Field Instruction Division
Learning Contract
Mental Health Concentration
SocW 572 & 573, Field Instruction III & IV
This form should be completed by the 4th week of the first semester of the placement and it records the learning
expectations for the entire two-course placement. After signatures are obtained, form will be placed in student’s
college file.
Part 1. Instructions. The Learning Contract is a written document outlining the terms and learning goals for
the field placement. It should delineate a plan that should address the student’s learning objectives and the
College’s learning objectives. It should include agency interpretations and the student’s educational goals and
should demonstrate implementation of the Jane Addams College mission (see Field Manual for statement of
mission). The Learning Contract should be considered a working document: review and revision are parts of the
process. Each contract should include the following components: Goals: what is to be achieved; Strategies: work
to be done to reach goals; Evaluations: ways to determine how well strategies are addressing goals and how well
goals have been met. After orientation to the field agency, the field instructor and student are to select specific
responsibilities and tasks to be carried out in the placement. Some students will focus more on micro (individual
and family) systems and others on mezzo (group) systems and others on macro (community and organizational)
systems, depending on the nature of the field placement and the student’s place in the curriculum. The Faculty
Field Liaison is available to help in this process and the college field manual is available for guidance as well.
The agency field instructor and student should write the goals, strategies, and evaluation plans on the following
pages and sign in Part 2 to signify their acceptance of the plan. The Faculty Field Liaison will sign and review as
well.
Part 2. Identifying Information
Academic Year and Semester ____________________________________________________________
Student’s Name (print clearly) ___________________________________________________________
Agency Field Instructor Name (print clearly) ________________________________________________
Agency Address_________________________ City_________________State____ Zip Code_________
Phone ___________________ Fax: ____________________ Email __________________________
JACSW Faculty Field Liaison (print clearly)_________________________________________________
Part 3. Signatures. (The JACSW liaison will review and sign after the student and agency field instructor have
completed the form and signed.)
JACSW Faculty Field Liaison Review _____________________________________________________
Signature/Date
Student Acceptance of Learning Contract ___________________________________________________
Signature/Date
Agency Field Instructor Acceptance of
Learning Contract __________________________________________________________
Signature/Date
Field forms/assignments and field manual are available on our website:
www.socialwork.uic.edu
Field Instruction Division
Part 4. Start and stop dates; total hours; weekly schedule; supervisory meetings. MSW foundation students must
complete a minimum of 450 clock hours in field placement over the course of a two-semester placement
(SocW570-571 for MSW foundation students). MSW concentration students must complete a minimum of 720
clock hours over the course of a two-semester placement (SocW572-573). School social work concentration
students may be required to complete more than 720 clock hours if the school district expects the student to
remain for the district’s complete school year: this should be clarified at the start of the placement.
Placement start date:________________________ Placement end date:____________________
Weekly schedule: indicate the days per week and hours per day student will be in placement). Please note that
MSW foundation students (Field I and II) are expected to do placements on Tuesday and Thursday and must be
available for on-campus classroom courses on Monday and Wednesday. MSW concentration students (Field III
and IV) are expected to do placements on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and they must be available for on-
campus classroom courses on Tuesday and Thursday:
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
__a.m. __p.m. __a.m. __p.m. __a.m. __p.m. __a.m. __p.m. __a.m. __p.m.
Schedule of supervisory meetings. Please indicate days and times of planned, weekly meetings between field
instructor and student: A weekly supervisory meeting between the student and the field instructor will be
scheduled each _______________(specify day) at _____________ (specify time).
2
Field Instruction Division
Part 5a. Learning Contract
Example of Learning Contract
MICRO GOALS STRATEGIES EVALUATION
1. Improve family interviewing Observe 4-6 workers behind 1-way glass Interview each worker on style &
skills discuss with John
2. Learn how to develop and Complete intakes with John until November.
implement individual Get feedback from John
treatment plan Be responsible for caseload of 6-8 residents by :
3. Become more comfortable ___________ Complete 2 process recordings or video
with my role tapes by: ___________
Interview Sarah about handling boys’ remarks
Draft treatment plans for John to review
Implement ideas for decreasing remarks before case staffing
Prepare update on each case for weekly
supervision
Write in my journal about my reactions
to boys’ remarks & discuss with John
and Sarah
Attend court on 3rd Tuesday each month
MEZZO GOALS Get John’s feedback on proposed
Interview Judge Whipple questions & discuss interview
1. Learn juvenile court process afterwards
2. Become familiar with referral Prepare a Student Guide to court for agency
resources Draft to John by:_________; final
Visit Family Outreach Services & Indian Family version to internship director by:
Center _______
Attend Sky Co. Social Services Association Update resource file by: __________
meetings at least twice
Prepare community Profile assignment
for seminar
MACRO GOALS STRATEGIES EVALUATION
1. Become familiar with
legislative & social action. Attending committee meeting on House Bill Give oral report to Center staff
2. Improve knowledge of #4022 reforming sentencing process
American Indian culture Incorporate learning in policy paper
Participate in Prevent Violence taskforce
Interview social worker at reservation Share Culture Presentation for Practice
class with staff
Read professional journal article on American
Indian culture and social work practice Discuss with John
3
Field Instruction Division
Part 5b. Learning Contract (attach additional pages as needed)
Learning Contract
MICRO GOALS STRATEGIES EVALUATION
MEZZO GOALS
MACRO GOALS
mc/2009