Jacqueline Houston, an MSW/MPH concurrent degree student, spent the first week of her field placement at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. There, she graduated from the United Nations Immersion Program hosted by the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Houston joins her cohort for a photo with UNITAR Trainer Marie-José Astre-Démoulin in front of the Palace of Nations country flags.
"Social workers are not often perceived as a key stakeholder in international affairs; however, we have a unique opportunity to contribute our expertise on human behavior in the social environment to the field of diplomacy," Houston said. "Social workers can play a crucial role in shaping diplomatic efforts to be more people-centered and rights-focused."
In the program, Houston attended expert lectures, workshops, conferences, career development sessions, and guided tours of the UN system agencies in the city. While in Geneva, Houston also visited the Museum of the International Committee of the Red Cross and was deeply moved by the interactive exhibits wherein torture survivors shared their experiences. This inspired her to join the College of Public Health Activist Lab, where she is developing a workshop series aimed at teaching other students how to map their advocacy efforts.
Houston will continue her field placement at the Florida Center for Survivors of Torture, a multidisciplinary regional treatment center serving refugees. She was eager to identify a hands-on approach to fulfill the Field Learning Plan competency of engaging in policy practice.
Program participants take part in a negotiations workshop lead by UNITAR expert Jerome L'host (far left) at the Palace of Nations.
The Field Learning Plan is the key pedagogy of social work programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education, empowering students to identify the skills and experiences they seek during their time as students. Through this collaborative process with their host site, students also decide how their success in each competency will be measured.
“Development of the learning plan is an exciting time for student clinicians to expand their professional development beyond the role of their field instructor," Houston said. "This is especially important for ensuring that MSW students have a high-quality academic experience since most of our field placements are unpaid and located in non-profit organizations.”