Field work crisis: Dilemmas, dangers and opportunities

This paper looks at the many factors which are altering radically the world of practice and the ability of schools of social work to train social work students in our current situation. It approaches some of the changes as opportunities, but also holds the profession to its historic commitment to articulate clearly to society those changes which are inimical to effective response to human need. Using some of the experiences of the Smith College School for Social Work, the author discusses some ways to rethink the contexts of clinical services and the training of students in new contexts. The further complications presented by realities of students and their expectations and the pressures of agency life are also explored.