From the Director's Desk
As I sit down to write this my last column as the Director of Field Instruction for the University of Michigan School of Social Work, I find my thoughts and emotions blurring. I have decided to retire
in April 2017,
after an almost 40 year career in social work. I am so grateful for the many opportunities that I have had during the course of my professional trajectory that include a 22 year stint as a social worker in the VA system and 17 years in higher education. I did find my love for student training early on in my career and have been grateful for the opportunity to extend it all these years later as the Director of Field Instruction at a fine School of Social Work. While I will miss my incredible field faculty team and others in the School of Social Work, it is the student energy, passion and eagerness to change the world that I will miss the most.
Field instruction is the signature pedagogy of social work education and where "the rubber hits the road"! Of course this doesn't just happen...it happens due to the partnerships we have been able to build with the practice community over all these years. In other words, we couldn't do what we do without you, so I am taking it upon myself to thank you once again for all you do for our social work program. I plan to stay in touch when and where I am able and I look forward to welcoming a new Field Director soon. I also hope that all of you will join together in helping the new Director not only get their feet wet but also get their arms around our incredible field program and all it has to offer.
In this Winter 2017 term edition of Field Notes, our student writers have tackled some interesting and complex topics that include activism, trauma-informed practice in the schools, social media/technology and ethics, social work stereotypes in the workplace, professional and personal growth, rookie mistakes, and identity and power in field, in addition to several student spotlights. These articles showcase the broad scope of learning across the micro and macro practice spheres where our students are placed.
Finally, as we approach the end of another academic year, we would like to extend our best wishes to our graduates who will walk across the stage at the end of April. We do not publish Field Notes in the Spring-Summer term so we look forward to re-connecting with you once again in the Fall 2017 term.
I am grateful for the many people that I have gotten to know during my time in Ann Arbor and for their support, wisdom and guidance. Keep up the good work!
Onward!
Betsy Voshel, LMSW, ACSW
Associate Clinical Professor
Director of Field Instruction
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Introduction of 2016-2017 Freud Fellows!
 Mary Kelso is graduating this spring with an MSW (Interpersonal Practice/Community
& 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. Mary hopes to work with refugees, advocate for compassionate refugee resettlement policies and services, and focus on trauma-informed care with children and families. She is ready to graduate and contribute to the resistance against inhuman and unjust policies!
 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 friends' 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
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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The Colorful Reality: Narratives of WOC in Clinical Social Work
by Johanna Ancheta
U-M, the microcosm, hints warnings with its woeful under-representation of women of color (WOC) in Clinical Social Work. "Beware", we struggled to hear. Your internship, too, shall gently require you to exist in predominantly white spaces. Where racially charged moments are common. Subtle. Carrying enough power to wriggle underneath your skin. A reminder that earning this position will not stop them from believing and treating us as an unwelcome commodity.
But you are not [going to be] alone.
The feeling of "icky", shame, a heavy weight in your stomach and existential questioning, is the only clarification of microaggressions that matters. That feeling is the legacy that Sara's question left behind to...
READ MORE.
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Rejuvenate & Resist: Activism as Self-Care
by Mary Kelso
okay
 It seems counterintuitive - that activism could be a form of self-care. When I think of "self-care" I often think of more quiet, relaxing, rejuvenating activities, such as exercise, reading a book, socializing with friends, or drinking my favorite tea. I think of self-care as turning off the news, disconnecting the Wi-Fi, or finding some way to distract myself from the onslaught of bad news, negativity, or social media trolls. And while these are legitimate and healthy forms of self-care, I have found lately that it is activism and advocacy which have kept me energized and grounded in a healthy mindset. School of Social Work LEO Lecturer Laura Sanders first introduced me to this idea of activism and advocacy as self-care in an introductory interpersonal practice course. Anger and frustration are... READ MORE.
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Moving Beyond IP Practice:
Community Organizing at CAPS
by Samantha Voss
Counseling and Psychological Services at University of Michigan, or CAPS, as it is better known, is one of the first resources professors and other advocates for self-care will mention to students on campus. CAPS' mission statement "is to foster the psychological development and emotional well-being of students through counseling and psychotherapy, preventive and educational programming, consultation and outreach, as well as contributions to the mental health professions.... [CAPS] strives to develop a diverse, inclusive, and multicultural community." CAPS is home to many social work interns, although, perhaps surprisingly, not all of those interns are studying Interpersonal Practice. Students studying Community Organization are also placed at CAPS, which offers macro social work students the opportunity to sharpen skills related to community outreach/community building, conducting needs assessments, and developing social media content, to name a few. CAPS also dedicates two hours per
...
