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Introduction
Field-based education plays
a major role in the training of health and human service
professionals in the Collaborative
Health and Human Services (CHHS) program. The Field
Practice Program (FPP) is the academic and administrative
office that provides support and guidance for the
field
practice component of the CHHS program, assisting CHHS
students to prepare for and complete their internship experiences.
Requirements
CHHS
majors are required to complete a minimum of 400 hours
of approved field practice prior to graduation. The
field program is intended to promote professional
development related to specific Major
Learning Outcomes (MLO's). Students are generally
in the field six hours a week in the junior year,
and eight hours a week in the senior year.
In their junior year students must complete CHHS 396S
and CHHS 398S (Junior Field Seminars) consecutively
along with their two semester field placement and
must complete a minimum of 60 hours in the field
each semester. CHHS 396S and 398S are taken concurrently
with SW 310 or PH 320. CHHS 400/496(A & B) is
required of all seniors and is the integrated senior
capstone/field practice seminars. Both courses provide
ongoing support and guidance to students participating
in a field experience.
Field placements must be completed at approved sites that
provide both breadth and depth of learning opportunities
in support of the mission of HHSPP. Students will
be provided with learning experiences necessary to
meet the CHHS graduation requirements and to prepare
them for entry level work in the field and/or to
apply to graduate school.
Field placements in the junior year emphasize
interprofessional experiences. Working across disciplines provide students with an opportunity
to experience the various perspectives and professional
working relationships involved in a multidisciplinary
environment, whether working internally across departments
of an agency and/or externally among agencies working
on collaborative community projects.
Service Learning (SL) is a
requirement of all students graduating from CSUMB. The
purpose of the SL requirement is to introduce students
to the importance of community service and social justice.
Students in the CHHS field program receive credit for their upper-division SL requirements through completion of 398S.
Field Practice Sites
HHSPP strives to provide students
with a range of approved health and human service
agencies for placement in the tri-county area.
Collaboration
and professional development are a major focus for
students' experiences in the field. A database
is maintained by
the Field Practice Program (FPP) and currently has
a listing of approximately 80 agencies. Click
here to view and search for approved sites. Agencies
interested in working with HHSPP students should complete the Agency Profile Information and The University-Agency Agreement for Placement forms as part of the process to become an approved FPP
site. Once received, a site visit will be scheduled to complete the approval process. Agency Field Mentors are strongly encouraged to
attend the Field Mentor Orientation provided at the beginning of each semester.
This workshop provides new and continuing mentors with an orientation and updates to the HHSPP goals and requirements related to the Field
Practice Program.
The following guidelines are considered
in the selection and approval of a field placement:
- The agency's philosophy of service
and practice should embody the ethics and values of
social work, public health and/or public safety
- The agency is in good standing
in the community and in its respective profession
- The agency's programs or collaborative
network is broad enough for the student to experience
the various perspectives and professional relationships
involved in a multidisciplinary environment. Specific
sites can be identified for students to work internally
across departments of an agency and/or externally
among agencies working on collaborative community
projects
- The agency's administration, staff
and governing body are aware of and support the goals
of field-based education and allow the Agency Field
Mentor to adequate time for mentoring the
student(s).
- The agency is willing to accept
students without regard to age, gender, race, national
origin, physical disabilities or sexual orientation
- The agency will provide adequate
space in a safe environment, and provide orientation
to the student that includes safety policies
Agency Responsibility
The
collaborative effort of the university and the agency
is an essential element to the success of the field practice program.
The sponsoring agency's responsibility to the student
is to provide experiences that facilitate their professional
development and include:
- Completion
of the University Agency Agreement for Placement
of Students, which is required prior to placement
of student interns. This agreement addresses liability
issues and insurance requirments.
- An Agency Field Mentor who will
oversee and assess and evaluate the student's field
practice experience; who will share organizational
values, personal experiences and contacts with the
student to facilitate a successful interprofessional
education internship; and evaluate the student, as
required, at the end of each semester
- Ongoing supervision of at least
one hour per week to discuss the student's
progress on projects and learning activities, professional development, and related challenges
- A
formal orientation to the agency, it's mission,
policies and procedures (including workplace
safety), various departments or programs, and any
collaborating partnerships in the community, at
the
beginning of the internship
- Adequate workspace and training
for the student to perform the duties required by
the agency and fulfill the designated Major Learning
Outcomes (MLOs)
- Facilitate student involvement
in agency staff and committee meetings, conferences
and seminars, and any related activities that provide
the student with opportunities for making professional
contacts. Students need to be included as an active part of the agency, engaged in a variety of experiences, including contacts with clients
- Adequate student access to appropriate
agency records for the student's research and class
assignments, respecting the confidentiality of clients
- Agreed
upon experiences, activities, and duties that assist
the student in achieving the
MLOs outlined in the Field Learning
Agreement. For all sites, students need
to address a
minimum of five MLOs including Collaboration, Professional
Ethics, Knowledge of Health and Human Services (Social Work or Community Health), and two additional
MLOs that reflect the students learning experience at the site.
- Mentor availability for consultation
with the Field Practice Program Coordinator and/or staff.
- Mentor attendance at one of the two CHHS
sponsored Mentor Orientation Workshops provided each year
Agency Field Mentor Roles and Responsibility
The Agency Mentor's role is a combination of educator, role model, and evaluator. It is crucial to the professional development of the student to provide encouragement, reassurance and positive reinforcement, and to foster a relationship of rapport and trust. Approachability, reliability, and empathy are essential in creating an environment that is safe and encourages learning.
