Changing Times: Understanding Social Workers' Motivation to Be Field Instructors

Renewing the profession of social work is historically dependent on social work practitioners volunteering to be field educators for students placed in their agencies. During the past decade, with massive funding cuts to social and health services and changes in professional practice, the availability of field instructors has been threatened. This article reports on social workers' motivations to become field instructors. The findings from qualitative interviews with 20 social workers randomly selected from a range of field agencies indicate that current organizational culture has a powerful influence on social workers' motivations to volunteer to become field instructors. The implications of this shift are discussed in relation to rejuvenating the profession of social work. Collaboration among organizations, professional associations, and schools of social work at the local and national level is critical.