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Gain Real-World Experience With Our Field Education Program

A core component of the Master of Social Work educational experience at the Tulane University School of Social Work is our field education program. The field practicum is the “signature pedagogy” of social work, and this experience exposes students to real-world social work practice with diverse populations and a variety of social and environmental concerns.

For our on-campus MSW students, we work with a full range of community agencies in and around the Greater New Orleans area. For our learners enrolled in our online classes, the field education placement advisors work with and connect you with agencies in your area so that you can make a direct impact within your community. Either way, you will use knowledge gained in the classroom to develop your practice skills in a professional setting under the supervision of experienced social work practitioners.

More than 100 social service agencies, government entities, schools, hospitals, and businesses throughout the country participate in our field education program. Reflective of our unique clinical and community-based practice curriculum, your field placement provides the opportunity to develop your clinical-community skills through a blending of micro, mezzo, and macro practice.

Upon the completion of your MSW degree, you will have accumulated a minimum of 900 hours of social work practicum training in field education. With guidance and mentoring from your Faculty Field Liaison (Seminar Instructor) and your agency-based Field Instructor (Supervisor), you will not only engage in active social change, you will also regularly explore your commitment to working with diverse communities - all towards embodying professional social work values of ethical practice.

Information about the orientation to field process will be sent to all On-campus MSW Students.  Online MSW Students will receive an email from their Placement Advisor. Prior to final placement, any questions about the process may be emailed to TSSW_field@tulane.edu. Once assigned, Faculty Field Liaisons are the first point of contact. The Field Education Department looks forward to assisting and answering any questions.

Our contact information includes: 
General Inquiries and IPT issues
TSSW_field@tulane.edu

Lindsey Fields, JD, LCSW 
Director of Field Education                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Lfields3@tulane.edu

Lanz Christian Bañes, LCSW
Program Manager & Senior Field Education Coordinator
lbanes@tulane.edu 

Joshua Fegley, LCSW-BACS
Program Manager & Senior Field Education Coordinator
jfegley1@tulane.edu 

Louis Fernandez 
Administrative Program Coordinator for Field Education
lfernandez1@tulane.edu 

Field Education Department News

From the Field: Spotlight on Larissa N. Parrott, DSW, LICSW-PIP

In celebration of National Social Worker Month and Women's History Month, we are featuring many of the women social workers that support the Tulane University School of Social Work Field Education program. Meet Larissa N. Parrott, DSW, LICSW-PIP through this Q&A.

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Women in Social Work: Jennifer Baudy, DSW, MSW, LCSW

March provides such a wonderful opportunity to feature the commitment and passion of women in social work. TSSW's Field Education Department reached out to a few of these amazing individuals to ask them some questions, and we are elated to highlight Jennifer Baudy, DSW, MSW, LCSW, Director of Mental Health at Harriet Tubman Charter School. Dr. Baudy was recently honored in Gambit's Frontline People Awards. 

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Women in Social Work: MK Sullivan, LMSW

Social Work comes in a variety of forms, and women are leaders in every one of them. In celebration of both #SocialWorkMonth and #WomensHistoryMonth, our Field Education Department is highlighting all the ways women contribute to the profession and how they support our Master of Social Work students in their internships.

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Women in Social Work: Catherine "Cat" Patteson Poehling, MSW, MS, LCSW

In continuation of our Field Education Department's series that combines Women's History Month and Social Work Month, they are highlighting a

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Women in Social Work: Tracey Spinato, MSW, MPH, LCSW

In combination of #WomensHistoryMonth and #SocialWorkMonth, our Field Education Department is highlighting another woman in social work that also supports social work education. We appreciate how committed these women are to the profession, their clients, and their communities!

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Women in Social Work: Kathleen Whalen, LCSW-BACS, MEd

On #InternationalWomensDay, our Field Education Department has launched a series to highlight women social workers with profiles of individuals who support the signature pedagogy of social work education - the field experience. We are so grateful to how they share their knowledge, expertise, and compassion with our students and the communities they serve. Meet Kathleen Whalen, LCSW-BACS, MEd with the Trauma-Informed Schools Learning Collaborative who generously answered these questions for us.

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