SMITH COLLEGE
School for Social Work
OFFICE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
Graduate Certificate Programs
SMITH COLLEGE SCHOOL FOR SOCIAL WORK
Continuing Education Certificates of post-graduate clinical experience, and an interest in expanding their clinical skills.
The Smith College School for Social Work Office of Continuing Education offers two widely-respected advanced postgraduate certificate programs: the Advanced Clinical Supervision Certificate and the Palliative and End-of-Life Care Certificate. These renowned programs provide clinicians with in-depth study, advanced knowledge, and a collegial cohort. The ideal candidate for our advanced certificate programs is a social worker or other human service professional, who has a master’s degree, a minimum of two years
Other Continuing Education Programming In addition to our certificates, we offer a number of other continuing education opportunities to enhance the skills of clinicians. Each year, the Program of Continuing Education includes a variety of online courses, which are available from October to March. During the summer, the Program provides day-long seminars on a wide range of themes and a series of evening lectures on cuttingedge topics in the profession. For more information about our Professional Education Seminars, Public Lecture Series in Social Work, or online courses, visit SSW Continuing Education online at www.smith.edu/ssw/cert, email sswced@smith.edu, or call (413) 585-7970.
Advanced Clinical Supervision Changes in the context of practice have decreased support for supervisors, while increasing the demands and stress they face. Managed care and budget cuts have eliminated many supervisory positions, as well as support for advanced training for the supervisors who remain. At the same time, licensing boards across the country require weekly supervision for social workers who provide clinical services. The Smith College Advanced Clinical Supervision Certificate Program is designed to help clinicians: • conceptualize clinical practice by using multiple theoretical frameworks in the context of the supervisory relationship • understand and achieve in-depth supervisory skills • enhance the clinician’s use of self in the supervisory relationship • develop the capacity to adapt supervisory skills within the current context of practice. Certificate coursework provides a comprehensive introduction and orientation to supervisory issues.
Palliative and End-of-Life Care Program Schedule The unique design of the curriculum makes the program accessible to current supervisors of clinical staff or students, and to consultant supervisors working with agencies and/or clinicians in private practice. The year-long program begins and ends with a week of coursework. During these on-campus sessions, classes are held from 8:00-4:00, Monday through Friday. Morning sessions cover a variety of important issues related to clinical supervision; afternoon sessions are structured as Case-Based Integrative Seminars, which allow for in-depth consideration of challenges in supervision. Between the two academic sessions, participants are expected to apply theory and knowledge gained from the first session in their current professional supervisory capacities. Students receive consultation on their work through a monthly online discussion forum. CEUs: 62 continuing education credits Program dates: July 24–28, 2017 July 30–August 3, 2017 Application deadline: April 15, 2017 For details on the curriculum, faculty, tuition, and fees—and to apply—please visit our website at www.smith.edu/ssw/ced.
“The Program provided a format for assessing one’s own supervisory skills and growth edges. The group became a safe space, a holding environment, where we could share our skills, as well as our vulnerabilities, in learning— a parallel to what we were all hoping to be better able to do for our supervisees.”
There are a growing number of individuals and families in need of palliative and end-of-life care (ELC). As our population ages, there are more elderly people with progressive chronic disabilities. Clinical social work interventions have never been more needed, yet there is a lack of highly-trained clinical social workers prepared to effectively address the complex needs of those facing the end of life. The terminally ill person, his/ her family, social supports, health care providers, and clergy members all benefit from the skills of a specially trained ELC clinical social work practitioner.
This Palliative and End-of-Life Care Certificate Program offers 14 courses and a six-month clinically supervised internship, which makes it the most comprehensive program in the country. The academic content includes psychodynamic and developmental theories in death and bereavement, childhood bereavement, spirituality, legal and ethical issues, pain management, systems change, and working with LGBT and other marginalized populations. Graduates of the program have gone on to assume leadership in palliative care,
“The learning structure of coursework and six months of supervised internship helped me tremendously to apply every theory and concept. Every instructor offered a unique insightful perspective, which made for the richest of learning experiences. What an amazing and supportive environment for learning and leadership!” write grants,develop programs, provide clinical supervision, teach, and engage in research and writing for publication. Program Schedule The program’s intensive coursework takes place during two weekends, six months apart. Students identify clinical internships at which they each will work with three clinical study cases (patients and families) and lead one clinical group. Students also develop or join monthly interdisciplinary peer supervision teams and apply what they learn to their practices. Students receive two hours of telephone clinical supervision each month and participate in six sessions of group supervision by telephone. At the end of their internships, students write final papers related to clinical theory, practice, and/or leadership. CEUs: 57 continuing education credits Program dates: October 19–22, 2017 April 19–22, 2018 Application deadline: September 1, 2017 For details on the curriculum, faculty, tuition, and fees—and to apply—please visit our website at www.smith.edu/ssw/ced.
ABOUT SMITH COLLEGE
School for Social Work For nearly a century, the Smith College School for Social Work has provided graduate social work education to people of all gender identities and expressions around the world. Our program is internationally recognized for its dedication to and specialization in clinical social work, as well as for our commitment to academic excellence. A nationwide internship network that provides us with the opportunity to affiliate with the leading clinical training agencies complements our rich curriculum. With a student-faculty ratio of four-to-one, our faculty are highly accessible and deeply interested in our students’ professional development. Almost 5,000 graduates can attest that their degrees from Smith College School for Social Work have been powerful tools in their searches for employment within the social work profession and in their development as social work leaders. The Smith College School for Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. For more information on our accreditation, please visit www.smith.edu/ssw/ced.
Photos by Shana Sureck Photography (shanasureck.com)