Social Work Students, Faculty Recognize Community Partners

Central Michigan University students and faculty members from the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program recognized community partners for their dedication to providing education and training to social work majors during the Social Work Field Appreciation Event in April. The annual event gives students an opportunity to thank their field placement supervisors and to showcase projects they completed for their agencies over the past academic year. 

Social work majors are required to complete 400 hours of professional practice in a human service setting over the course of the fall and spring semesters of their senior year. They serve local individuals, families, organizations and communities in a variety of fields including mental health, child advocacy, housing and homelessness, domestic violence services and senior services. 

Field placement partners include local elementary schools, Community Mental Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Isabella County Courts, Anishinaabeg Child and Family Services, Commission on Aging, Juvenile Detention Center and many more. 

The Social Work Program honored Brandi Knivila of the Isabella County Commission on Aging with the Field Supervisor of the Year Award. In addition to supervising social work interns for many years, Knivila provides training videos, participates in professional panels and conducts guest lectures in social work classes. 

The Isabella Community Soup Kitchen received the Volunteer Agency of the Year award. ICSK has addressed food insecurity in the Mount Pleasant/Isabella County area for 20 years and operates with volunteers, including many CMU students and social work majors. 

Child Advocacy of Gratiot County received the Field Agency of the Year award. Child Advocacy provides an outstanding internship experience for social work majors to provide services and programs to children and families, including forensic interviewing, parenting classes, a baby pantry and mental health services. 

Students in CMU’s accredited Social Work Program are eligible for licensure by the state of Michigan upon completion of their BSW degrees. More than half of our students enroll in graduate social work (MSW) programs immediately after completing the BSW.