From the Director's Desk
As we approach the ending of another term here at the School of Social Work, I am reminded of things that I am not only grateful for but excited about as well. We have an incredibly eager and bright cohort of students who are graduating at the end of December. They have been well prepared not only in their knowledge learned in the classroom, but also in gaining skills and abilities learned in field placement. My gratitude not only extends to our hard working professors but even more to those who have been a field instructor and thus a mentor for our students this past year. Students spend more time with their field instructors than anyone else in the program so their imprint on these new fledgling rookies is profound.
This is not however a 1-way street! Our students have left lifelong legacies in over 550 active fieldwork settings by virtue of not only the number of hours they have contributed (well over 100,000), but also by their many accomplishments that I have had the privilege of reading about as demonstrated by the assignments they have completed on their Educational Agreements. We all should be very proud of these graduates and appreciative of their many mentors along the way. In the year 2030, it is predicted that there will be 26 million jobs open across this county in all sectors. Please consider giving our graduates a good hard look when you have an opening as I know you won't be sorry if you add them to your team.
This is the 9th year our students have been writing a newsletter focused on field. In this Fall 2016 edition of Field Notes, you will see that the students have taken a lot of initiative in identifying things to write about this term that we hope you find of interest. They chose to highlight several new and innovative field placements that have recently been approved in addition to sharing/discussing a variety of experiences they have had that have helped to inform their social work journeys.
Finally, as the term winds down, I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the Field Office to wish you all a wonderful holiday season with the hope that you will be able to find some time to take a breather.
Congrats to our grads and their families! We wish you much success on the next leg of your professional journey.
Warm Regards,
Betsy Voshel, LMSW, ACSW
Associate Clinical Professor
Director of Field Instruction
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Introduction of 2016-2017 Freud Fellows!
 Mary Kelso is a 2nd year, 20-month MSW student with a concentration in Interpersonal Practice, and a practice area in Community and Social Systems. She holds a BA in Psychology and English from Hope College. Her current field placement is at Monroe County ISD in the Early Childhood Special Education Department. Last year, Mary was placed in refugee resettlement at Jewish Family Services in Ann Arbor. She worked this summer with refugees near Kampala, Uganda through the SSW Global Independent Study Program. Mary hopes to work with refugees, advocate for compassionate refugee resettlement policies and services, and focus on trauma-informed care with children and families.
 Samantha Voss is a first year, 20-month MSW candidate with a concentration in Interpersonal Practice, and a practice area in Mental Health. She is pursuing a minor in Management of Human Services. After earning her BA in English and Psychology from Kalamazoo College, she taught high school English for two years in the Detroit Public School system. Currently, Samantha is placed at the Ann Arbor Veteran's Hospital, working with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder as well as other diagnoses. In the future, she hopes to continue trauma work with children in Detroit. Samantha's hobbies and interests include playing soccer, editing her friend's papers, and looking at dog Instagram accounts.
 Johanna Ancheta is a first year, Master's International Student studying Interpersonal Practice with a concentration in Children & Youth in Families and Society. She sees herself as an artist at soul who developed an interest in all things trauma when introduced to PTSD through her B.A. studies in Psychology at William Paterson University of New Jersey. Johanna is passionate about fighting for social justice and is working towards returning a little humanity back to the people most affected by the negligent choices of her society and government. Johanna is currently a Clinical Intern at Kids-TALK CAC, and through her clients, believes in magic.
Editors
Jeterra Davis-Griggs
Jonathan Leisten
Betsy Voshel
Betsy Williams
Our sincerest thanks to the School of Social Work students, faculty, staff and field instructors whose contributions made this newsletter possible.
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Are We All Waiting for the Fraud Police to Find Us?
By Johanna Ancheta
Compliments breathe life into my Professional Identity. Compliments remind me I'm one step closer to becoming that professional I have always mentally admired. The thing is, as you look for that greatly needed feedback, remember one rule: Do not compliment me. Those compliments feed a little monster that makes it hard for me to continue the lie that I am successful, smart and meant for this career. That little monster is called Imposter Syndrome. It dwells within 40% percent of the population. Imposter-ism is this intense feeling that all...
