When asked why they joined this profession, I’ve heard many social workers answer that this career felt like a calling. It is something intangible within us, a desire to contribute to a greater good that draws us to pursue this path. As oncology social workers, we do this every day. Whether we are supporting patients and families at diagnosis, survivorship or end of life, we are doing meaningful work that reaches many.

With patients as our priority, we can sometimes forget there is a way to contribute to the greater good beyond our clinical work. One of the most appealing and unique aspects of social work is the opportunity for field placement. Through field placement, the social workers of tomorrow are shaped. How wonderful to have the opportunity to try out skills in a supported setting before being thrown into the fire! For most of us, field placement was likely the first time we were able to synchronize those intangible qualities that drew us to social work with the education we were receiving in the classroom, and feel that “click” when everything came together. Whether our placements and supervisors are remembered fondly or with a cringe, it was an experience that shaped who we became.

As a seasoned social worker, walking the walk every day, you are now in a position to be a field instructor to social work students, to shape the experience of their transition from classroom to practice. Just as our work with patients can be so influential, being a field instructor is another fulfilling way to contribute to the greater good by molding the social workers of tomorrow. It can feel like (and it is!) a big responsibility. It can feel intimidating to take the leap into having such a critical role in a student’s development. But it is not something you have to do alone. AOSW is here to help!

Recognizing the value, as well as the responsibility, of field instruction, AOSW has developed resources to help you navigate being a field instructor. AOSW member Susan Hedlund, LCSW, OSW-C, created a fabulous webinar—“Training the Future Workforce – How to be a Field Instructor.” The webinar touches on myths and realities of field supervision, the 10 core competences of social work education as developed by the Council on Social Work Education, and tips on how to begin as a field instructor, effective instructor behaviors and practical learning tools. You can view the webinar here.

The AOSW Membership Committee is also hard at work developing an MSW Field Instructor Toolkit. Spearheaded by Sandy Blackburn, MSW, LSW, the toolkit is designed to be a resource where the information you need to strengthen your field instructor skills can be found in one easily accessible place. A living document, the toolkit will feature up-to-the moment information and resources on the following topics:

•    Intern Orientation
•    Clinical Competencies
•    Field Instructor Roles and Responsibilities
•    Effective Supervision Practice and Tools
•    Ethical and Legal Issues

As a member of the Membership Committee, I can tell you we are very excited to be developing a valuable resource to boost your field instructing confidence! Once completed, the MSW Field Instructor Toolkit will be accessible to all AOSW members on the website.

When we think about the legacy we want to leave during our careers, most of us think about the lives we will touch through our work. We think about the patients and families we will impact by something as simple as a caring touch or connection to a crucial resource, all the way through using our clinical skills to facilitate therapeutic growth. There is no question that this is the core of what we do—the reason why we show up to work every day. I challenge you to expand your conceptualization of how you will leave your legacy. Being a field instructor, a mentor, to a developing social worker offers you the chance to shape the future of the profession and contribute to the greater good in ways that can be far reaching. As Henry Brooks Adams once said, “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”