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On Making Mistakes Mandatory
by Johanna Ancheta
I am waiting for the day I am asked to reflect about reflection papers. Seriously. It is a curious thing that, after years of "shut up and listen," our reflections are now mandatory. It turns out the more we process and discuss our work in the context of our history, thoughts, and emotions, the more equipped we become at conceptualizing the dilemmas that come with our roles. We learn how our biases take form, how our history gets triggered and moves through our work. We learn to intervene. But if reflection is such a powerful, essential tool, why do I, as most of my colleagues, feel deeply unsettled by the use of applying emotional reflection in field? According to society's normed...
READ MORE.
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The Slippery Slope: Navigating Social Media as Social Workers
 by Mary Kelso
Ah, the dreaded ethical dilemma of social media presence as a professional social worker. Of course, we are bound by the NASW Code of Ethics, yet we are also called to activism and advocacy, to storytelling and relationship-building, to networking and promoting social justice. We all have personal lives, whether separate from or intertwined with our professional identities, and many of us have a personal online presence. Stories of social workers being sanctioned or losing their license for breaching confidentiality on Facebook, for example, leave many new social workers in fear. And while there is good reason to be cautious, social media can be an important - even essential - tool in today's world of advocacy, community organization, and networking. As Matthew Robb, MSW, LCSW-C...
READ MORE.
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Wire-Tapping, Facebook Stalking & Confidentiality Breaches, Oh My! Considerations of Ethical Practice in an Online Era
by Samantha Voss
Is it ethically sound to google your client? What about checking their social media profiles? Is texting acceptable in a therapeutic relationship? How do we know our answers to these questions are in line with NASW's Code of Ethics?
The idea that "technology outpaces regulation" has permeated the last month of Grand Rounds at the Ann Arbor Veteran's Administration Hospital, where I am currently in field placement. While communication technologies have expanded incredibly quickly, governing ethical bodies, like the AMA and APA, have struggled to offer timely guidance. NASW, for their part, offered standards related to technological services in 2005...
READ MORE.
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Why Are There So Many Hands In My Self-Expression?
by Johanna Ancheta
Identity and power have a long, complicated rivalry in the medical field. Conservative businessmen continue to be the largest financial stakeholders and as such, have significant power filtered to them. Consequently, that power is used to control or suppress identity in order to retain conservative beliefs. In field, this is usually best noticed in the rule "professional attire is required."
My educated guess is that my self-expression of ombréd silver hair, a nose ring and tattoos are a no-go.
There are many stances on what professionalism
looks
like. There are trivial "no blue jeans" type rules. Then there are more discriminatory practices that result in black women being twice as likely to experience social pressure at work to conform to white standards. Yet, using.
..
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Trauma Informed Practice in Schools
by Mary Kelso
Evictions, abuse, homelessness, poverty, deportation, gun violence, neglect, domestic violence.1 in 4 students in the U.S. will witness or experience a traumatic event by their 4th birthday. This number rises significantly by the age of 16 (Flannery, 2017).
Last fall, the U-M School of Social Work hosted the annual "Fedele F. and Iris M. Fauri Memorial Conference." The topic was "Implementing Trauma-Informed Practice in Schools," and it drew a large crowd of students, faculty, practitioners, and community members. The conference began with a presentation on the impact of trauma on children and schools, followed with two panels: one panel highlighting local programs and schools that implement trauma...
READ MORE.
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Graduated & Moving Forward:
Spotlight on
Nicole Hall
by Samantha Voss
Recent 2016 MSW graduate and Detroit Clinical Scholar, Nicole Hall, landed a full-time position with the agency she interned for: Assured Family Services (AFS). With AFS, Nicole works as an in-home clinical therapist for youth and families throughout Wayne County. Below, Nicole shares some thoughts about her internship experience, the role the Detroit Clinical Scholars Program played in her education, and advice for future students hoping to secure full-time employment at their internship site
.
Interviewer: Has this always been your role, or have you been involved in other aspects of the organization? If you have been involved..
READ MORE.
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In Session: Racism Needs Therapy Too
by Johanna Ancheta
P.O.D.S. and therapy are not mutually exclusive. This myth that's spread within our IP courses only serves to create a gap in our education, and ultimately our practice. Racism in its many forms exists within the therapy room. So why is discussing racism, and challenging racism during therapy, so taboo? From my experience, it starts with comfort. Or the lack thereof. There is a fear that being called a racist is the worst thing imaginable. No one wants to be open to that possibility. So, if conversation must...
READ MORE.
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From Field to Full-Time: Spotlight on Brittany Fulton
by Mary Kelso
When Brittany Fulton, MSW '16, began the MSW program at U-M last year, she was fairly certain that she wanted to work with immigrant and refugee populations, but she hadn't had any direct social work experience in the area. So, she pursued a field placement position in the refugee resettlement department at Jewish Family Services (JFS) in Ann Arobr, MI. The experience was life-giving; the first few months of the placement confirming that this was really what she wanted to do. Hong...
