Field placements prepare OHIO Chillicothe students for social work careers

For social work majors at Ohio University, field placements—also known as practicums— are not just an academic requirement; they offer a chance to make a meaningful impact in the community. Mckenzie Anderson and Spencer Rossman, along with their fellow senior social work majors at OHIO Chillicothe are completing their practicums as one of the final steps toward becoming social workers.

Serving through social work

Rossman, a Paint Valley High School graduate and mother of seven-year-old twins, is completing her practicum with the Baby-Centered Recovery Program at Adena Regional Medical Center. She previously worked as a personal care assistant (PCA). As a PCA she worked on the hospital floor and later in Obstetrics and Gynecology. After shadowing the social workers who served patients at Adena, Rossman decided to pursue a degree and career in social work.

“I really loved what they were doing for our community,” she said.

Rossman enjoys serving a diverse community and believes the skills she is learning through her practicum will benefit her future career.

“We conduct in-depth assessments,” Rossman said. “That will help me gather the information I need to better serve clients when I go and do other assessments wherever I end up after graduation.”

Under the supervision of licensed social workers Donna Collier-Stepp and Samana Tacket, Rossman supports expectant and new mothers facing challenges like food insecurity, postpartum depression, and substance abuse.

Collier-Stepp, a graduate of Ohio University’s School of Social Work, values the opportunity to work with students from OHIO Chillicothe.

“Students bring a fresh perspective to everything they do,” Collier-Stepps said. “They are so eager to learn, and they question everything. This helps me see situations from a new viewpoint that I might not have seen and benefits the patients who interact with them.”

Collier-Stepp said she encourages student interns to “speak up, ask questions, and give feedback about what they don’t understand. Students start doing small tasks under supervision and by the time they leave this placement I am confident in their abilities as a social worker.”

To meet her practicum requirements, Rossman works 14 hours a week at the hospital, while balancing classes and family responsibilities. Managing her roles as a mother and a student can be challenging, but she meets the challenge by proactively managing her time and schedule.

Rossman chose OHIO Chillicothe for its affordability and proximity to home. She appreciated the support she received from professors in the classroom and beyond.

“You develop good relationships with your advisors, your teachers, and all the other faculty,” she said.

Rossman started her college career as a nursing major but realized that nursing was not the right fit for her. She encourages other students to find a field that interests and inspires them.

“Don't let anybody else pick something for you,” Rossman advises. “Don't just pick a degree or a field to go into because they're making lots of money or because there are a lot of jobs in that field. Listen to your heart.”

Just as Rossman’s life experiences guided her toward social work, Anderson’s background led her to seek the helping profession. Anderson watched her mother struggle with addiction during her childhood and later decided that she wanted a career that would allow her to help others. She began her college journey at OHIO Chillicothe as a high school senior through the College Credit Plus program, and a full-tuition scholarship made it easy for her to continue her education. She plans to graduate in the spring as a third-year senior with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work. 

In her practicum with National Church Residences Hospice, Anderson works with patients and their families, in nursing facilities and their own homes. Under the guidance of supervising social workers, she provides support and companionship, sometimes preparing patients for respite care to offer primary caregivers a break.

Though she initially thought she wanted to work with children, she was eager to try something different and is enjoying the experience of serving hospice patients and their families.

“I’m making a difference and having an impact on their lives,” she explained.

Anderson said the practicum experience is helping her apply theories and skills learned in the classroom. She is witnessing the principles of human behavior in practice and learning how to complete the necessary assessments and documentation required of practicing social workers.

“Everything I'm learning this semester, I apply directly in the field,” Anderson said.

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Social Work degree must complete 420 field hours over two semesters in their senior year. Assistant Professor Nikki Priest said these experiences benefit both the students and the community agencies where they serve.

“They get hands-on experience observing and practicing their social work skills while community agencies have the opportunity to train and educate social workers they may eventually hire at their agency or work with in their community,” Priest said.

Sarah Neal, a social worker at National Church Residences Hospice, emphasized the value of hosting interns from OHIO Chillicothe, noting that it provides new perspectives and enhances the care provided to the community while offering students valuable experiential learning.

“Hospice exposes students to opportunities they may have never considered and gives them a unique skill set working with a multitude of generational and environmental diversity,” Neal said. “Investing in internship opportunities helps us empower students with hands-on experience while they work towards their goals and strengthens our mission to provide exceptional care.”

Both students have expressed gratitude for their supportive professors and the tight-knit community at Ohio University Chillicothe.

“It’s tough balancing school, work, and my internship, but it’s preparing me for the future,” Anderson said.