An integrated community-centered clinical approach to social work: practicing within a school and community setting

Abstract

The following is a practicum report regarding my MSW practicum experience at St. Mary’s Wellness and Education Centre, an elementary school within the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools. The purpose of the practicum was to gain graduate level social work knowledge and practice as it relates to an integrated approach to social work practice through facilitating the role of school counsellor within the school. This report provides a description of the theoretical approaches of an integrated Community-Centered Clinical practice, Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and a Two-Eyed Seeing approach; and how integrating these theoretical approaches creates a culturally- informed and integrated (micro and macro) social work practice. This report outlines the application of these approaches through the practice of individual counselling, group work, community initiatives, and interdisciplinary teamwork in order to provide benefits to the students and the community. Through sharing stories and personal reflections which are framed within the literature, this report provides insights into developing cultural competency within social work practice and the challenges associated with integrating Indigenous and Western knowledges and worldviews. Lastly, this report suggests that building a holistic approach to social work practice requires an understanding of the benefits of an integrated approach to practice that embraces the value of both micro and macro practice, and the importance of developing cultural competency when working with members of Indigenous communities.