Field of Practice

The integrative seminar class blends course work with the field placement.  Each field of practice area prepares students to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of social work practice with a specific population of clients in various settings.  The knowledge base prepares students for the advanced level of practice by integrating policy, research, HBSE and practice skills with their chosen field of practice. 

Students enter an integrative seminar class that is complimentary to their advanced field practicum.

830: Social Work with Children and Families

SW 830 focuses on child welfare and children’s mental health settings, but is appropriate for any placement in which the clientele are children and their families.  This includes but is not limited to community mental health settings, child welfare agencies, WRAP programs that are school based but originate in mental health centers, family resource centers, juvenile justice programs and community centers.

Questions about this field of practice can be referred to:

Professor Mary Berry: (785) 864-2378 or andysmom@ku.edu
Professor Chris Petr: (785) 864-8963 or chrisp@ku.edu
Professor Toni Johnson: (785) 864-3825 or tkjohns@ku.edu

School social work is a subcategory within child and family. SW 834 focuses on working with children and their families in a school district under the supervision of a school social worker.  This setting prepares students for comprehensive practice within school settings with different aged children, from early childhood throughout high school.  It can also include transition programs for special education students.  Settings may include regular and/or special education students.  Questions about this substantive area of interest can be referred to:

Professor Johnny Kim: (785) 864-2647 or jkim@ku.edu

Students interested in School Social Work would take the SW 830 Integrative Seminar class above in the fall semester and then take SW 834 in the spring semester as one of their “clinical elective” choices.

832 Social Work in Health and Mental Health

SW 832 focuses on health and mental health but is appropriate for any placement in which adult clients are served.  This includes but is not limited to community mental health settings, hospitals, health centers, addiction treatment centers, rehabilitative services, domestic violence programs, and criminal justice settings.

Questions about this field of practice can be referred to:

Professor Margaret Severson: (785) 864-8952 or mseverson@ku.edu
Professor Jean Peterson: (785) 864-8962 or jeanp@ku.edu

833 Social Work Practice with Older Adults

SW 833 focuses on empowerment and well being of older adults in various settings.  These settings include but are not limited to hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, home health care, senior centers, and local and state agencies such as the Area Agencies on Aging and Department of Social Rehabilitation.

Questions about his field of practice can be referred to:

Professor Rosemary Chapin: (785) 864-8941 or rchapin@ku.edu
Professor Holly Nelson-Becker: (785) 864-2284 or hnelson@ku.edu

The web site for the Office of Aging www.socwel.ku.edu/oaltc  can be accessed
from the School of Social Welfare web page.