I think this is a great question and timely. Perhaps the group that held the Safeguarding Social Work Education and Science in Uncertain Times, would consider entertaining this type of question. At their last webinar CSWE, NADD, and SSWR representatives were all present. I would add NASW may have a voice in this too as the social work Code of Ethics is their guidance. It would be helpful to have shared dialogue and future guidance for educational programs on how to navigate students who choose placements that are pro-life, religious etc. and may have policies or practices that are counter to social work values and ethics. Is this a question of goodness of fit for the profession dependent upon the student's perspective and rationale for this type of placement? I don't know the answer, but I do know as faculty we are the gatekeepers of the profession and the political climate here in the U.S. almost demands (my perspective) that social workers advocate more ardently than ever for human rights, self-determination, social, environmental, economic, and racial justice.
I would love to see this conversation continue!
Joyce Kraus DSW LCSW ACSW (she/her)
Director of Field Education/Assistant Professor
Department of Social Work
Co-Chair Diversity Council 23/24 and 24/25 AY
815-740-3412
stfrancis.edu
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere", -Martin Luther King Jr.
Original Message:
Sent: 2/27/2025 1:00:00 PM
From: Sean Taitt
Subject: RE: Question about placement appropriateness
*Pulls up a chair!
I would be concerned about safety above all else. Yet, the worry I have can occur at any setting. I am really curious how other schools would handle this request.
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Sean Taitt, MSW
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Original Message:
Sent: Feb 27, 2025 07:33
From: Amber Moodie-Dyer
Subject: Question about placement appropriateness
Hello colleagues,
I wanted to ask a question about how you have handled field placement requests from students to be placed in pregnancy crisis centers that are pro-life. My concern is about when these practices conflict with things in our code of ethics like self-determination, informed consent, honesty/coercion and providing accurate information about resources available, etc. I'm especially interested in how a department's decision to disallow certain placements in this new era of institutional neutrality and our current political climate could be viewed as ideological instead of ethics based. I recognize this can be a controversial topic, any guidance would be appreciated.
Amber Moodie-Dyer, PhD, LCSW (she/her/hers)
Field Coordinator
Department of Social Work
535 Leon Levine Hall
Beaver College of Health Sciences
Appalachian State University
1179 State Farm Rd
Boone, NC 28607
Office phone: 828-262-8207
Office fax: 828-262-6811
Cell: 828-964-6253