READ MORE.
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Social Work Stereotypes: A Quick Story
by Samantha Voss
hey
The United States loves stereotypes. Whether cognizant or not, we the people love to shove each other into tidy boxes. We gather just enough information to make ourselves feel safe in our knowledge of a person and move forward without much critical thought. This always reminds me of the infamous "if it fits, I sits" cat meme -- an excess of cat spilling over the sides of a box it desperately wants to fit in. As I have stepped into the world of social work, I have become more aware of the stereotypes that exist about my future profession. While in the elevator at my hospital field placement recently, a man, upon seeing my "intern" badge, asked if I was a nursing student. I sidestepped the covert sexism (come on man, I wasn't even wearing scrubs) and informed him that no, I was a... READ MORE.
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Betsy Voshel: Reflections on an Influential Career
Director of Field Instruction Program & Clinical Associate Professor of Social Work
Betsy Voshel retires this month after a long and distinguished career which includes 22 years at the VA, 4 years leading Field Education at Western Michigan University, and 13 years leading the U-M SSW Office of Field Instruction (OFI). Betsy recently reflected on her career and her contributions to this school.
"Assessing and improving systems." That's Betsy's shortest description of her work. All through her career, she has embraced opportunities to improve and expand processes and services. At the VA she learned to "do it first, then figure out how." This approach enabled her to create valuable programming for many veterans, and to win a national award for her intensive outpatient program. Improving systems has...
READ MORE.
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One Person's Impact: Clarice Ullman Freud
by Betsy Williams, MSW Writing/Study Skills Coordinator
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Clarice Freud & Fidele Fauri (1977)
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This issue of Field Notes marks the tenth anniversary of the newsletter. Most articles in volumes 1-10 have been written by Freud Fellows. (That's pronounced "frood" - rhymes with food.)
What, exactly, is a Freud Fellow?
Freud Fellows are MSW students who have been awarded a Clarice Ullman Freud Fellowship. This competitive fellowship now requires students to submit an application which includes a writing sample. Successful applicants are judged to have "demonstrated outstanding potential for professional practice." These students are supported through a generous bequest from Clarice Ullman Freud.
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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 May 2, 2017. We encourage you to practice great self-care over break so you will be energized and ready to engage next term
!
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The Geriatric Book Club '17
The Geriatric Book Club is a place for Social Work students, staff, and faculty to get together and discuss human issues that manifest throughout the lifespan. This includes mental health, resilience, importance of personal narratives, and many other topics. The majority of our books focus on aging adults, but we encourage people from all areas of study to attend our monthly meetings and help enrich our conversations. We always prepare questions specific to the book, but our best conversations grow organically as we share our thoughts and feelings and discover how the topics presented in the story relate to our lives.
The group meets monthly and the next meeting is 6/12/17; 7:00pm-8:30pm.
Contact Ashley Ellison (aellist@umich.edu) for more information!
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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 WINTER 2017 FIELD SEMINAR PEERS!
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| Left to Right: Becca Dekorne, Jonathan Leisten, Camille Jones, Erica Crlencic, Marcella Bolen, Raven Jones, & Caitlyn Hayes. |
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- Betsy Voshel is looking forward to retirement at the end of April 2017 after an almost 40 year career in social work. She will miss working at the School of Social Work, the great OFI Field Faculty, staff, and field instructors who have enriched her career, and the students who bring such energy and passion to social work. Onward!
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Emma Sartwell is excited to announce that her family will be growing by one in September 2017!
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"Auntie" Leigh Robertson is excited to welcome her first great grand nephew in August!
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Mary Eldredge and her family have 8 species living on their microfarm: chickens, guinea fowl, dogs, cat, rabbit, tortoise, lambs and human. They are also involved with beekeeping; however, their hives are remotely located this year.
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Stacy Peterson and the Peterson family are celebrating the return of her daughter who attended a student run simulation of a Congress session in Washington DC as a member of the Midwest/Ohio River Valley Chapter of Junior State of America. Are politics in her future? Only time will tell.
- Jonathan Leisten is excited to put away his coats and is looking forward to t-shirt season!
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Susan Crabb
spent a couple days in Washington, DC over spring break and continued to be awed by the magnificence of our national monuments, all of our Smithsonian Museums, and the exceptional work our
alumni
are doing.
- Daicia Price just became an ACE Master Trainer -- only 25 people are trained in Michigan!
- Bill Vanderwill continues to be active in the field of political social work and will be helping host a fundraiser for a candidate this spring.
- Molly Hunter is excited for baseball season. Go Tigers!
- Betsy Williams looks forward to summer gardening and visits with family, and is excited to see her first-ever total solar eclipse!
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STAY CONNECTED
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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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