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Field Education

Field education placement

You will be placed with an agency in which you will have the opportunity to practice generalist social work skills, such as assessment, interventions, and evaluation at various levels of practice, including work with individuals, groups, and families. You will also gain experience in policy work, advocacy, research, and community organization.

With the number of social work settings available in the Grand Rapids area and off-campus, we will find an agency whose needs are well-matched to your interests and skills.

Agencies with whom we place students have the following characteristics:

  • they have the volume and flow in programming so that you will have a wide range of learning experiences with multi-level client systems
  • their programs and intervention methods are clearly defined and implemented.
  • they offer opportunities for practicing generalist social work skills: interviewing, documentation, intervention, networking, advocacy, group work and organization of community resources
  • they provide services to diverse population groups, including diversity in race, ethnicity, immigration status, religion, and gender
  • their philosophy and delivery of service complies with the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics

The 2023–2024 Field Education Handbook is available to read online.

Consider these exciting local options

These local field education sites will offer you countless opportunities for experience and growth.

17th Circuit Court

Domestic Matters
  180 Ottawa NW
  Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Juvenile Matters
  1501 Cedar NE
  Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Affinity Mentoring

Office Headquarters
818 Butterworth St. SW
Grand Rapids MI 49504

Arbor Circle

1115 Ball Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Bethany Christian Services

901 Eastern Avenue NE
P.O. Box 294
Grand Rapis, MI 49501

Calvin University Sexuality Series

3201 Burton St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Catholic Charities

40 Jefferson Ave. SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Cherry Health

550 Cherry Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

D.A. Blodgett for St. Johns

805 Leonard NE OFC
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-1184

Disability Advocates

3600 Camelot Drive SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Family Futures

678 Front Ave NW #210
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Family Promise

516 Cherry Street, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Fresh Coast Alliance

Fresh Coast Alliance Business Office
1190 Apple Ave.
Muskegon, MI 49442

Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan

1545 Buchanan Ave SW Ste #2
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507-1650

Holland Home

Corporate Office
2100 Raybrook SE, Suite 300
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

HQ

320 State Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Inner City Christian Federation

515 Jefferson SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Jim Banks’ Congressional Office

Fort Wayne Office
1300 S Harrison St
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Justice For Our Neighbors

Grand Rapids Location
207 Fulton St E,
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Kent Intermediate School District

2930 Knapp Street NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Kent School Services Network

Administrative Office
1633 East Beltline NE, suite 205
Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Garfield Park Neighborhood Association

334 Burton St SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49507

The Hispanic Center of West Michigan

1204 Grandville Ave SW
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503

Mel Trotter Ministries

225 Commerce Avenue SW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

The National Museum of African American History and Culture (Smithsonian)

1400 Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20560

New City Neighbors

P.O. Box 1609
Grand Rapids, MI 49501

The Pride Center of West Michigan

343 Atlas Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506

The Red Project

401 Hall St SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Safe Haven Ministries

3501 LK Eastbrook Blvd SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Samaritas

8131 E. Jefferson Ave.
Detroit, MI 48214

Senior Neighbors

820 Monroe NW #460
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

SGA Youth and Family Services (Chicago)

11 E. Adams, Suite 1500
Chicago, Illinois 60603

Sojourners (Washington DC)

408 C St. NE
Washington DC, 20002

Solutions to End Exploitation

2007 Division S.
Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Spectrum Health

Dept of Social Work
100 Michigan NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Wellspring Lutheran Services

4100 Pier North Blvd.
Suite A, Flint, MI 48504