Practicum Education Partners

The Office of Practicum Education has affiliation agreements with social service agencies across the Rio Grande Valley as well as agencies across the state and the country.  Any affiliated agency or organization that adheres to and supports the UTRGV School of Social Work mission of achieving social, racial, economic, and political justice and are in alignment with the values and ethics of the social work profession can apply to affiliate with the UTRGV School of Social Work.  
 
Specific policies, criteria, and procedures for selecting practicum settings: 

• The Office of Practicum Education, a student, or an agency representative can initiate the affiliation process.   

• The Director of Practicum Education and/or Practicum Education Office staff will conduct an initial phone screening, email and/or an agency visit   

• The agency site is expected to offer sufficient and appropriate direct practice learning opportunities which address the CSWE nine core competencies and adhere to the requirements of the UTRGV School of Social Work.  

• The Director of Practicum Education or Practicum Coordinator determines whether the agency meets the UTRGV School of Social Work standards of practice.   

• Practicum Instructors submit a Resume  

• Practicum instructors complete a BSW/MSW Practicum Instructor Data Sheet.   

• If there is not a social worker with a minimum of two years of practice experience and    graduated from an accredited MSW program is not available to provide supervision at a practicum site, another master-level practicum instructor with at least two years of post-graduate experience is secured whether it be within another department of the agency site or works in the community.   

Arrangements for all practicum placements are completed through the Office of Practicum Education. The Director of Practicum Education or Practicum Coordinator gives the final approval for a placement in an agency. Practicum placements are made only with the agencies that are formally affiliated with the UTRGV School of Social Work. 

The Office of Practicum Education has affiliation agreements with agencies/ institutions along the Texas-Mexico Border area including but not limited to the Rio Grande Valley, Brownsville, and Laredo. We also have agreements with agencies in San Antonio, and Corpus Christi. The availability for placement at those agencies may change each semester, so placement within a specific agency is not guaranteed by the Office of Practicum Education. 

Agency Affiliation Process: Agencies serving as practicum placement for the School of Social Work must have a current affiliation with the UTRGV School of Social Work. Agency affiliation can be initiated in several ways. An agency who desires to have social work interns can contact the Office of Practicum Education or the School of Social Work for more information.