Program Information Soquel Union Elementary School District (SUESD) offers practicum students the opportunity to engage in school-based social work practice supporting our studnets, families and the broader district community. Practicum students working in SUESD will have the opportunity to complete all required field hours for the MSW and all PPSC requirements, including those needed for the Child Welfare & Attendance sub-credential. Interns will spend roughly 80-85% of their time in direct practice with students, families and staff. Practicum students can anticipate providing a wide range of school-based supports and services, ranging from whole-class psycho-education, to group counseling to providing individual services. Practicum students will become an integral part of our multidisciplinary student services team which meets regularly to identify needs, monitor progress, and support student success. Practicum students can anticipate making referrals to, and collaborating with, a variety of local agencies to support the needs of our students and families. Additionally all practicum students will be heavily engaged in evidence based, data-driven practices, including the delivery and evaluation of various interventions. Practicum students will participate in the team's process of research informed practice and practice informed research & will collaborate with the team in the process of on-going evaluation and development of our student services program. Practicum students in our placement will acquire all the neccessary skillsets to ensure their readiness to succeed & thrive in their post-graduate practice of professional school social work.
Students in practicum with SUESD can anticipate being on-site 2-3 days per week (dependent on program requirements), and will split their time between one elementary site and our middle school so they may complete all PPSC required learning experiences across multiple developmental ranges and grade levels. Students in our practicum can anticipate receiving not only the required hour per week of supervision, but will also have ample opportunities to receive additional support as needed while on-site. Additionally, we conduct group supervision/collaboration twice per month and practicum students are encouraged to attend. Practicum students will have their own caseload (co-managed with the supervisor & on-site counseling staff) and should anticipate being in charge of delivering both individual and small group services, as well as a some highly structured whole-class lessons. Typically practicum students have a caseload of 10-20 studnets, with roughly half receiving individual services and the remainder being participants in small group counseling. This caseload will rotate throughout the year as our students make progress, meet their goals, and exit from services. Practicum students will be able to engage in all aspects of working with the clients assigned to them, from conducting intake & assessment, building rapport, determining appropriate interventions, delivering interventions, and evaluating the outcomes of their work with the students/clients they serve. Practicum students are encouraged to develop their own orientation and approach to practice, with the support and guidance of the supervisor and our social work & counseling staff. Practicum students with Soquel Union Elementary School District will receive a $400 monthly stipend while in field with our district.