them at their cost and submit them to us and then found out that agencies were redoing Background checks on them anyway and also had additional requirements regarding health screenings/drug testing/required immunizations/ TB testing etc.   This year I had two agencies that also checked driving record and credit score. The latter being somewhat intrusive I felt. I also had a student turned down because of something a potential placement found on Facebook and the post was from 2018 ! I also found checking out social media an invasion of privacy.  The following statement is distributed with our application for Field materials.  


    Field Setting Pre-requisite Requirements

     Most Field Settings require Criminal Background checks and  have additional requirements or pre-requisites such as; references, required training, physical exams, medical tests, specific immunizations, drug screening or other requirements particular to the work the student or a social worker may be expected to do. Students are required to comply with individual Field setting requirements prior to the beginning of a Field placement and are responsible for any associated costs in completing the requirements if not covered by the Field setting.

    All students need to pay particular attention to the following:  Students with circumstances in their backgrounds that may emerge during Criminal Background checks need to discuss the potential implications of these circumstances with the Field Education Office during their interview for a placement. Students who have a criminal background should understand some agencies are precluded by law or Field setting policy from accepting them for a Field placement. Additionally, some agencies are unwilling to supervise students with certain criminal charges. The effect of a positive report will vary according the Field setting policies and explanations of individual circumstances. 

     The Field Education Department makes every possible effort to secure a Field placement for students, however if this cannot be accomplished due to criminal charges, the student may not be able to complete the degree program. Students need to be further aware that even if they are successful in obtaining a placement and receive an MSW, certain criminal offenses may preclude them from obtaining employment or licensure as a social worker. Students need to check individual state licensing requirements. Students also need to be aware that many employers and state licensing boards require background checks for professional social workers.

     

     



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    Deirdre Spelman
    Director of Field Education
    School of Social Work, Marywood University
    Scranton PA
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  • 5.  RE: Online and In person MSW Programs: pulse check regarding screening policies before entering field placement

    Posted Oct 02, 2022 12:22
    Good morning,
    We follow A from your list. A student is responsible for adhering to the agency's requirements and paying for the background check. We try to make sure that students are aware of this when they are placed with the agency.

    Shenita

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    Shenita Williams
    Director of Field Education
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  • 6.  RE: Online and In person MSW Programs: pulse check regarding screening policies before entering field placement

    Posted Oct 03, 2022 11:12
    Hi! We only have in person program. 

    We have our College of Health Sciences Compliance Office who handles our "inpatient" facilities (hospitals, DOD, hospice, etc.). Students pay but our department reimburses. Some of our agencies (state, county, etc.) pay for background checks, UAs. Some agencies have students pay direct but we reimburse students.  We do not contract with 3rd parties.

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    Alma R. Armendariz, MSW
    Practicum Coordinator/Clinical Instructor
    University of Texas at El Paso
    (915) 747-6595
    El Paso, TX 79968
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  • 7.  RE: Online and In person MSW Programs: pulse check regarding screening policies before entering field placement

    Posted Oct 31, 2022 12:12
    Good morning and thank you all for your informational responses.   I am so appreciative of this group and we wrote our policy that background screenings are determined by the field agency policies and procedures.   Thanks again!

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    Cynthia Baker
    Director of Field Education
    Herzing University
    Milwaukee
    414-212-3107
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