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Lessons From a School Social Worker
By Mary Kelso
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oregonschoolsocialwork.org
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I sat on the carpet next to a bag filled to the brim with blocks, race cars, balls, a doll, and plastic food. A four-year-old looks wide-eyed at the spread of toys available, almost (but not quite) oblivious to the adults in the room, who are observing him and taking notes of his every move. After the evaluation, I have a difficult but important conversation with worried parents. This is my daily work at my field placement alongside...
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Is This Contagious? Reflections on Medical Students' Disease
By Samantha Voss
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A close friend of mine began medical school this summer. Along with the praise and congratulatory sentiment, she was met with a warning: beware of Medical Students' Disease. Medical Students' Disease refers to a condition found in medical students whre they perceive themselves to be suffering from diseases that they are studying. My friend and I laughed-she has a penchant for hypochondria, and this was definitely a scenario we could see her falling prey to. But when I began my own field placement focused on mental health assessment, I realized a form of Medical Students' Disease might just have...
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To Live In Hearts Left Behind--Finding Social Work Among the Dead
By Johanna Ancheta
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What a wonderful time to be a Master's in Social Work at U-M. There is so much to explore. So much information to help guide us through our right paths. With the new challenges our society is facing, now may be the best time to also learn how to add a little humanity back into the world. What better way to discover these things, then to take on a truly unique...
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Bread, Black Tea, & Building Community:
A Global Independent Study
 By Mary Kelso
I woke up early, sweaty under my pale blue mosquito net, listening to the sound of "cat, hat, bat" being recited in the beginner English class on the other side of the cement wall. I could hear the student's laughter, their encouragement to each other, the individual voices
almost indistinguishable: a Congolese mother of six, a young Rwandan man, a South Sudanese grandmother. I was near Kampala, Uganada, at a small refugee-run nonprofit that serves urban refugees in the community. Through the U-M School of Social Work office of Global Activities, I completed independent study during July and August of 2016. My previous field placement involved resettling refugees in Washtenaw County, so this experience abroad allowed me to dive deeper into refugee work, utilizing skills I had learned at my placement while building on my knowledge and
...
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It's a Beautiful Day in This Neighborhood: Won't You Be Our Neighbor?
By Samantha Voss
Are you interested in a career in higher education? Do your passions align with community organizing, management of human services, or policy evaluation? Are you a fan of Michigan State? (Don't worry-we'll try not to hold this one against you). If you answered yes to any of the above questions, The Office of Field Instruction has found the field placement for you! Thanks to outreach from U-M alum Reggie Noto, a Neighborhood Director within Michigan State's Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative (NSSC, for short), the School of Social Work has established...READ MORE
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Exhilaration or Fear? Reflections from my First Session as Therapist
By Johanna Ancheta
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"It is time." This quote from "The Lion King" is said when Rafiki feels a change in the air and decides that Simba is ready for his future. This quote popped into my head when it was decided, for me, that it was my time. this quote silenced my fear as I stepped into my career of a Therapist. I found out about my first session about 7 minutes before it happened. Fear was experienced but courage was stronger. After introductions with the family, and with my teen client in tow, we made...
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The New Face of Field Seminar
By Mary Kelso
As social workers, we are tasked
with constantly evaluating our interventions and programs, changing the way we do things to adapt to an evolving society. Through a new grant from the University of Michigan's Center for Research on Learning and Training, field liaison Mary Eldredge and her colleagues in the SSW Office of Field Instruction are piloting a new model for Field Seminar classes.
