2-Year MSW Orientation to the Placement Process May 25, 2010

Introductions Maureen Boettcher – Field Education Manager – Ext Sheryl Abraham – Assistant Field Education Coordinator – Ext

2 nd Year Student Panel

2-Year MSW Phase I Orientation Introduction to School of Social Work Placement Requirements –First Year –Second Year Placement Process Things to Consider Cover Letters and Resumes Interviews Confirmation of Placements Accommodations Technical Support Questions/Concluding Remarks

Welcome to the School of Social Work We are a School that strives to create a inclusive, respectful environment for our students. We are honored to welcome students of many different and intersecting identities. We are open to exploring alternative or non traditional placement opportunities for our students We encourage you to be creative and proactive in your search

Mission Statement The School of Social Work at York teaches from a critical social work perspective. We focus on issues of social justice, marginalization and oppression We focus on teaching students to understand social problems from this perspective and to address social problems as social justice issues.

As a result we do not have streams of practice within the program or within placements. We encourage students to think about where to do their placement in terms of the social justice issues they wish to address and the skills they need to develop to do so effectively. Mission Statement

Placement Requirements Students in the 2 year MSW program are required to complete a total of 1100 placement hours: 450 hours the first year placement 650 hours in the second year placement

Components of First Year Placement Orientation Sessions Integrative Seminars Faculty Advisor Site Visit

Placement Process Collaboration between field office and student is essential All placements must be confirmed by the Field Education Manager

MSW Practicum Road Map Site Search Selection of top 4 placement choices Application submitted latest by: September 11, 2010 Interview with Placement site Confirmation of Placement

Agency Search Internet Sites –211Toronto: h.jsp h.jsp –Charity Village: SW Database Advising Appointment

Choosing Possible Placement Sites Past work/volunteer social work experience Training Social work issues/population Skill development Supervision/Learning style Self-care practices

Cover Letter and Resume Work and Volunteer Education Introduce self What you have to offer

Cover Letter and Resume Save resume and cover letter under one document Save it with first and last name as the title of the document Ex. “SMITH Marie Resume and Cover Letter 2010” Try to keep resume to 2 pages Spell check and have someone else read it over

Interviews Professional Dress Discuss what you can offer Be clear about your learning goals and supervision needs Some sites will require a certain level of practice experience

Interviews Interview Workshop September 20, pm

Police Checks and Requirements Police check in the Fall Potentially need license or access to a car Other requirements

Confirmation of Placement Confirmation package Enrollment Orientation Session: Beginning Placement : Monday, December 13, pm

Accommodations Please contact the Counselling and Development Centre (416) Room N110 Bennett Centre for Student Services

Technical Support

/accounts/signupinstructions.html YorkU Passport Instructions

Type as website address (Netscape or Internet Explorer) Go to Options Mail Management York Mail Management Options Edit Your Mail Forwarding Settings In the blank field enter the address to which you want to forward your York account Click save options to save the changes. Send an to your YorkU and make sure it goes to your other account Forwarding YorkU s

Changing Your Personal Information Open Internet Browser On Address Line Type: Click on “Current Students Faculty & Staff”

Changing Your Personal Information Click on “Current Students”

Changing Your Personal Information Click on “My Student Records”

Changing Your Personal Information Click on the information you need to change such as address and contact information, emergency contact information, etc.

Changing Your Personal Information Log in to Passport York and make the necessary changes

Social Work Practicum/Field Placement Database Instructions

Open Internet Browser On Address Line Type: Registering on the Database via Website

Click on “Database Sign In” Registering on the Database via Website

You will be directed to the SOWK Online Application Page. Select “Students” Registering on the Database via Website

This will bring you to the SOWK Online Application –Students Page. Click on “Register new account” for 1 st time users OR enter your student ID & password as well Select MSW or BSW Student (if you have already registered) In order to do this you will need to enter your student number and create a password for future use. Registering on the Database via Website

Once you login you will be directed to this screen. Click on “Agency Search” to research possible placement sites. This will bring you to the following page. Registering on the Database via Website - Agency Search

When your Agency Search is complete, continue by Clicking on Placement Request to begin the application process. Here you will be able to go through and make selections and view information on possible Agency’s. Registering on the Database via Website - Agency Search

Checking multiple checkboxes will only find exact matches to your criteria. Search one or a few component at a time to broaden search results. Searching by location will generate fewer hits because of subjective regional language (i.e. GTA is can also be Mississauga) Take a look at the posted links/websites to get an idea of what the place is about The search engine is very precise. Be sure to be exact in your spelling Check out as wellhttp:// Search tips in database: ‘Learning Opportunities’

Please ensure that you’re emergency contact and employer contact information is correct and change if necessary as outlined before Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request

Type notes, 1-2 lines max. or it will cut you off Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request

Please ensure that you choose 4 distinctly different agencies (i.e., do not choose more than one location of the same agency as separate choices). If Agency does not exist, click on Other Agency and complete requested information. Attach Resume and Cover letter in one document twice. You MUST submit your resume and cover letter at the time of your application. Click SUBMIT. SUBMIT Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request

Please DO NOT contact agencies unless the field office has said you can Most agencies prefer if the field office contacts them up Generally makes it a smoother process for agencies and students All placements MUST be confirmed by the field office Registering on the Database via Website – Placement Request

Please ensure that you have all documentation completed, for example resume and cover letter, before submitting your application. No editing privileges are permitted, therefore if you have omitted any details to your application, you will have to start over and complete it again. Please write on the application an alternative address if you do not use your yorku account. Please note that the “SUBMIT” button will disappear from the on-line database application once the deadline date September 11, 2010 has passed. Please the field office any changes to the application after you have submitted it. We work on securing your first or second choice first – think about your ranking of choices Registering on the Database via Website – Other Information

QUESTIONS/CLOSING REMARKS Thank you for coming Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions Questions/Closing Remarks