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Masters of Social Work Field Experience:
Secure Placement

Conduct Agency Research

You will actively participate in the selection of your field placement in collaboration with the Field Office. It is a time for you to explore your community and familiarize yourself with local agencies. During your search you should contact multiple agencies to ensure you have alternatives in case the first one doesn't work out. This process is like getting a job, so method and frequency of communication are important. When you reach out to agencies verify that they accept MSW interns. 

You should conduct your own agency review and contact 3-5 potential field sites. 

Search for Agencies in Meditrek Database

You can utilize our database to help you locate potential agencies near you. 

How to use the database:

  1. Login to Meditrek and select “Search Affiliation Agreements”
  2. Select the appropriate categories to narrow your search and reduce your risk of pursuing sites that are not eligible to partner with you for your Field Experience. Categories to select: school, program, and state
  3. Review the list of agencies to develop a list of your own to follow up with.
  4.  Review the agency’s website to see if it seems they offer tasks and supervision needed for your field experience.
  5.  Call the agency to verify if they are interested in partnering

Disclaimer

This database includes all the active agreements that Walden University has with various field sites for programs throughout the university. Walden actively pursues affiliation agreements with new field sites whenever possible, so please contact the appropriate field experience representative for your program to discuss options if your desired field site is not listed here.

Some field sites may not be appropriate for some programs/specializations and an active agreement between Walden and the field site will not require a site to take on any particular Walden student, as space and programs may be limited. You will need to work directly with the field site to ensure their willingness and ability to take you on as a student during the quarter that aligns with your course.

You will need to complete the application process as required for your program as the presence of an active agreement with a field site does not imply an automatic approval of your field experience plans.

Important points about the AA database:

  • The database includes all the active agreements that Walden University has with various field sites for programs throughout the University. This means that there are agreements in the database only for specific programs (nursing, counseling, etc.) that do not apply to the MSW program.
  • Although an active partnership may be in place with a field site, this does not mean the field site is an appropriate MSW field site. Your assigned field coordinator will verify the site has turned in all appropriate documents and meets field criteria before any MSW placement approval can be granted.
  • An active agreement does not require a site to support a Walden student with a field placement, as space and programs may be limited.

Communicate with Potential Agencies

It is recommended you contact multiple agencies to ensure you have alternatives in case your first agency choice doesn't work out. This process is like getting a job, so method and frequency of communication are important. 

What to communicate?

  1. We recommend initially reaching out via phone or email to introduce yourself and inquire about an internship. In your outreach, make sure to include:
  • A greeting addressed to the agency contact.
  • An introduction of yourself and outline as to why you are interested in completing an internship with the agency.
  • A closing statement such as thanking them for the consideration or opportunity.
  • Your name and contact information.

When to communicate and how frequent?

  • If it has been over a week since you contacted the agency, follow up with them. You should try a different method than your initial outreach.
  • Consider visiting in-person to speak directly with someone.
  • If it has been a considerable time (3-5 business days), explore other options.

Delineating Professionalism versus Casual Communication

  • When communicating with the agencies, it is important to use professional language.
  • Your contact with agencies is not a personal relationship; keeping boundaries and communicating professionally is an important skill to practice.

Field Instructor Benefits

It will be important to communicate your program's requirements with your prospective field sites and field instructors to ensure that they can meet your needs. To thank our field instructors for being an important part of your learning process, we offer them the following benefits. 

We offer the following benefits:

Honorary Clinical Instructor Status 

This status can be claimed during the period you are working with a Walden student and establishes the guidelines for instructors that are provided by the academic program of the student(s) you are working with.  This is an honorary status, which is given without payment, and does not make you an employee or agent of Walden or entitle you to receive employment benefits from Walden.

   
Walden Tuition Discount

15% Tuition Reduction applied towards a Walden University master’s or doctorate program or certificate.  

*This offer is only valid for eligible new students who enroll and start classes in a master’s or doctorate program or certificate and are supervisors, preceptors, cooperating teachers and principal mentors of Walden students at the time of enrollment.      

This offer is not a guarantee that all candidates eligible for the offer will be granted acceptance or admission into Walden. All prospective students will be subject to the same standard admission and registration process when applying to Walden.   

The “tuition reduction” amount is dependent upon the program you enroll in. If the program is part of the new Believe & Achieve scholarship, you will receive a 5% tuition discount on top of the scholarship. If the program is not part of the Believe & Achieve scholarship, you will receive a 15% tuition discount. The tuition reduction is applicable to tuition only and does not apply toward books, materials, and other supplies or fees needed for a course. This tuition reduction will remain in effect for the duration of the student’s continuous enrollment at Walden. No tuition reduction will be made retroactively. The tuition reduction cannot be used by a student in combination with any other tuition reduction benefit. The tuition reduction is not applicable for students enrolled in Tempo Learning® programs.   

Walden may change the tuition reduction offered hereunder at any time, but such change will not affect the tuition reduction for students who are currently enrolled at Walden and using the existing tuition reduction. All tuition reductions, grants, or scholarships are subject to specific eligibility requirements. Contact a Walden University enrollment advisor for details. 

