How To Help Foster Care Youth

Transcription

1 Partnerships with Schools of Social Work Equipping Future Social Workers to Advocate for the Education of Foster Youth Marie-Christine Busque, LCSW, Silicon Valley Children s Fund Xochitl V. Sanchez-Zarama, San Francisco State University Sonja Lenz-Rashid, PhD, LCSW San Francisco State University

2 Why use interns?! 1 st and 2 nd year MSW, Counseling or Psychology interns need internship hours as part of their education program! Interns can have past experience working with adolescents and young adults in a clinical and/or case management capacity! MSW Title IV-E interns receive specific training in working with current and former foster care youth! Inexpensive labor-support for program deliverables

3 Benefits to the students Direct, supervised experience with foster youth Clinical training and supervision in their internship site Clinical case management experience Dedicated learning surrounding education options for current and former foster care youth Life-long knowledge and expertise that will support and inform work in future careers Can receive stipends for internship placement

4 Reaching out to universities! Contact or meet with Field Directors of local universities to become an internship placement: Schools of Social Work, Counseling and Psychology can have students who are interested in working with current or former foster care youth.! Ensure there is someone in your program who can be an official Field Supervisor This might involve requiring someone to have an MSW, MA in Psychology, MA in Counseling, etc.! Fill out necessary Field Internship paperwork - usually in January or February in order to get interns for the Fall academic year

5 Working with Universities! CALSWEC, and new requirements for first year Title IV-E students! Working with the field education office, and how to work with Field Faculty Liaisons and Field Directors! Understanding course requirements and learning objectives in MSW or other accredited programs (e.g. CSWE educational competencies)! How to become an internship of choice! Problem-solving when difficulties or challenges arise

6 Resources Needed Field Supervisor who has correct credentials depending on program requirements of departments Stipend to make internship more desirable Time invested in intern learning Weekly supervision Orientation and Training On-going training

7 Guardian Scholars at SF State! Serving 80 current and former foster care youth in AY ! 1-2 interns in addition to the 2 full-time MSW-level staff persons! Have had interns from SF State University and San Jose State University! Associate Professor in the School of Social Work supervises internship process and acts at Field Instructor

8 Guardian Scholars at SF State! 5 full days of orientation and training, in addition to other external training opportunities! Weekly individual supervision! Significant impact on program participants

9 Emerging Scholars! Academic mentoring for high school aged foster youth in Santa Clara County! 10 interns serving up to 100 youth in ! Graduate students from San Jose State University and California State University East Bay! Undergraduate students from San Jose State University

10 Emerging Scholars 5 full days of orientation and training Weekly individual and didactic group supervision Significant impact on program participants

11 Faculty support from Schools of Social Work! Work collaboratively with Program Coordinators to supervise interns! Assist with fund development for financial sustainability (e.g., write programmatic and research grants, assist with site visits)! Support program development (e.g., develop assessment tools, assist with strategic planning)

12 Faculty support from Schools of Social Work! Collect and manage all annual program data! Examine and analyze student and programmatic outcomes! Provide training for interns, staff, etc.! Important to have an institutional commitment tenured faculty tend to stay at university a long time. With staff changes the faculty can be a consistent presence.

13 Lesson Learned! Reach out to many different schools and departments as students interested in this type of internship placement can vary from year to year! How to handle situations with challenging interns! Need to have designated staff person to work with the schools! Attend Field Supervisor annual meetings! Complete evaluations of students! Weekly supervision

14 Contacts! Xochitl V. Sanchez-Zarama Guardian Scholars Program Director and Co-Founder Educational Opportunity Program Associate Director San Francisco State University Marie-Christine Busque, LCSW, PPSC High School Roadmap to Independence Program Manager Silicon Valley Children s Fund marie.busque@svcf.org