Social Work Field Interview

Field Interview The field interview was conducted on September 5th, 2017 at the Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center located in Lexington, South Carolina. This organization provides services to children who have experienced various forms of child maltreatment including physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, drug endangerment, witnessing of domestic violence and other types of traumatic events. The non-profit facility provides children and their non-offending caregivers with a continuum of care through child centered therapeutic services. In order to assess the organization's interventions and methods of evaluations, staff member Laura Mullee, LMSW, was interviewed. Laura is a forensic interview and a Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist.

Evaluation of practice includes specific measurement of the interventions provided. To accomplish this goal, it is imperative to meet the clients where they are, understand where the client is coming from, and define attainable treatment goals. Services should be based on individual need and founded on the child first approach.
In your opinion, what social work skills are most important for me to learn from this field placement?
The Dickerson Children’s Advocacy Center works with children and families from diverse backgrounds and unique family experiences. In order to best serve this population and meet the specific needs of the clients, it is important to be culturally competent and understanding of cultural differences. Other important skills include meeting clients where they are, the client right to self-determination and evaluation of process.
How could we tell that I was learning that skill? What would we see, hear, notice, read,

Therefore, the child and their non offending caregiver are important members of the treatment team. Both are included in setting the treatment goals and identify one goal they value as important and that they would each like to accomplish. If quality services are provided, clients should feel safe, heard and that their needs are understood and the basis of intervention.
What are the primary impacts this agency hopes to have in the community?
The primary mission of the organization is “to provide comprehensive assessment and treatment services to physically and sexually abused children ages 0-18 years throughout the Midlands of South Carolina.” All services are based on the individual need of the child by using child-first, safe, supportive and comprehensive treatments and interventions. These services include forensic interviews, forensic medical exams, therapeutic counseling sessions and psychoeducational groups. Overall, the hope is to support the child and family through the healing process and work towards living a safe, healthy and happy life.
What are the primary outcomes among the population(s) your agency serves? How do you as the supervisor evaluate your practice? What tools do you