Helping or Hindering? Ethical Challenges in Preparing Struggling Students for Field

Presenter(s)

Heather Fronckowiak, LCSW (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor/MSW Field Director
SUNY Plattsburgh
Penny McQuinn, LCSW (she/her/hers)

Lecturer/Co-Director of Field Education
Plattsburgh College State University of New York

Contributor(s)

Julie Richards, PhD

Associate Professor and Chair Department of Social Work
Plattsburgh College State University of New York

Social work educators have an ethical responsibility to address professional development concerns, including students’ mental health challenges impacting field readiness. This workshop explores ethical dilemmas, assessment tools, and support strategies. Participants will engage in case studies, peer discussions, and develop actionable recommendations to promote equity and preparedness in their programs.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:

Recognize early indicators of nonacademic concerns related to students' preparation for the profession and explore ethical dilemmas surrounding students' readiness for field placement.
Consider and apply evaluation tools for field readiness and non-academic concerns to a case study.
Collaborate with peer institutions about effective strategies for addressing these ethical challenges in alignment with social work values and program responsibilities for supporting students’ professional growth.