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PART II: MISSION AND GOALS OF ST. AMBROSE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORKSchool of Social Work Mission StatementIt is the mission of the St. Ambrose University School of Social Work to prepare competent and ethicalsocial work professionals who advocate a just society.Consistent with the purposes of social work and Catholic Social Teaching, the St. Ambrose UniversitySchool of Social Work seeks to advance the well-being of people, to promote social and economic justiceand to protect human rights. Emphasizing client system empowerment, the School prepares graduatesto practice competently, ethically and with critical understanding of diversity, human behavior andsocial contexts.Students acquire a comprehensive knowledge base, practice skills, and ethical standards for professionalpractice. These competencies enable graduates to provide resources and opportunities for people tolive with dignity and freedom in their transactions with each other and social institutions locally,nationally, and globally.Master of Social Work Mission StatementThe SAU Master of Social Work program prepares empowerment social workers to use a life-long praxisprocess in order to ensure collaborative, client-centered, multi-level, contextualized practice.Empowerment social workers promote professional social work and advocate for social, economic andenvironmental justice.Program Goals and Curriculum ObjectivesThe idea of empowerment guides all aspects of the St. Ambrose Social Work Program. Program goalsreflect an awareness of community context and a commitment to partnership throughout theecosystem including the program’s relationships with the university, with the social work profession,with allied professions, with students in the program, and with the local social work practice community.The program views itself as a resource to meet the university mission, contribute to the social workprofession, influence community perspective and functioning, and educate students to carry forward asocial justice mission.Goal 1. Provide a quality educational program in empowerment social work practice designed to assurethe acquisition of advanced knowledge, skills, values, cognitive/affective processes, and ethicsnecessary for professional social work practice by maintaining accreditation of the MSW programby the Council on Social Work Education. The competencies proposed by CSWE and the behaviors subsequently developed byMSW Program faculty serve to guide the professional training of students in competentand ethical directions. Graduates of the MSW program show strengths in these skills due to intensive focus onthese competencies and the program’s commitment to empowerment practice. In collaboration with other health science programs at St. Ambrose and CSWE, theMSW program provides multiple contexts for Interprofessional education promotingteam-based client care.Goal 2. Prepare social work practitioners with generalist and empowerment specialization skills to enablethem to engage in multi-level interventions with diverse populations in a range of social servicesettings.8

Explicit goals of empowerment social work practice are multi-level systemic practiceincluding impact on individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.Components of empowerment practice including multi-level intervention, promotionof diversity, politicized practice, and systemic analysis combine to allow forunderstanding and applicability across practice settings.Goal 3. Nurture University-Agency partnerships by facilitating an educational and scholarship presence inthe local, national, and international communities. Education, scholarship, leadership and service in these communities utilize anempowerment stance. MSW Program faculty provide training to agencies regardingempowerment practice, ethics, and diversity. In addition, some faculty hold boardmembership positions in local, national, and global organizations. Field education processes and orientations seek to strengthen relationships and buildbridges between the School and regional social service and health service providers. Continuing education offerings by the MSW program focus on needs of communities.All conference offerings exemplify an explicit empowerment perspective. Thesetrainings also enhance the mission of the Program to produce competent and ethicalsocial workers.Goal 4. Contribute to the knowledge base of the social work profession by engaging in scholarship forpublication and presentation at professional conferences. Using a broad model of scholarship including: scholarship of discovery, of integration,of application, of teaching and learning, and of engagement, faculty collect and shareinformation in order to best serve populations which social workers serve. Social Workers advocate changes in society through these endeavors. Contribution tothe knowledge base of the social work profession is key to the MSW Program. Empowerment Scholarship has an explicit goal to positively impact the greater society.Goal 5. Contribute to the mission of the university: “St. Ambrose University-independent, diocesan, andCatholic-enables its students to develop intellectually, spiritually, ethically, socially, artistically, andphysically to enrich their own lives and the lives of others.” The mission of the MSW Program is clearly aligned with the mission of the largeruniversity, with its focus on both individuals and society. In course offerings, cocurricular events, and informal interaction, the MSW Program seeks to model themissions of both the Program and the University.Unifying Themes of the St. Ambrose MSW ProgramThe St Ambrose MSW program articulates EPAS competencies into behaviors reflecting themes andtheoretical underpinnings supporting an empowerment method, including – (1) collaborative and reflectiveprocesses, (2) the ecosystems perspective, (3) the strengths model, (4) integration of the personal andpolitical, and (5) the ethic of social and economic justice.Collaborative & Reflective Processes – The empowerment method attends to power dynamicspresent within each human interaction. Empowerment-based practitioners work to construct andmaintain their relationships with clients as partnerships to ensure client privilege and preferences.Achieving and maintaining such collaboration requires open reflection between social workers andclients to evaluate the relationship, the plan, and the progress. Students at St. Ambrose learn to9

