City of Toronto – Social Development

Location:

Main location – City Hall (100 Queen street West). Other offices – 1652 Keele Street, 55 John Street. Other Toronto locations may be required for community meetings and site visits.

Description of the practicum site and student activities:

Organization Description:

The City of Toronto’s Social Development Division provides leadership and support in the: Development and implementation of a social inclusion and community safety agenda for the city. Fostering safe and strong neighbourhoods and communities. Promoting community engagement and advancing life skill opportunities for youth. Through the Social Policy, Analysis, and Research Section, the Community Resources Section and the Financial Management Section, the Division identifies and responds to community social needs, undertaking social planning and trend analysis, and developing social policy responses.

Practicum Description:

Community Funding provides short-term funding for not-for-profit, grassroots and resident-led groups to design and lead community-based projects that provide social services and encourage resident engagement and leadership development. Website – Community Funding – City of Toronto. This placement opportunity would be beneficial for someone who has strong administrative and writing skills. There are opportunities to renewing of various grant programs in Community Funding, supporting active grant calls, plan non-profit events and collaborating with other teams and City divisions. During this placement, students would be able to participate in agency site visits, review reports and other compliance related documents, evaluate grant programs, develop internal policies, community needs assessments, and resource guides. This role has flexibility in various learning opportunities that can be tailored to the interests of the student.

Student activities to develop social work competencies:

Direct Service Delivery/Interventions/Working with Recipients of Service:

Provide resource and referral information
Develop, promote, plan and/or (co)facilitate educational groups or workshops
Apply best practices as outlined by the organization

Interprofessional collaboration:

Present cases at case conferences
Attend staff/administrative meetings
Collaborate on organization’s projects
Attend in-service events
Consult and collaborate with professionals from other disciplines
Participate, liaise and represent the agency at community meetings or plan of care meetings or task groups

Indirect Service Delivery:

Prepare and maintain case notes, reports, statistics which meet the organization’s accountability guidelines
Collect and/or analyze data
Prepare draft policy/program/grant proposals
Contribute to research and other organizational initiatives

Practicum Requirements:

☒ Travel by TTC/public transit

☒ Travel by public transportation between home visits, or satellite offices, or community meetings, etc.

☒ Comprehensive report writing and documentation

Other requirements:

Preferred that the student has an understanding of the non-profit sector. Previous work experience at a non-profit would be an asset.

Field(s) of Study:

☒ Human Services Management and Leadership

Collaborative Programs

☒ Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work

The practicum site primarily offers learning opportunities that intersect the disciplines and practices of both law and social work. Examples include Family Court Services, Legal Aid Societies, Mediation Centres, Community Legal Clinics, and Non-profit Policy and Advocacy Organizations.

Does your practicum require any previous experience?

Preferred that the student has an understanding of the non-profit sector. Previous work experience at a non-profit would be an asset.

Is this practicum in-person, remote or hybrid?

Hybrid (2-3 days in person)

Will this practicum involve direct work or a mix of direct and indirect?

Indirect

Number of practicums offered:

Field Instructor name and credentials:

Lindsay Jackson, BSW, MSW, RSW

Application deadline: February 27, 2026

Do you require a resume? Or resume and cover letter?

Both

Accessibility Considerations:

Will the student have access to a private space for notes or computer use? No

Are there breaks between clients/patients/meetings? Yes

Is the practicum considered fast-paced? Medium

Is there a high noise level in the practicum? Low

Is the site wheelchair accessible? Yes

What are the physical demands of the practicum? None

Are there any other accessibility considerations that potential applicants with disabilities should be aware of?

If you are interested in this practicum, please send a cover letter and resume to alexi.sparaggis@utoronto.ca by 4pm on February 27, 2026. Applications will be forwarded to the site.