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Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8652-3354

Date Available

5-31-2025

Year of Publication

2023

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

Faculty

Dr. Laura Escobar-Ratliff

Abstract

International Social Work Field Education (ISWFE) involves a set of unique challenges. For the literature review of this capstone project 20 peer-reviewed journal articles written between the years 2009 and 2018 were reviewed to answer the following research question: What are the unique challenges associated with ISWFE and the best practices for combatting these challenges? The challenges most frequently mentioned in the literature are the perpetuation of colonial mindset; students experiencing emotional vulnerabilities, stress, & distress (guilt, shame, loneliness, fear, helplessness, isolation, and homesickness); supervisory issues; language barriers; funding; culture shock, disequilibrium, or clash; safety concerns; administrative problems such as maintaining partnerships; and logistical problems with housing, insurance, travel, etc. The best practices most frequently discussed in the literature include preparation prior to departure, close and supportive supervision, and reflection. The conceptual paper begins with a brief discussion of the articles in the literature that mention theory pertaining to ISWFE. The paper then reviews the benefits and challenges of ISWFE. Next, the author explores three theories that can be employed to analyze the difficulties associated with ISWFE and develop a comprehensive approach to address these challenges. The first two theories, Sue and Sue’s cultural competence model and Bennet’s intercultural competence model have been previously connected to ISWFE within the literature. However, the third theory, relational-cultural theory which encompasses relational-cultural supervision and coaching supervision, has not been previously linked to ISWFE. Next, the paper considers possible criticisms of these theories including a more general criticism of cultural competence.

The practice application paper presents a comprehensive design of ISWFE, called Relational ISWFE, that can be applied in any accredited social work program. This design incorporates established best practices and innovative ideas gathered from experts in and outside the field of social work. The key findings across all three papers include the many benefits of ISWFE, the unique challenges of ISWFE, theories that help to analyze these challenges, and best practices to combat these challenges which are incorporated into a comprehensive design for ISWFE. The goal is to implement this design, collect data, and further add to the research regarding International Social Work Field Education.

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