BSW/MSW Field Placement in Ghana
Since 2013, the BSW/MSW Practicum Field Placement Program in Ghana has supervised 78 BSW and MSW students from 17 various US universities, including Colorado State University, University of Alabama, University of Denver, University of Georgia, University of Tennessee, University of Wisconsin and Walla Walla University.
Students have been placed with local and foreign governmental and private organizations that focus on social welfare and child protection including child labor and assault, family empowerment, aging services, substance abuse, mental health, HIV/AIDS, education and youth development, community development and public health.
Examples of past student experiences include: provide individual and group work with children, teens and adults living with HIV/AIDS, teenage parents and adults in recovery; home visitation with families to ensure children’s basic needs were met; advocate for and access health care for children; develop a support group for teens living with HIV/AIDS; implement a relapse prevention program; train community members and staff on the cycle of domestic violence, CPR and healthy parenting and discipline; assess and develop policies regarding volunteer opportunities at a children’s home; develop a website and social media presence and complete program assessments and evaluations of local and foreign NGO’s.
Program Components of the BSW/MSW Field Practicum Placement Experience in Ghana
- Pre-departure support prior to arrival
- Organization of home stay or student housing, field placement and field trip opportunities
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Two day cultural and logistical training
- 24/7 in-country support and open door policy to address concerns, home stay or field placement moves and/or emergencies
- Ghanaian home stay housing or student housing including two meals per day
- Ghanaian field practicum placement and placement supervisor
- On-going support to home stay and field placements
- Weekly one-on-one (1-1+ hour) MSW supervision (12 years US-based direct practice working with homeless adults, chronically mentally ill adults, low income pregnant women, in child welfare and in community development; 13 years international-based practice working in community development, health education, child welfare and supervising students and 10 years teaching at the university level both online and in the classroom) to address concerns or challenges, establish learning goals and objectives and assist with learning agreement development
- Weekly report to university field education director or university liaison and additional follow-up (as needed)
- Complete mid-term evaluation (if applicable) and final evaluation
- Monthly integrative group seminar to include field trips (including transportation), the opportunity to de-brief, discuss challenges in a cultural context and address termination and returning home
- Post-departure support via email, phone and/or What’s App (as needed)
For more information, please contact Beth Okantey at: bethokantey@palm.edu.gh
Social Work students from University of Alabama, USA, Colorado State University, USA and West Chester University, USA at Palm University College for their social work practicum
Some social work students on field trip.