ERIC Number: EJ1232242
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1043-7797
EISSN: N/A
"If I Did It over There, I Can Do It Here": U.S. Latinx Social Work Students in Costa Rican Service Placements Deepening Their Professional Identity and Skills
Willis, Tasha Y.; Wick, David; Han, Tyler M.; Rivera, Jacqueline; Doran, Joanna K.
Journal of Social Work Education, v55 n4 p710-723 2019
Social work student participation in global experiences continues to increase despite limited research on the impacts of these educational experiences on knowledge and skill development. This article reports on professional identity and skill development for 25 U.S. Latinx students who completed internships or service-learning projects in Costa Rica while living with host families. Three groups of MSW students spent 6 weeks in full-time summer internships and one group of primarily BASW students completed two-week summer service-learning projects and language immersion course work. Through longitudinal qualitative data collected before, during, and after the time abroad, and the use of the Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards as a conceptual framework to assess learning outcomes, three key areas of professional gains emerged: demonstrate ethical and professional behavior, engage diversity and difference in practice, and engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. This study reveals specific benefits of opportunities for students assumed to already be culturally competent with clients of related backgrounds because of language or ethnic similarities. Discussion on the findings and implications for social work educators and students is included.
Descriptors: Hispanic American Students, Counselor Training, Service Learning, Masters Programs, Social Work, Internship Programs, Foreign Countries, Educational Experience, Skill Development, Student Attitudes, Professional Identity, Family Environment, Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Longitudinal Studies, Educational Policy, Study Abroad, Outcomes of Education, Ethics, Cultural Awareness, Counselor Client Relationship, Ethnicity, Native Language, Spanish, Standards, Accreditation (Institutions), Journal Writing, Metacognition, Teamwork, Intercultural Communication, Helping Relationship, Empathy, Professionalism
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Costa Rica; California (Los Angeles)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A