Social Work Internship Program
About
The Social work Internship Program (SWIP) is a formal training program designed to give social work interns an introduction to military social work. This training will expose the unlicensed active duty social worker to key areas of practice within the social work career field. It is a great opportunity for interns to refine, reinforce, and apply concepts and skills learned during the Master in Social Work (MSW) program. The intern benefits from an experience that teaches him/her about social work, the military culture, and provides preparation for independent clinical licensure. This training experience gives interns:
- An opportunity to train in a controlled environment in multiple practice areas.
- Formal, structured and monitored supervision to prepare for independent licensure.
- Exposure to a standardized training curriculum.
- Protection from assignment to the Professional Filler System (PROFIS), Report of Survey Officer, back-fill assignments, field exercises and other administrative duties.
- Formal independent licensure exam preparation.
- Specific training needed in preparation for deployment.
- In-depth exposure to community agencies that support Soldiers and Families.
- An educational platform for learning ethical decision making.
- Exposure to the management and administrative skills required to lead and manage behavioral health clinics/services/departments.
- An opportunity to develop an initial career plan.
- Access to the training expertise and instructional resources of Army Medical Department Center and School.
Training
The cornerstone for SWIP learning is found within the module rotation philosophy of the program. The intern will rotate through a number of clinical practice areas as they complete the established objectives of the training program. Additionally, an individualized learning plan will be established tailored to the needs of the intern. Interns should not have identical learning plans. Some interns, due to early assessment by the Director of Training (DOT), may spend longer or shorter periods in certain rotations. The rotation breakouts listed below should be used as a guide when developing the preliminary intern plan. Actual internship plans can and should vary based on the needs of the student and type of clinical practice areas available on the installation. With the exception of Orientation and Out-processing there is no requirement for rotations to occur in any particular order.
- Orientation (first two weeks of SWIP)
- SW Leadership/Management (No timeframe. Must complete Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute training modules identified on page ten during the two-year SWIP) Modules can be found at Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute.
- Behavioral Health Module (4 – 6 months)
- Operational Stress Control (BHO) Module or COSC unit (2 - 4 months)
- Family Advocacy Program (FAP) Module (4-6 months)
- Army Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) Module (2 - 4 months)
- Out-process ( final two-weeks of SWIP)
- SWIP Electives (Optional – arranged through consultation with the DOT. Utilization of electives based on evaluation and completion of CORE Practice Areas)
- Social Work and Military Corrections Module
- Medical Social Work
- Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB)
Rotations
Orientation
This module incorporates the standard installation and MTF in-processing with orientation to the various installation behavioral science and helping organizations. It is also the period where all hospital required training takes place (CHCS, AHLTA, infection control, BLS, etc.). The first module focuses on basic social work orientation. It is supervised by the internship DOT. It gives the intern an opportunity to adjust to the installation while becoming familiar with installation agencies and allows the intern to become familiar with the DOT and the teaching staff.
Social Work Leadership/Management
This module introduces the intern to the dual role of the 73A Social Worker Officer as a leader, administrator and clinician. The Joint Medical Skills Institute (JMESI) offers training which can be used to augment exposure and teaching during the rotation. The Joint Medical Skills Institutes web site for distant learning contains modules for teaching. The broad topic areas include training in:
- Budget
- Research Planning
- Clinic Administration
- Personnel Management
- Quality Improvement
The following modules are required and must be completed before the end of the two-year internship period.
- Change and Innovation Two: Implementation and Evaluation
- Conflict Management Decision-based Module
- External Accreditation One: Overview
- Financial Management Four: Business Case Analysis
- Human Resources
- Labor Relations Two: Applications
- Leadership Seven: Service Excellence
- Leadership Eight: Coaching, Counseling, and Mentoring
- Leadership Ten: Running Effective Meetings and Committees
- Leadership Thirteen: Developing a Performance-based Culture
- Leadership Fourteen: Creating a Culturally Sensitive Workplace
- Medical Staff Bylaws
- Medical Liability
- Personal and Professional Ethics
- Public Law Two: Patient Rights
Behavioral Health Module
This module introduces the intern to Army Behavioral Health and work in a Community Mental Health, Troop Mental Health, or Behavioral Health Clinic, etc. This is a rotational learning module involving work in a mental health clinic. Broad goals are to become familiar with all DOD and Army policies and regulations related to mental health, federal laws, and other regulatory guidance regarding behavioral health and the provision of services. The intern will also conduct assessments, understand documentation requirements, become familiar with appropriate disposition of mental health cases, understand options for treatment and understand the responsibilities of conducting case staffing for subordinates. Intern must complete the AMEDD Center and School Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Prolonged Exposure (PE) training during the two-year internship period.
TOE Behavioral Health Module
This module introduces the intern to the role of the social worker in a field unit (Combat Stress Control Detachment, Brigade Combat Team or Behavioral Health Officer in Separate Brigades or in a MEDCOM). This is a rotational learning module involving work in one or more operational units. The intern will become familiar with command consultation, participate in unit individual and collective training, learn principles of Combat Stress Control and Critical Incident Management, learn how CSC integrates with the other Medical Battle Operating Systems and how to use the military decision making process. Intern must complete the AMEDD Center and School COSC course during the two-year internship period.
Family Advocacy Program
This module introduces the intern to the Army Family Advocacy Program. This is a rotational learning module involving work in the Family Advocacy Program. This module will include attendance at FAST before the rotation if possible. The student receives exposure to prevention, assessment, Case Review Process, and treatment programs and options for both child and spouse. The student will become familiar with, case management, role of Child Protective Services and other agencies, and the on-call process. Intern must complete the AMEDD Center and School FAST course during the two-year internship period.
Army Substance Abuse Program
This module introduces the intern to the ASAP. This is a rotational learning module involving work in an ASAP clinic. The intern would become familiar with the clinical and family dynamics of substance abuse, 12 step programs, assessment and the use of assessment tools, treatment options, command consultation and rehabilitation team meetings Intern must complete the AMEDD Center and School ASAP Individual Counseling course during the two-year internship period.
Out-processing
The intern is an independently licensed social worker and participates in the standard installation and MTF out-processing in preparation for change of station.
Electives
Medical Social Work
This module introduces the intern to the medical social work setting to include outpatient medical social work and inpatient discharge planning. This is a rotational learning module involving work in the local MTF. The intern will become familiar with Joint Commission, Discharge Planning, TRICARE and other managed care programs, MEDICARE, MEDICAID and local community programs as a foundation for helping patients and families with psycho-social needs related to an individual patient’s health needs.
Social Work and Military Corrections
This module introduces the intern to Army Corrections and Mental Health. This is a rotational learning module involving work in a Regional Confinement Facility or its equivalent. The module will involve the intern working inside a prison environment providing intakes and assessments, on-going individual and group counseling and evaluations for parole boards and disciplinary hearings.
Application and Selection
Interns who have completed the University of Kentucky MSW program partnered with the United States Army at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, can choose their internship location. For more information on the UK MSW program, click on the link below.
Army Kentucky MSW Program
All applications are reviewed by the USAREC selection board.