Field education in crisis: experiences of field education coordinators in Canada |
| |
Authors: | Jessica Ayala Julie Drolet Amy Fulton Jennifer Hewson Lorraine Letkemann Myra Baynton |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada;2. Faculty of Social Work, Central and Northern Alberta Region, University of Calgary, Edmonton, Canada;3. Faculty of Social Work, Southern Alberta Region, University of Calgary, Lethbridge, Canada |
| |
Abstract: | Significant multi-layered challenges with delivering quality practicum experiences to social work students have led field education coordinators to release a joint statement that social work field education in Canada is in a state of crisis. This article presents the results of a two-year mixed methods study that sought to investigate and describe the challenges in order to enhance understanding of the crisis from the perspective of Canadian social work field education coordinators. The results indicate that social work education programs in Canada face four key challenges in regard to field education that can be further divided into two sections: (a) the social work practice field and (b) social work field education administration. The two key challenges associated with the social work practice field are: (a) social work practice contexts and realities and (b) practicum shortages and saturation. The two key challenges associated with social work field education administration are: (a) practicum procurement and field instructor recruitment and retention; and (b) expectations and workloads of field education coordinators. To address these challenges, collaborative development of a multi-level strategy aimed at moving beyond the current state of crisis toward a sustainable model of social work field education in Canada is recommended. |
| |
Keywords: | Practicum field education crisis Canada international |
|
|