2023 Advanced Standing Practice Seminar
| About the Practice Seminar | Coordination and Instructors | Registration |
| Schedule | Readings and video | Contact |
Welcome to the MSW program at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (FIFSW)! We would like to invite you to the Advanced Standing Practice Seminar (ASPS), a voluntary learning activity for incoming Advanced Standing MSW students interested in a refresher of foundational social work practice skills.
We started this practice seminar in 2016 based on requests from Advanced Standing students to provide more learning opportunities that would prepare them for practice. Each year, we have had a growing number of students participate and the feedback from students has been very positive.
About the Practice Seminar
The practice seminar will focus on foundational interviewing and assessment skills to help Advanced Standing students be more prepared for social work practice. Please note, this is not an advanced practice skills seminar and registration is completely voluntary. On days 1 and 2, you will learn practice theories, models and approaches to guide your practice, key ingredients in building an alliance with client(s), important components of a psychosocial assessment, how to give and receive feedback on practice, and how to reflect on your practice. Students will also reflect on the impact of culture and diversity factors on the relationship with client(s), and develop cultural attunement, sensitivity, and humility. You will watch videos, participate in role plays and work in small groups. On days 2 and 3, we will have two simulated clients join the seminar allowing each student an opportunity to interview one of the two clients. There will be preparation for these activities, and you will receive more information on day 1 of the seminar.
Schedule
The Advanced Standing Practice Seminar, will be held in person over three (3) days at the FIFSW (246 Bloor Street West). For 2023 the seminar is scheduled for:
- Wednesday September 6th from 1:00pm to 4:30pm (students registering for this seminar will be automatically registered for the EDI workshop that morning from 9:00am-12:00pm);
- Thursday September 7th from 9:00am to 4:30pm; and
- Friday September 8th from 9:00am to 4:30pm.
Students who are registered must attend the all three days of the seminar and will receive a certificate upon completion.
Coordination and Instructors
This seminar is facilitated by several of our PhD students. More information about our facilitators will be available in the coming weeks.
Readings and viewing of an assessment video
In preparation for the ASPS, students are asked to view an assessment video and prepare to discuss your observations in the seminar, as well as doing some reading from a textbook written by Professor Marion Bogo. The textbook is Social Work Practice: Integrating Concepts, Processes, and Skills, 2nd ed. (2018). Columbia University Press. It is available through Indigo and Amazon, but students can also access an electronic version free through Robarts Library at the University of Toronto.
It is important to note that you must have a UTORid to be able to use library services and you need to obtain your TCard to be able to activate your UTORid.
Students who want to own a copy of the book can also check with second year MSW students about buying a used copy.
Students are asked to read the following chapters from the Bogo textbook in preparation for the first day of the practice seminar:
- Chapter 3 – Learning to Practice
- Chapter 4 – The Helping Relationship: Conceptual and Empirical Contributions
- Chapter 5 – Engage Diversity and Difference
- Chapter 6 – The Helping Relationship: From Theory to Practice
- Chapter 8 – Beginnings
- Chapter 9 – Toward Developing Shared Understanding: Assessment and Formulation
As an optional reading, you may be interested in accessing this article from the library:
Dean, R. G., & Poorvu, N. L. (2008). Assessment and formulation: A contemporary social work perspective. Families in Society, 89(4), 596-604.
Registration
Register for the seminar through Eventbrite. The deadline to register is August 8th, however, you are encouraged to register early as spots are limited. Please note, students who are registered must attend all three days and will receive a certificate upon completion.
Contact
Please contact Megan Davies, Simulation Program Coordinator, with any questions. If the Eventbrite event registration is full, please email Megan to be added to the waitlist.
* If you have an accommodation need, please contact Megan who will do her best to make appropriate arrangements. *