MSW Students' Experience with Termination: Implications and Suggestions for Classroom and Field Instruction |
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| Authors: | Caroline R Gelman PhD |
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| Institution: | 1. Assistant Professor, New York University , Silver School of Social Work , New York, NYcsr6@nyu.edu |
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| Abstract: | Social work students' experiences with termination are rarely explored. This paper discusses the results of a survey of 54 MSW interns regarding termination and, in particular, premature termination resulting from placement completion. Twenty‐four percent of respondents experienced natural terminations, 35% experienced client‐initiated ones, and 93% experienced forced terminations resulting from internship completion. Students felt termination was well‐covered in practice classes, less so in supervision, and felt moderately prepared for the process. Nevertheless, students found terminations significantly harder than their sense of preparation would indicate, and recommend earlier, more comprehensive training in classroom and field settings to support them and their clients. |
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| Keywords: | MSW interns termination forced termination |
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