Experiences Integrating Values of Diversity and Social Justice in Field Education

This qualitative study used a phenomenological approach to explore Field Directors, Field Liaisons, and Field Instructor’s experiences integrating anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion and social justice in their roles. The study examined their perspectives about their challenges integrating these values during learning exchanges with students over eighteen interviews with 6 field instructors, 7 field liaisons, and 5 field directors. The study was influenced by Relational Cultural Theory and Theory of Racialized Organizations that provided a framework for understanding how embedded in organizations the racial construct is, and how the existence of relational supports can minimize its effects. Findings showed that the values of anti-racist and anti-oppressive practice manifest itself in supervisory interactions and organizational contexts that minimize the ability to support the commitment to ADEI. Additional findings revealed that avoidance emerged as a theme encouraging the bypassing of CSWE’s mandate; FI do not possess the organizational tools to implement ADEI Integration or feel equipped to navigate these difficult dialogues around race and ADEI; FL are often working without adequate support FD; and FD feel that schools do not support agencies enough to make demands on the learning that occurs at the agency level. Additional findings indicated that race was a factor influencing whether difficult dialogues around ADEI were actualized, the boundaries around racial dialogue were shaped by politics and physical boundaries around community determined the likelihood of ADEI’s exploration in agencies. The results implicate the entire establishment of social work education as ADEI can be intentionally embedded into supervision, concerted efforts can be implemented by the three groups responsible for student instruction, and a level of intentionality can ensure everyone involved in student’s educational process adhere to the mandate to uphold the values of ADEI and social justice.