UMD-MSW FIELD PROGRAM

AGENCY APPLICATION FOR THE FIELD PROGRAM

Agency Name: St Louis County Public Health and Human Services/Child Protection		Date: January 29, 2007
Address: 320 W Second St. Duluth, MN 55807
Contact Person: Mark Snyder		Position: Child Protection/Foster Care
Telephone: 725-5155	E-mail Address  snyderm@co.st-louis.mn.us
Fax 218 -725-5186

 

PART I. AGENCY DESCRIPTION

A. Is your agency: Private non-profit ____ Tribal____ County X Other ____

 

B. What is the mission of the agency?

The St. Louis County Social Service Department is committed to providing social services to families and individuals that help support and maintain the family unit. The Department is dedicated to developing social services that help families continue to meet the needs of their members and prevent the breakdown of the family unit. It is with this focus that services are provided to the family, based on the premise that individual and family decisions will not be assumed by social service intervention, except in situations where the child is in need of protection and/or treatment. It is the responsibility of Social Service staff to assist families in their exploration of alternatives that will best meet the needs of the family unit.

 

C. What is the population being served?

Any family living within St. Louis County who is either requesting services or is mandated to receive services through child maltreatment laws, Family or Juvenile Court will be served.

 

D. What type of services is provided by the agency?

The programs and services provided by the Public health and Social services include Disability services, Elderly and Support services, Extended Family services, Child Care, Child Protection, Intensive Family Based Services, Child Support, Children’s Mental Health, Family Outreach, Adoptions, Minor Parents and WIC.

 

E. What methods of intervention are used (i.e. casework, group work, community organizing, etc.)?

Methods of intervention include: Intake and assessment of referrals, child abuse and neglect investigation, assist parents with providing safe and nurturing homes for children, arrange for temporary or permanent out-of-home child placements, reunite and bring families together, coordinate with community services, voluntary services to strengthen families and build healthy communities. Also, Indian Child Welfare Services, staffed by American Indian workers and others interested in Indian Child Welfare, coordinate the county cases with tribal services.

 

F. Describe the experience and educational background of the MSW social worker available for student supervision. (The MSW is required by our program to meet CSWE accreditation standards.)

There are numerous MSW social workers of various backgrounds available for a supervisory role.

 

PART II. STUDENT - FIELD PLACEMENT DESCRIPTION

A. Describe the educational experiences available to students. What tasks and responsibilities could be assigned to the student? Differentiate between Field I and II. (This section will determine if you will be assigned Field I or Field II students. You may want to review the requirements for Field I and II in the Field Manual. The Field Coordinator is available for assistance and further discussion).

Field I students working in child protection will be asked to assist in case management, have contact with clients that are assigned to them, develop case plans, supervise visitations between children and parents, attend agency meetings on a weekly basis, attend family court hearings, write court reports, access services offered by St. Louis County, assist on any new projects as determined by your supervisor, attend trainings in diversity and agency workshops, work with other social workers from different units to better serve clients. Students are also expected to visit cooperating agencies.

Field II students will be asked to assist in case management, have contact with clients that are assigned to them, set up visitations between children and parents, attend agency meetings on a weekly basis, attend family court hearings, write court reports, access services offered by St. Louis County, assist on any new projects as determined by your supervisor, attend trainings in diversity and agency workshops, work with other social workers from different units to better serve clients.

 

B. What types of clients will the student be exposed to?

Students will be exposed to mainly court ordered clients but also to clients who are working a plan without being court ordered to. They may or may not be court ordered to work with social services at a later date. The clients come from various backgrounds and income levels. Most clients are white; some clients are African American or off Asian descent. Almost all are female.

 

C. What resources would students have the opportunity to utilize in performing above tasks? Will office or desk space be made available to the student?

You will be given your own computer and desk. With access to WordPerfect, Microsoft office, SSIS (a registration system) and the agency portal which includes different county programs.

 

D. How will supervision be provided (i.e. availability and frequency of supervision)? Supervision is available on a daily basis and covered by other MSW social workers if your direct supervisor is unavailable. No less than one hour per week of intensive, teaching, individual MSW supervision is needed. However, to meet the educational needs of the students in the optimal fashion, this is probably only the minimum.

Supervision will be provided by an MSW in the child protection unit. Most supervisors will be available on a daily basis.

 

E. To what extent can students participate in staff meetings relating to cases or projects?

Students will be able to attend most agency meetings unless otherwise excluded due to staff confidentially or intern confidentially.

 

F. Will students be able to be exposed to/or participate in administrative meetings, research and evaluation projects (if outside their job descriptions), and policy development tasks?

St. Louis County is very open about students attending agency meetings or developing any research which will benefit St. Louis County.

 

G. Will the student have the opportunity to attend and participate in workshops and training sessions?

You might have the opportunity to attend and participate in workshops and training sessions.

 

H. Does your agency provide an opportunity for students to get experience working with diverse (people of color, lesbian/gay/bi-sexual/transgender, and other oppressed populations) individuals/groups? Please explain.

The agency provides an opportunity to get experience working with diverse individuals or groups. If the clients you serve are all of similar background, the ICWA unit can provide some experience in working with American Indians.

Is it necessary for students to have a car?	Yes:_____	No:_X
If needed on the job, will you provide travel expense reimbursement?	Yes:X	No:______
Are stipends or salary available?	Yes: X (summer only)	No:______
Hours/days needed: 16 hours a week on a concurrent placement/ 40 hours a week for a block placement.
Does your agency have a web site?	Yes: X	No:______
If so, please indicate the URL: http://www.stlouiscounty.org/
Submitted by name/title: Sandra van den Bosse/MSW intern	Date: January 29, 2007
Agency Director signature: Dick Pingry

 

Please Return to:

Kathy Heltzer, Field Coordinator

220 Bohannon Hall

UMD

Duluth, Minnesota 55812

218-726-8935

kheltzer@d.umn.edu

or

Geri Wilimek, Associate Field Coordinator (Distance Ed Placements)

Bemidji State University

1500 Birchmont Drive NE

Bemidji, MN 56601

218-755-4058

gwilimek@d.umn.edu