Social workers are charged to work with vulnerable populations and often encounter those experiencing homelessness. Despite this fact, social workers do not typically learn about homelessness in degree programs even though the topic aligns with the educational competencies set forth by the Council on Social Work Education. This teaching note…

This article presents findings from a national online survey of social work faculty (N = 1,039) that examines financial and economic content in the current curriculum, gaps in coverage, and strategies for improving social workers' academic preparation to work with populations living in extremely financially vulnerable circumstances. We sent the…

Trigger warnings have become a hotly contested practice in higher education, including within the field of social work. Learning to become a social worker can be a demanding process that requires in-depth study about often socially taboo and traumatic topics. The learning process can, understandably, cause discomfort that may result in a…

The Financial Capability and Asset Building (FCAB) for All Grand Challenge provides an impetus to increase financial content in social work education so that students and practitioners are prepared for practice that includes finances. This teaching note will describe the rationale for including FCAB within social work education and the fit with…

Human rights and social justice are recognized as integral to social work education. Previous research shows a variety of means are being used to teach human rights and social justice yet relatively little is known about the teaching methods used in social work programs and about the type of knowledge and skills delivered. This survey of social…

With the 2008 Education Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) identifying field as signature pedagogy and the 2015 EPAS emphasizing holistic competence, social work education is challenged to identify and expand pedagogy that supports and enhances the integration of classroom and field education. This article posits reflective pedagogy as a…

Little is known about financial and economic content (FEC) in social work education, despite the importance of preparing students for practice with low- to moderate-income clients. Additionally, little knowledge exists about faculty perspectives on teaching FEC. This article reports on a qualitative study that examines the perspectives of social…

The objective of this teaching note is to further discussion, application, and research on trauma-informed educational practices in social work. Trauma has a pervasive effect across social work service sectors. Both generalist and specialized education about trauma could reduce misinterpretation of coping strategies and retraumatization of…

Discussions of power and privilege, oppression, and structural inequities in classrooms can produce complex understanding and critical analysis when facilitated effectively. In this article we present the critical conversations model for facilitating conversations that open up space for discussing such issues and encourage the development of…

For social work educators, teaching social policy in the current political climate in the United States may seem daunting and energizing at the same time. Students are often acutely aware of the political and policy-related controversies raging in Washington, D.C. and local governments, and yet their position on these issues may be unexplored or…

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 resulted in major disruption for social work education, as many teachers and programs shifted from on-campus classes to remote or blended teaching using digital technologies. Social work educators have an opportunity to apply the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to meet the needs of students and communities…

Given the human costs of psychological trauma, social workers should be well versed in trauma-informed care (TIC). This framework helps guide the efforts of systems, organizations, and practitioners toward reducing trauma or mitigating its effects. The field has created TIC principles, although they have yet to be fully realized as practical…

Social workers' unique skills and professional perspective can contribute to improved practices in psychopharmacology, yet it is unclear how social work programs prepare students for this area of practice. This study examined instruction of psychopharmacology through a national Web-based survey of MSW program directors and instructors of…

This article describes the development, implementation, and assessment of a social media assignment using Pinterest as a tool for student engagement and professional development in two undergraduate social work courses. Twenty-one undergraduate students enrolled in Human Behavior and the Social Environment (HBSE) courses completed the assignment…

In preparing the workforce for integrated care, continuing professional education serves a critical role. Within a rapidly changing health care landscape, matriculated students now benefit from pedagogical innovations supporting integrated care, particularly interprofessional education, and working professionals must not be excluded from this…