All 16-month and 20-month MSW students are required to take a field seminar course during their first semester of field placement. This course meets every other week for two hours, covering content such as core competencies, educational agreements, and professional behavior in the field, while also providing students with a place to debrief their experience with other students in varied placements. This semester, three sections are piloting a new...READ MORE
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socialworkers.org
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Sport and Social Work: Getting the Ball Rolling
By Samantha Voss
Mr. Bill Vanderwill describes the birth of U-M's interest in sport and social work as a football Saturday. The arrival proved to be fitting. In its short existence, U-M has become one of the leaders and best within intersection of social work and sport, an up and coming field that Mr. Vanderwill believes will rely on the efforts of the current generation of social workers. After inquiring about student interest in sport and social work...
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The Secret of Trauma Informed Care
By Johanna Ancheta
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I live and breathe Trauma literature. The pain, fear, confusion, anger and complexity within the words taught me to be passionate. Those words made me realize I didn't want to be anything, if I couldn't be a support for those who need it most. As I think on my experience as a Clinical Intern at Kids-TALK CAC, I realized how important it was that I was...
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Cultural Competence Vs. Cultural Humility: What's the Big Difference?
By Mary Kelso
Cultural competence: we hear the words-in every textbook, every class, every educational agreement. It is a much-talked-about standard in the NASW Code of Ethics. But what does it mean? And more importantly, is it achievable? I would argue that cultural competence not achievable-and that is why I prefer the term cultural humility. Competence implies that one can attain this status-as if one can know everything about all other cultures and effectively, respectfully, and successfully work with all clients across cultural differences. I do not know how any social worker, no matter how...READ MORE
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On The Road Again--Public Transit in Ann Arbor
By Samantha Voss
I am not a good bike-rider. I know, you are probably wondering how someone can be bad at riding bikes. Let me tell you, there are a number of ways someone can suck at the two-wheel tango, and I have discovered most, if not all of them, on my daily six mile round trip ride to my field placement. For example, you have to decide whether you want to ride on the road, facing near-certain death by angry drivers who flip you off while turning...READ MORE
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Foundation Field Seminar: Developing Best Practices that Foster Inclusiveness
By Molly Talo
In the Fall 2016 term, the Foundation Field Seminar team; made up of students peer facilitators who co-facilitate this seminar with field faculty received a training from the U-M Center for Research on Learning and Teaching (CRLT) to help us tackle the complex topic of creating inclusive classrooms. At the beginning of the semester, we decided to focus our team meeting time towards professional development in regard to cultural humility, inclusivity, and classroom culture. Our goal by the end of the semester was to have tangible strategies and tools to utilize during classroom discussions that foster...READ MORE
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Student Spotlight
Ani Grigorian, Graduating Field Student Shares Her Experience in Environmental Gerontology
If you are from Michigan, parts of your culture are inevitably defined by mobility. I grew up in a car-family where conversations revolved around the Motor City and the latest design changes to the new Mustang, contemplating pre and post IRS (Independent Rear Suspension). Detroit, as well as many other cities in the United States, is designed based on automobiles. We have created fragmented ecosystems with infrastructure that can no longer sustain our mobility needs.
If we are lucky enough to age, over time our senses begin fail and our functional abilities can decline. As we are living longer than ever before, more and more people are outliving their ability to operate a car. The loss of independence that comes with the loss of mobility of any kind is more than...
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CARE House Student Project
Dana Veen, current U-M MSW Student and Therapy Intern
 This is Dana, a master's level therapy intern at CARE House. Dana spearheaded an art project in the therapy department, inviting CARE House staff and therapy clients to decorate paper leaves with words and drawing meant to convey their individual strengths. CARE House therapists use a variety of methods, like Dana's Strengths Project, to help child victims and their family members cope with the trauma of abuse and begin the process of healing.
This is one of many ways that CARE House responds to the serious problem of child abuse in our community. Today we're setting a goal of raising $5,000 for Oakland County's children, and each donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar. 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18. Please join us in changing the lives of thousands of Oakland County's families for the better.