reflect on their work using introspection, self-observation, client input, and professionalconsultation.Ecosystems Perspective – The central focus on person: environment transactions defines the socialwork profession. Social work professionals facilitate beneficial adaptation between individuals,families, groups, organizations, communities and their particular environments. To implementthis core purpose, a theoretical orientation emphasizing system interaction is essential. Anecosystems perspective provides such a view, revealing the nature and impact of interactionamong human systems. Students learning an empowerment method require an ecosystemsperspective for use in identifying problems and solutions at each level of human functioning.Strengths Model – The strengths model assumes that clients have abilities and that environmentscontain resources. A social worker’s responsibility is to discover and activate these abilities andresources to achieve client goals. Practicing from a strengths model, social workers acknowledgechallenges, yet shift emphasis to the strengths that people accumulate over a life of learning,experience, and adaptation. Particularly relevant are the diversity of strengths based in variousracial, ethnic, cultural and social identities. By focusing on competence rather than deficits inindividual and social functioning, students become empowering practitioners and see the powerinherent in activating people’s existing strengths and resources.Integration of Personal and Political – “The personal without the political is not social work” is themantra of the empowerment based social worker. Personal troubles are mired in social issues.Regardless of practice context, empowering social workers recognize the socio-politicalunderpinnings of all human relationships: they consider solutions at the political level even forinitially perceived individual problems. St. Ambrose MSW students learn to critically analyze howsocial/cultural location impacts client experience, the worker-client relationship, and availableopportunities.Ethic of Social and Economic Justice – A social justice ethic reinforces the social work mandate toserve the most vulnerable of society, to enhance the caring capacity of society, to enddiscriminatory practices, and to expand resources to those in need. As an integral part of aCatholic institution, the School of Social Work spearheads the university’s stance favoring socialjustice and economic equity. The political focus of the empowering social worker consistentlyfocuses on the re-distributive needs of disadvantaged people subjected to discrimination based onpoverty, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, oppression, and lack of available communityresources. Students at St. Ambrose learn to be activists in shaping the practice context.10

PART III: FIELD EDUCATION WITHIN THE MSW PROGRAM CURRICULUMCompetency Based CurriculumThe St. Ambrose University Masters of Social Work program embraces competency-based education andhas intentionally constructed its foundation and specialization curricula around measurable learningoutcomes in both classroom and field. In doing so, the MSW program has concretely articulatedbehaviors representing the nine core competencies to reflect the knowledge, values, skills, andcognitive/affective processes that define the social work profession and indicate competent social workpractice. Student competencies acquired at the generalist foundation level are further refined andsynthesized at the specialized level of practice to prepare students with the expertise to critically applyan interdisciplinary knowledge base, integrate research and evidence from multiple sources, and shapeengagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation processes to fit the unique circumstances of thesituation at hand. Graduates of the St. Ambrose MSW Program demonstrate their abilities to implementan empowerment method of social work practice that furthers a social justice agenda, honors humandiversity, and promotes individual and community well-being.The Location of Field EducationAs signature pedagogy, field education is one of two interrelated components and is of equalimportance with classroom instruction in contributing to the development of the requisite competenciesfor professional social work practice. The St. Ambrose University MSW field education program isdesigned as a seamless two-year program coordinated by the Director of Field Education, withplacement activities supervised by program faculty, and student outcomes evaluated based on thecriteria by which students demonstrate achievement of core competencies for the generalist foundationand the empowerment specialization.The purpose of field instruction is to provide students with opportunities to develop competence forprofessional practice. Field experience provides students with an ever changing and intentional learningenvironment for the facilitation of competency development. In applying concepts and theories learnedin the classroom, students test knowledge, apply values, and practice skills in order to develop programcompetencies for professional practice. This provides a basis for an evidence-informed practice, wherestudents consider relevant research and integrate this information with client preferences and values,ethical principles, available resources, policy considerations, and overall feasibility.The St. Ambrose University Masters of Social Work Program has a single specialization of advancedempowerment social work practice. In preparing students to implement an empowerment method, theMSW program teaches the fundamentals of social work as described in the core competencies of theCouncil on Social Work’s Educational and Policy Accreditation Standards (EPAS, 2015) and advancedknowledge and skills required of a practitioner using an empowerment method. As such, the program’scurriculum design incorporates all of the core competencies for the foundation augmented by theknowledge and observable behaviors specific to the empowerment specialization.Generalist Foundation PedagogyThe generalist foundation curriculum prepares students to undertake a broad range of social workinterventions to support the social well-being of individuals, families, groups, organizations, andcommunities. Students acquire theoretical frameworks that are evidence-informed and applied throughfield practicum. Knowledge of ethics and values, diversity, human rights and social and economic justicesupport skill development in practice, policy, research, and human behavior. The generalist foundationcurriculum builds on the liberal arts preparation of the students and develops the students’ capacity for11

