Paid Placements in Social Work: Addressing Inequity and Student Well-Being

Abstract

Guided by the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, social work is expected to be at the forefront of advocating for social change. Integral to social work is the field education or practicum component. Field education allows social work students the opportunity to apply their skills in work settings, integrating their classroom learning with applied practice. Yet these placements can place undue economic burden on social work students, exacerbating an economic divide and leading to an increased expectation of unpaid or underpaid labor in social work. This policy brief examines the impact of these unpaid placements on students’ well-being and provides recommendations to address current disparities.