WAMC Medical Library and Learning Resource Center: Social Work

The Social Work Internship Program at WAMC:

Mission

To provide a formal training program designed to give social work interns an opportunity to build on their military social work skills. This training program is designed to enhance social work interns in becoming a Social Work Officer assigned to either a Brigade Behavioral Health Section, Area Medical Support Company or a Combat and Operational Stress Control Detachment. This training will expose the non- independently licensed active duty social worker to key areas of practice within the military social work career field. It is a great opportunity for interns to refine, reinforce, and apply concepts and skills learned during their Master of Social Work (MSW) program. The intern benefits from an experience that teaches him/her about social work, the military culture, and provides preparation for independent clinical licensure.

Vision

To provide an educational bridge between graduate social work education and independent social work practice creating versatile and well-rounded social work officers.

Program Overview

The US Army Social Work Internship Program (SWIP) is the Army’s formal training program for preparing recent Master’s in Social Work graduates for advanced clinical social work practice with Soldiers and Families. The goal of producing highly qualified military social workers capable of independent clinical practice in multiple practice areas which include the Family Advocacy Program, Social Work Leadership and Management, Outpatient Behavioral Health, Addictions Medicine, and a wide array of electives.

SWIP interns rotate through four major rotations and are provided supervision by rotational supervisors at every site. Interns will have a weekly supervision session with the SWIP Director of Training to provide continuity of supervision and ensure all requirements are being met for their state licensure. Once a week the SWIP program has didactics explore a wide variety of topics and to continue the education that they may not have learned in the MSW program. Didactics are also designed to expose interns to other topics that they may not be able to experience in their rotations.