A big must for social work students: Field work

For those enrolled in the College of Social Work, learning goes beyond exams and lecture halls. The curriculum prioritizes field work, and students are placed in hospitals, schools, treatment centers and more, gaining real-world experience while making a real-life impact in their communities. This past school year alone, Buckeyes around the globe gained more than 440,000 hours of hands-on experience. (The college offers highly regarded online degrees, including for international students.) “Field work is an opportunity for students to engage in and see how social work values and ethics play out in real life,” says Anna Stewart ’03, ’04 MSW, assistant director for field education. Take a look at how these three Buckeyes are making the most of their field work experience.

Ella Neruda

For undergrad Ella Neruda, her field work was about empowerment—for her clients and for herself, too. Her placement was with Ohio State’s Nisonger Center, which supports individuals with neurodevelopmental and intellectual disabilities, such as autism and ADHD. From the beginning of her placement, she led individual coaching sessions and helped facilitate groups such as autism self-advocacy for middle-school-age youths and neurodiversity-affirming social skills for participants up to age 30. The range strengthened her skills in helping people of all ages, she says.

Neruda, who’s Autistic and has ADHD herself, appreciated being able to bond with her clients on a deeper level. “As social workers, we aren’t just experts who come in and fix our clients’ lives,” says Neruda, who’s also minoring in disability studies. “We’re growing right alongside them in their journey.”

KeAvonna Williams

Undergrad KeAvonna Williams was originally in nursing, but when she decided to make a change, she knew it had to be something where she could continue to help people. So social work it was, and for her placement with the Columbus nonprofit Africentric Personal Development Shop, she helped families affected by substance use disorder and domestic violence. Williams worked with people who were struggling during weekly group sessions, helped offer treatment plans and assisted with professional development programs for youth.

She also learned about the business side of social work. Through one-on-one meetings with APDS’s CEO, Williams saw how they approach things like funding and billing, which keep these treatments accessible long term for the people who need them. “My placement broadened the communities I’m able to assist and help,” Williams says.

Philomina Oyeh Yeboah

While working at technical and vocational schools in her home country of Ghana, Philomina Oyeh Yeboah realized how childhood mental health challenges can hurt how students learn, and she knew she wanted to help. That passion came with her to Ohio State, and the grad student was placed with Buckeye Ranch, a nonprofit that provides behavioral and mental health services for children and families who have experienced trauma.

At Buckeye Ranch’s community-based programs, residential facility and school, she got a comprehensive look at the different types of help offered. At the same time, Oyeh Yeboah, who just completed her first year in the graduate program, confirmed social work was the right path for her.

During her field placement, Oyeh Yeboah enjoyed learning about new mental health practices that aren’t used in Ghana, such as animal therapy. “Everyone I’ve worked with here has been so supportive in creating opportunities for me to learn things I didn’t know,” she says.