Social work educators are compelled to use reliable and valid methods to assess student learning outcomes. This study adapted a clinical simulation by integrating traditional role-play of case scenarios and elements of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination, which is often used to assess students' practice skills. Master of Social Work…

This paper discusses the utilization of a cultural humility model to educate social work students in understanding the importance of diversity, power, privilege, oppression, marginalization and social and economic justice in an increasingly diverse society. Social work programs are required to teach students to effectively engage a diversity of…

The transition to a financialized economy has had a devastating impact on workers and consumers and exacerbated wealth and income inequality in the United States and around the world. In this article, the authors explain financialization, a two-fold economic strategy whereby individual corporations invest in the financial market- rather than make…

Social work educators must prioritize effective preparation of MSW students for the pivotal roles they will play in supporting clients struggling with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). Understanding what concerns MSW students have about working in the substance use field can highlight student training needs and inform learner-centered curricula.…

In today's society, it is of utmost importance to deliver services with compassion, understanding, and cultural competence. Students' awareness of personal cultural backgrounds, issues, and biases is essential to enhance their ability to serve others, particularly marginalized populations. This study demonstrates how students understood the impact…

Systematic inquiry is an inherent part of social work practice. Despite this fact, social work students and practitioners continue to view research as difficult, intimidating and irrelevant. This disconnect is compounded by a lack of rigorous study on how best to teach research concepts to social work students. One way to bridge this gap is to…

Little is known about preparing BSW students to work with intimate partner violence (IPV). This study describes an experiential exercise designed to introduce them to working with survivors of IPV. Qualitative methods were used to explore BSW student descriptions of their experiences of and learning from the exercise. Analysis revealed students'…

While direct client experience is the optimal environment for social work students to learn interviewing skills, vicarious learning, or learning through observing peers or an instructor in a simulated client encounter, also affords students the opportunity for personal growth and reflection. To explore students' experiences of vicarious learning…

The integration of evidence-informed practices in social work education can be difficult given the crowded curricula of most Master of Social Work programs, particularly for advanced standing MSW students who launch directly into advanced concentration year coursework after obtaining their Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Several factors impact…

Social workers are called upon and expected to work with immigrants in culturally appropriate ways, particularly during a time of increased xenophobia. Yet, few are given the educational tools necessary to answer this call. A global human rights lens, informed by theories on work with immigrants, can provide a framework for social work educators…

To fill a gap in research on the incorporation of neuroscience in social work education, this article describes Master of Social Work (MSW) student and alumni experiences learning a neuroscience-informed model for practice with clients who have endured developmental trauma. The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) is a clinical…

While navigating numerous pressures as they work with vulnerable clients and communities, social workers are expected to use their emotional responses intentionally rather than to be ruled by them. Social work accreditation competencies require that students demonstrate regulation of their own affective processes, but their ability to do so will…

Despite the centrality of diversity and oppression to the standards of social work, more research is needed to determine the most effective teaching method. The Diversity and Oppression Scale allows researchers to assess students' awareness, responsibility, self-confidence, practitioner and client congruence, and social work responsibilities,…

In the United States, suicide rates have risen 30% from 1999 to 2016. To decrease suicide rates, mental health professionals must use best practices to assess, manage, and intervene with clients with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This qualitative research study (N = 60) interviewed participants of a one-day continuing education training titled…

This study explored the use of simulation with Master's level students to determine the efficacy of this approach in teaching advanced social work skills with diverse client populations. Three instructors jointly developed a case scenario in which cultural beliefs differed strongly between clients who were a biracial couple. Instructors found that…