Field Education
As a part of our Council on Social Work Education accredited social work pedagogy, you will be placed in one of our more than 100 partner agencies in the Dayton area and beyond to gain hands-on experience with the practice of social work. You will be given the opportunity to apply theory, practice wisdom, and create and employ interventions in a variety of settings. This experience will help develop the skills you will find necessary to graduate as a competent and well-prepared social work professional.
- Court-based mezzo/macro-level placements with Juvenile Court, Montgomery County Probate Court, and an emerging partnership with the Montgomery County Public Defender's Office
- Partnerships with the best-known social service agencies in the area, including South Community, Eastway, and Daybreak
- School-based social work placements with Mad River and Miamisburg City Schools
- Placements with a strong clinical focus, including opportunities with our very own Wright State University Counseling and Wellness Center
Child Welfare University Partnership Program Field Placement
Specialize in Child Welfare in Your Elective Courses and Field Placement
The University Partnership Program is a unique and beneficial collaboration among the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (DCY), 12 of Ohio's public university departments of social work, the Ohio University Consortium for Child and Adult Services (OUCCAS), the Ohio Child Welfare Training Program (OCWTP), and Ohio's 85 Public Children Service Agencies (PCSAs).
Students in Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work degree programs take special child welfare courses, complete a field placement in a public children service agency (PCSA), and receive an experiential learning incentive while a student in field practicum, and an employment incentive after being hired as a public children service agency caseworker or supervisor within 180 days after graduation.
Students can choose to fulfill the employment commitment in any of the county PCSAs throughout Ohio.
Making a Positive Difference in Public Child Welfare/Child Protective Services
The purpose of the Child Welfare University Partnership Program (UPP) is to positively influence recruitment and retention in public child welfare while increasing readiness to provide quality services to children and their families. Social workers who participate in a program such as UPP stay longer and are more satisfied with their employment than those who did not complete such a program.
Experiential Learning Reimbursement and Employment Incentive Upon Hire
Undergraduate: Depending on funding availability, for BASW students, the experiential learning reimbursement may be up to $3,000 per semester paid at the end of each successful semester in the field practicum. Therefore, relying on funding availability, the total amount of the experiential learning incentive will be capped at $6,000 for each undergraduate UPP student during their senior year while the student is placed in their field practicum with a PCSA.
Graduate: Depending on funding availability, for MASW students, the experiential learning reimbursement may be up to $4,000 per semester and, relying on funding availability, is capped at a total maximum of $12,000 for three successful semesters.
Depending on funding availability, there are no payback obligations for the experiential learning reimbursement payments students may earn.
Employment Incentive: In addition to the potential incentives above, the University Partnership Program provides an employment incentive to social work students who complete the program and successfully gain employment in a PCSA in Ohio. Depending on funding availability, the student may receive $5,000 for each year of participation in the UPP program.
It is important to note that, relying on funding availability, the maximum amount of the employment incentive may be $10,000 for two years of participation in the program and $5,000 for one year of participation in the UPP program.
Students must remain employed at an Ohio PCSA for each year of participation in the UPP program. If the PCSA employment is terminated before the duration of the employment commitment and the student is unsuccessful in finding a new position at another county PCSA, the student will be responsible for paying back to Wright State University a prorated amount of the employment incentive minus the time employed at a PCSA.
How to Apply
Students interested in applying for UPP should contact the Wright State UPP Campus Coordinator.
Dr. James Carter
UPP Campus Coordinator
james.carter@wright.edu
937-775-2751
Field Education Documents and Forms
- B.A.S.W. Fall 2021 Field Manual (PDF)
- M.A.S.W. Field Manual Spring 2025 (PDF)
- B.A.S.W. Field Learning Contract (DOC)
- M.A.S.W. Traditional Field Learning Contract (DOCX)
- M.A.S.W. Advanced Field Learning Contract (DOCX)
- Field Placement Student Profile (DOCX)
University Partnership Program (UPP)
- UPP B.A.S.W. Senior Practicum Student Profile (DOCX)
- UPP B.A.S.W. Field Education Contract (DOCX)
- UPP B.A.S.W. Mid-Point Evaluation (PDF)
- UPP Disclosure Form (DOCX)
Prospective Field Placements
Thank you for your interest in the Wright State Social Work Department - Field Education. Our department partners with human service organizations to create social work practicums for BSW (Foundation Generalist) students and MASW (Advanced Generalist/Clinical) students. Students in Field Placement complete hours across the fall and spring semesters of the academic year. The Field Education Team provides orientation, training, and practicum supervisor networking and support throughout the year.
Human service organizations considered for Practicum sites are typically public and nonprofit organizations that serve diverse populations and have well-established service delivery programs. Organizations must be able to provide direct practice opportunities and experiences in a range of foundation generalist and/or advanced generalist/clinical social work activities. We also work with agencies that provide macro experiences for our students.
Organizations must be able to provide the space and resources for students to complete roles and assignments as well as allow Practicum supervisors the release time to provide orientation, ongoing training, and weekly hourly supervision. Practicum supervisors for MSW students must hold an MSW/MSSW/MASW degree from CSWE accredited institutions and two years post-degree work experience.
Practicum supervisors for BSW students must hold a BSW degree from CSWE accredited institutions and two years post-degree work experience.
If you would like to discuss entering a partnership with Wright State University's Department of Social Work-Field Education to prepare future social work practitioners, please complete the Prospective Field Placement Form below and someone from our office will contact you to provide additional information and answer questions. Please complete the downloadable form and email it to mindy.mccarley@wright.edu.