generalist social work practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities in aneducation program based on the ecosystems construct, an empowerment method and strengths model,the integration of the personal and political, and the ethic of social and economic justice. The generalistfoundation curriculum also builds a base of the necessary knowledge and values for critical thinking andintervention skill development for the advanced practitioner. Students have the opportunity to engagein didactic, affective, and experiential learning to build capacity in core competencies during thegeneralist foundation year. Students are expected to explore their own belief systems, to experiencethe dynamics of change, and to be open to diversity of opinion, status, and condition.The Council on Social Work Education (2015) defines generalist practice in the following way:Generalist practice is grounded in the liberal arts and the person-in-environment framework. Topromote human and social well-being, generalist practitioners use a range of prevention andintervention methods in their practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations,and communities based on scientific inquiry and best practices. The generalist practitioneridentifies with the social work profession and applies ethical principles and critical thinking inpractice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Generalist practitioners engage diversity in theirpractice and advocate for human rights and social and economic justice. They recognize,support, and build on the strengths and resiliency of all human beings. They engage in researchinformed practice and are proactive in responding to the impact of context on professionalpractice.This definition of generalist social work practice is supported by the following assumptions: Generalist practice provides the basic helping strategies and competencies which underlie socialwork practice at its beginning level of competenceGeneralist practice considers the interplay of personal and collective issues and works with avariety of human systems – societies, communities, neighborhoods, complex organizations,formal groups, informal groups, families, and individuals – to create changes which maximizesocial functioningGeneralist social work practice views problems in context using different skills to intervene atmultiple system levels and integrate a combination of methods as required by a particularsituation.Generalist social work addresses the solution and/or prevention of problems at levels ofintervention – personal, familial, interpersonal, organizational, community, institutional, andsocietal.Generalist social work practice looks at issues in context and finds solutions within theinteractions between people and their environments.Required Generalist Foundation courses include the following:MSW 510MSW 610MSW 710MSW 810MSW 591Generalist Practice I (3)Human Behavior Theories (3)Social Work Research Design (3)Social Welfare Policy (3)Field Instruction & Seminar I (3)MSW 520MSW 620MSW 720MSW 820MSW 592Generalist Practice II (3)Diversity and Social Systems (3)Social Work Program Evaluation (3)Social Policy Analysis (3)Field Instruction & Seminar II (3)12

Competencies and Associated Behaviors for the Generalist Foundation YearCompetency 1: Demonstrate Ethical and Professional BehaviorSocial workers understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards, as well as relevant laws andregulations that may impact practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Social workers understandframeworks of ethical decision-making and how to apply principles of critical thinking to those frameworks inpractice, research, and policy arenas. Social workers recognize personal values and the distinction betweenpersonal and professional values. They also understand how their personal experiences and affective reactionsinfluence their professional judgment and behavior. Social workers understand the profession’s history, itsmission, and the roles and responsibilities of the profession. Social Workers also understand the role of otherprofessions when engaged in inter-professional teams. Social workers recognize the importance of life-longlearning and are committed to continually updating their skills to ensure they are relevant and effective. Socialworkers also understand emerging forms of technology and the ethical use of technology in social work practice.Social workers:1.1 make ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws andregulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes ofethics as appropriate to context;1.2 use reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practicesituations;1.3 demonstrate professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electroniccommunication;1.4 use technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes;1.5 use supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior.Competency 2: Engage Diversity and Difference in PracticeSocial workers understand how diversity and difference characterize and shape the human experience and arecritical to the formation of identity. The dimensions of diversity are understood as the intersectionality of multiplefactors including but not limited to age, class, color, culture, disability and ability, ethnicity, gender, gender identityand expression, immigration status, marital status, political ideology, race, religion/spirituality, sex, sexualorientation, and tribal sovereign status. Social workers understand that, as a consequence of difference, a person’slife experiences may include oppression, poverty, marginalization, and alienation as well as privilege, power, andacclaim. Social workers also understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination andrecognize the extent to which a culture’s structures and values, including social, economic, political, and culturalexclusions, may oppress, marginalize, alienate, or create privilege and power. Social workers:2.1 apply and communicate understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping lifeexperiences in practice at micro, mezzo, and macro levels;2.2 present themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences;2.3 apply self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and values in workingwith diverse clients and constituencies.Competency 3: Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic and Environmental JusticeSocial workers understand that every person regardless of position in society has fundamental human rights suchas freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education. Social workers understandthe g

A. Student Evaluation of the Field Education Program B. Evaluation of the Field Education Program by the Agency Field Instructor C. End of Fall Semester Report by the Faculty Field Liaison APPENDIX A: SYLLABI 45 MSW 591 AND MSW 592: GENERALIST FOUNDATION FIELD INSTRUCTION & SEMINAR MSW