For over 100 years, schools of social work in the United States have regarded field education as a prominent learning tool for students. In such field settings, students are individually supervised, integrating social work principles, theories and skills of the profession with on the job experience. The field supervisor and the student relationship help the student identify ethical issues, develop practice skills and bridge the relationship between theory and practice. The Fulton County Department of Health & Wellness and Georgia State University School of Social Work created a new community partnership approach to social work field placement in public health. The field supervisor and student agreed on an individual partnership plan that includes a community health needs assessment plan and the development of focus group questions and survey instruments to gather qualitative data for a designated service area in the county. This partnership will bring together elected officials, public safety officials, schools boards, small businesses, health providers and other local organizations to identify both public health need and unmet need in the community. The results of the community health needs assessment will evaluate population based health services and shape policy within the county health department. Policy initiatives will set a public health legislative agenda for the 147th Session of the Georgia State Legislature.
Learning Objectives: 1. Assess a local health department's ability to evaluate the community's unmet health needs. 2. Create a partnership between the school of social work and the local health department for field placement.
Keywords: Social Work, Community Health Assessment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.