It's Giving Necessary: Adding Antiracism to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Social Work Practicum Education

Implementing the ADEI component of the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards relies on social work educators having a complete understanding of the connected ideologies that comprise the acronym—antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. As the signature pedagogy, it is imperative that practicum education be an intentional component of the strategic plan to include ADEI in the implicit and explicit curriculum. However, there has been a lack of attention paid to how practicum personnel understand the terms and practice behaviors of ADEI social work. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine the perceptions of practicum personnel related to EPAS 2022 Competency 3 ADEI. The participants included practicum liaisons, instructors, coordinators, and directors working with MSW students in Louisiana. The data analysis revealed three key themes: ADEI concepts are unclear but valuable, communication is crucial in increasing awareness and assessing competency, and understanding ADEI requires knowledge of systems and power dynamics. The findings of this research indicate that practicum personnel value ADEI but need additional guidance to execute the EPAS ADEI competency.