Please use the Checklist for Agency Mentors (pdf) to guide you in the student's orientation to the agency. Agency Mentors provide support and guidance to students in three main areas:
- The first role is that of an educator, serving to extend the formal academic training into the field. The educational function(s) may include:
- Knowledge of health and human service delivery systems and the professional roles and behaviors expected within these systems
- Self-awareness skills and awareness of interpersonal behaviors, that can be appropriately modeled for students
- Effective teaching techniques that include one-on-one supervision, group supervision, and use of reflective journals
- The second role is that of role model, assisting the student in professional development, and in attaining the knowledge, values and skills necessary for work in the health and human service fields. This includes:
- Explaining the legal and ethical issues pertinent to the helping professionals
- Clarifying the student's role and learning exercises as an intern
- Student participation in academic field seminars, which also focus on ethics and professional development
- Emphasis on desirable professional conduct and support for the transition from student to professional
- The third role is that of evaluator, providing the student with ongoing feedback and assessment. This helps the student gain awareness of their strengths and areas in need of improvement and provides an opportunity to explore career goals. Frequent feedback allows the student to develop skills more quickly and to make adjustments in the Field Learning Agreement as necessary. This includes:
- Agency Field Mentors are responsible for meeting with the student on a regular basis ( a minimum of one hour per week) to provide ongoing feedback to the student on their performance and provide the student with time away from work to discuss professional development issues
- Mentors will be provided with a field packet that includes the evaluation forms to becompleted with the student at the end of each semester. This evaluation provides valuable guidance to the student and faculty about the student's progress towards developing competence in the MLOs, as well as their professional growth and development
- The process of sharing this information and also asking the student to evaluate their own performance can be a powerful learning experience and an opportunity for the student to begin to use self-monitoring and self-evaluation skills
- Completion of the Mid-Year Evaluation at the end of the first semester at the site
- Completion of the Student Assessment form at the end of the placement
Questions and concerns regarding student performance should be directed to the Field Coordinator.
Student Responsibilities
The field experience provides students with exposure and access to organizations at a level which most undergraduates will not have the opportunity to enjoy during the early part of their careers. Students are expected to behave in a professional manner while working on projects and activities and interacting with the agency's administrators and other staff.
During the field experience, the student is responsible to the Agency Mentor for agreed upon projects and work duties. Students are expected to:
- Develop a Field Learning Agreement during the first two weeks of the placement
with the assistance of the Agency Field Mentor
- Report to the agency on a regular and timely basis during the academic year
- Negotiate a consistant schedule with the Field Mentor and obtain approval in advance for any changes or absences
- Develop high quality, professional and ethical work products
- Comply with all the agency's policies and procedures
- Complete all academic and professional assignments in a timely and agreed upon manner
Field Practice Program Documentation
Part of a student's professional development is to take responsibility for the timely completion and submission of all required paperwork related to the FPP.
- Agency Profile
Required form submitted by agencies as part of the site approval process. (Must be completed prior to placement of the student).
- University Agency Agreement
Required agreement between the agency and CSU Monterey Bay, completed by the agency as part of the site approval process. (Must be completed prior to placement of student/s).
- Field Learning Agreement and Student Assessment
The purpose of the combined Field Learning Agreement and Student Assessment (FLASA) document is to 1) provide a framework for planning the student's field practice experiences in the agency, as well as 2) evaluating the student's competence in selected MLOs prior to and at the conclusion of the placement. This plan will provide guidance and support for the student's efforts to develop and improve their level of competence with the agency's needs and opportunities. Each section is described in more detail below.
Learning Agreement Section (Planned Activities & Assignments)
The
Learning Agreement is the student's "roadmap" to
learning experiences in the field placement
and should clearly identify the objectives,
projects and activities the student will
be involved in to develop competence in the
selected MLOs.
Student Assessment Section (Progress on Projects & Evaluation of Student)
The assessment component of the document
is designed to assess the student's level
of competence upon exiting the
two semester placement. Student assessment
or evaluation, is a shared, ongoing and dynamic
process between the student and field mentor
and requires student participation in all
steps of the process. The assessment of the
student is to be completed at the end of
the placement and is required in order for
the student to receive credit for the field
placement experience. The assessment provides
valuable guidance to the student and to HHSPP,
and states progress towards MLOs, as well
as professional growth and development.
Midyear
Evaluation - This form is to be complated
by the agency Field Mentor at the end of
the first semester of a two semester placement.
- Time Sheets
Documents the hours completed by the student and are due at the end of each semester; signed by the Agency Mentor.
- Student Site Evaluation
This evaluation form will be completed by the student at the end of each placement. This is the student's opportunity to give feedback on their Field Placement site and Mentor to the Field Practice Program. Students should include what learning opportunities were available for the selected MLO's and whether or not they would recommend it as a future Field Placement site for other students.
- Required Service Learning Forms
These forms are due as indicated in the CHHS calendar and must be submitted electronically by students enrolled in CHHS 398S.
Instructions to begin process
- Agency Mentor Evaluation of Field Practice Program
Mentors should complete an evaluation of the Field Practice Program at the conclusion of the student's placement.
HHSPP Faculty Responsibilities
HHSPP faculty provide academic supervision and the Field Coordinator and Field Supervisors provide the primary field support for the student and the Agency Mentor. Faculty and staff assist students in identifying professional and career development areas; clarify field practice learning objectives and identify appropriate sites for applied learning. CHHS field-based seminars help students to integrate theoretical knowledge into practice in an agency setting.
The faculty can assist the Agency Mentor in her/his role as educator, supervisor, and mentor, and can provide technical assistance and access to CSUMB's academic resources when requested.
Site visits are required as part of the agency approval process to obtain specific information about the learning experiences available for students and to assess workplace safety. Additional site visits may be required to assess student progress or to discuss changes in the Field Learning Agreement. Faculty may also be available throughout the field placement to answer questions or to assist in the resolution of any problems. Change to or termination of placements must be discussed with the Field Coordinator in advance. |