15% Tuition Reduction applied towards a Walden University master’s or doctorate program or certificate.  

This offer is only valid for eligible new students who enroll and start classes in a master’s or doctorate program or certificate between December 12, 2018, and December 31, 2023, and are supervisors, preceptors, cooperating teachers and principal mentors of Walden students at the time of enrollment.    

This offer is not a guarantee that all candidates eligible for the offer will be granted acceptance or admission into Walden. All prospective students will be subject to the same standard admission and registration process when applying to Walden.   

The “tuition reduction” amount is dependent upon the program you enroll in. If the program is part of the new Believe & Achieve scholarship, you will receive a 5% tuition discount on top of the scholarship. If the program is not part of the Believe & Achieve scholarship, you will receive a 15% tuition discount. The tuition reduction is applicable to tuition only and does not apply toward books, materials, and other supplies or fees needed for a course. This tuition reduction will remain in effect for the duration of the student’s continuous enrollment at Walden. No tuition reduction will be made retroactively. The tuition reduction cannot be used by a student in combination with any other tuition reduction benefit. The tuition reduction is not applicable for students enrolled in Tempo Learning® programs.   

Walden may change the tuition reduction offered hereunder at any time, but such change will not affect the tuition reduction for students who are currently enrolled at Walden and using the existing tuition reduction. All tuition reductions, grants, or scholarships are subject to specific eligibility requirements. Contact a Walden University enrollment advisor for details. 

Job and Internship Postings

Job and Internship postings specifically for Walden students and alumni can be posted on the Walden Job & Internship Locator. 

Walden Library

Access to our Walden Library. You will receive an email early in the quarter in which you are supervising that contains directions on how to request access to the Walden Library.

Questions?
Please email MSWfield@mail.waldenu.edu

Request Search Assistance

When you are searching and re having difficulty locating agency options, you can contact the Field Office to request additional assistance. They review these requests to provide you with support and next steps in the process. If you are encountering challenges, please follow the process below.

  1. Research and contact organizations to determine the following:
    • Confirm there are internship opportunities that match your program of study.
    • Confirm there is an MSW with 2 years of post-graduate degree professional experience to provide supervision.
    • Ask about the availability of an MSW internship.
  2. You should contact a minimum of 5 agencies before requesting assistance.
  3. Open the Placement Search Assistance Request Form and complete all pertinent areas.
    • Please be prepared to provide the additional information the form requests, such as geographical area of search and agencies contacted and the Site Research and Contact Record form. 
  4. If there are other barriers, our office will review your request to provide you with support and next steps.
  5. A member from the MSW Field Experience Team will be in contact within 2 business days to further review your request and/or to begin the process.

NOTE: The MSW Field Experience Office reviews each individual request. This process does not guarantee the placement will be approved or secured.

Complete Lead Agency Form in Meditrek

Identify a viable agency from your community search and submit the information on the Lead Agency Form (LAF) in Meditrek. You will submit your LAF during your Skills Lab course. You will have access to this form, once your application is accepted.

The LAF allows you to enter the agency where you are interest in interning. You are required to provide the following:

  • Agency Name
  • Contact Person
  • Phone Number
  • Address 
  • Email address

After the Field Experience Office receives your completed LAF your assigned Field Experience Coordinator will reach out to you and your agency of choice. 

There is a deadline for completion of the LAF. Review the Important Dates & Deadlines table.

If your first agency selection does not meet the criteria, you'll work with your field coordinator to provide other options from your community search. Be prepared to share your list of agencies on the Site Research and Contact Record.

It's important that you partner with your Field Experience Coordinator throughout the placement process. It's also important to utilize all the resources provided. 

Confirm Lead Agency Form is Approved

Your Field Education Coordinator will make contact with the agency submitted in your lead Agency Form to work on approving the agency and obtaining the required documentation:

  • Field Instructor's Resume
  • Affiliation Agreement

The agency must either sign an affiliation agreement between the school and the agency allowing Walden students to be placed at the agency OR already have an affiliation agreement in place. See the Affiliation Agreement section of the manual for more information.

You will receive confirmation from your Field Education Coordinator once your agency and placement have been approved. 

Note: It is recommended that students NOT be placed in agencies where they are employed. The familiarity of a student's workplace often creates issues for students who are in a Field Experience to learn new skills while trying to satisfy employer and work demands. 

Complete Onboarding & Readiness

Some field sites have formal onboarding requirements that you must complete prior to beginning your field experience hours. These may include, but are not limited to, background checks, drug screens, immunizations, and health screens. These requirements are often included in the field site affiliation agreement, and therefore information may not be fully available until the agreement is finalized. Ensure that you are aware of these requirements, if applicable, and work with your agency to complete them. 

Prepare Your Professional Materials

Prepare for your field site and supervisor search with the same diligence you would when looking for a job. The Walden Career Planning & Development Office has prepared a special hub with materials that can assist you in searching for an internship site.