UW Social Work Division Re-Accredited for Maximum Term |
|
Feb. 14, 2003 -- On the strength of community involvement, the University of Wyoming Division of Social Work has been reaccredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for the next eight years, the maximum term possible under the council's guidelines. The council is the nation's sole accrediting agency for social work education.
Gail Leedy, interim director of the social work division, says the reaffirmation applies to both the bachelor's and master's degree programs. "We had the opportunity to have the undergraduate and graduate programs reviewed at the same time," she says, "so we put together a self-study on both programs and had the CSWE committee review both at once."
Leedy says the review team was especially impressed with the division's adjunct faculty, students and the field instructors at the agencies where students complete the practicum phase of their programs. "We have tremendous support from the Wyoming community," says Leedy, "and the site-visit team noted this as a particular strength of our program."
Social work students at both the bachelor's and master's levels must complete a required number of hours in social service agencies around the state. On campus they also work with students in other health science programs to develop clinical skills.
"Social workers need to be health-focused, whether they are working in a health facility or elsewhere," Leedy says. "The biological, psychological and social perspectives of health all must come into play when treating a person. Social workers bring the perspective of a social environment to helping someone who is experiencing health problems. Whether you're looking at child welfare, domestic violence or criminal justice, there are always health-related concerns."
The Division of Social Work is part of the UW College of Health Sciences (CHS), where each year, some 1500 students receive education and pre-professional experiences that prepare them to provide health care and human services for state residents. The college sends students from its nursing and pharmacy schools, divisions of social work and kinesiology and health, and medical education program into Wyoming hospitals and major health facilities while partnering with health educators and state agencies on important public health initiatives.
In addition to developing a workforce for a sector that totals more than 8 percent of the Wyoming economy, CHS faculty and students conduct research to improve the state's health infrastructure and quality of life for patients and families in Wyoming and across the country. Posted on Friday, February 14, 2003
|
