Peggy Best, Social Work Student

The role of field placements in Social work

Field placements link future social workers with agencies to combine their education with field experience to increase their knowledge base in providing competent services for individuals, families, and communities. Social work and field placements teach students the importance of meeting clients where they are and working collaboratively on identifying client needs from a strengths-based perspective.

Peggy's Bio

Peggy Best received her B.A. in psychology in 2006 and after leading several short-term service mission trips to Central America and Eastern Europe she decided to pursue an MSW degree at Jane Addams College of Social Work. Personally, Peggy felt the service mission trip experiences clearly identified that poverty and oppression are non-discriminatory and that the interactions between individuals, families, and communities contribute to societal and cultural problems. Her concentration is community health and urban development (CHUD). CHUD provides the education and resources to promote and advocate for human rights and address social injustice by focusing on community health in collaboration with community-based organizations and empowering growth through the concept of shared power. IDHD recognizes, addresses, and promotes social justice for people with disabilities as they continue to advocate for independence and inclusion into mainstream society. Field placements with IDHD can be designed towards student interests with opportunities ranging from individual and group therapy, research, policy issues and self-advocacy.

Peggy's experience with IDHD

Peggy's field work with IDHD has provided a challenging, yet, rewarding experience, with three different aspects of the experience. IDHD provides multiple opportunities for students who desire to work in advocacy and human rights. Peggy works with the Community Support Department on multiple community initiatives; provides therapeutic services for clients in the Family Clinic; and works with IDHDs' sister agency, Equip for Equality, in the Abuse Investigation Unit on issues related to abuse, neglect, quality of care and rights restrictions for people with disabilities. One of the most important aspects of the field placement has been the field supervisors who have supported and challenged Peggy personally and professionally to seek what is of most interest to her while providing the opportunity to do so.