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Remembering One of Our Dearest Field Instructors
Larry Voight, former President of Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County
 From 2005 to 2016, Larry Voight shared his wealth of practical wisdom with 50 students from the University of Michigan, and countless other students from a variety of universities near and far. He was passionate about social work education, and enjoyed guiding and mentoring others who were new to the field. The impact he had on our students, faculty, and community is unmatched. He was a great asset to the field of social work, and we are honored that he was able to supervise our students for over a decade. We are saddened by his death, and extend our condolences to his family and friends.
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The Office of Field Instruction would like to congratulate all of the students who are graduating this semester! We are looking forward to hearing about the great work you do in the future!
For continuing students, field will begin again the week of January 2, 2017. We encourage you to practice great self-care over break so you will be energized and ready to engage next semester!
Meet the new OFI Administrative Coordinator:
We would like to introduce you to our new OFI Administrative Coordinator, Molly Hunter. With this we must say goodbye to Lisa Kelley, our Administrative Coordinator of almost 10 years! We wish her the best of luck in her new position.
Molly Hunter comes from the U of M Library where she worked for almost 8 years. Originally from Traverse City, she lived in NYC for a couple years before moving to Ann Arbor in 2008. Her husband, Brian, is the senior film programmer at the Michigan Theater and she also has a 3.5 year old daughter, Ellery, and 7 year old mutt, Orson. She loves adult beverages, restaurants, television, reading and the Detroit Pistons, Lions and Tigers. She's very excited to apply her skills to assisting faculty, field instructors and students at OFI!
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Current Field Instructors:
Save the Date! - January 27, 2017
Field Instructor Training
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Need continuing educa
tion hours? Interested in expanding your knowledge and skills?
Check out the Office of Continuing Education
course catalog
offerings, which active U-M field instructors can take for FREE, courtesy of the Office of Field Instruction.
We also offer field instructor discounts on our five web-based certificate programs:
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OUR FALL 2016 FIELD SEMINAR PEERS!
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Left to Right: Nitesh Singh, Molly Talo, Chassi Jensen, Janae Kinn, Brianna Christy, Caroline Wesley, Arlene Chandra
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Betsy Voshel is looking forward to being a 1st time Grandmother, as her daughter is expecting her first baby right around the holidays.
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Emma Sartwell
was promoted to OFI Office and Projects Manager and is excited to revamp several applications, processes, and procedures in her new role. Emma also had the honor of officiating her friends' wedding in October: "It was one of the coolest things I've ever done."
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Leigh Robertson has a royal blue VW beetle convertible and she is already ready for top down season!
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Mary Eldredge used to own a marketing/graphic design firm that worked with businesses from locally owned companies to large corporations.
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Stacy Peterson is now able to tile and grout: "Yay for home improvement!"
- Jeterra Davis-Griggs is looking forward to graduating and doing more work in the field.
- Jonathan Leisten is excited to do some non-academic reading over break for a nice change of pace.
- Susan Crabb played her final round (this season) of golf on November 18th: "I don't think I've ever played so late in Michigan before!"
- Daicia Price was featured as an EMU ALUMNI. Check it out!
- Bill Vanderwill is excited about the growing social work and sport movement in the United States. Warren Clark and Bill will be teaching their SW 503 - Social Work and Sport mini-course again on March 10th and 18th (2017). The course offers 14 free CEUs for current field instructors.
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STAY CONNECTED
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NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT
The University of Michigan, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action.The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity, and Title IX/Section504/ADA Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, 2072 Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, 734-763-0235, TTY 734-647-1388. For other University of Michigan information call 734-764-1817.
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY
Michael J. Behm
Grand Blanc
Mark J. Bernstein
Ann Arbor
Shauna Ryder Diggs
Grosse Pointe
Denise Ilitch
Bingham Farms Andrea Fischer Newman
Ann Arbor Andrew C. Richner
Grosse Pointe Park Ronald Weiser Ann Arbor Katherine E. White
Ann Arbor
Mark S. Schlissel (ex officio)
© 2016 Regents of the
University of Michigan
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