Hometown Heroes: UM Earns National Innovation Award for Social Work Field Education

MISSOULA – A guiding principle of the University of Montana School of Social Work is that students shouldn’t need to leave their communities to become social workers. This is especially true in Montana, with its large rural and Indigenous populations.

Now the Council on Social Work Education, the national association representing and accrediting social work education in the United States, has honored UM’s School of Social Work with a prestigious national innovation award.

According to the association, the School of Social Work’s Field Education Program earned the award for developing a “place-bound and justice-oriented model of practicum education designed to expand equitable access to social work education across Montana, the broader Rocky Mountain West and geographically isolated communities.”

“It is an incredible honor to be recognized with the award – especially because field education is considered the signature core of social work education, where students integrate classroom learning with practice in community settings,” said Katharina Werner, the School of Social Work director of field education. “What makes this work special is that we are not only preparing students for the profession – we are also helping strengthen the communities where they live, work and serve.”

In announcing the award, the council noted the UM School of Social Work has developed flexible and community-responsive field education pathways, which allow students to remain rooted in their communities while engaged in meaningful, competency-based learning.

“We have worked to expand remote and community-based practicum opportunities so students in rural and Indigenous areas can remain rooted where they live while completing their degrees,” Werner said.

The school has built long-standing partnerships with tribal and rural colleges across Montana, expanded paid practicum opportunities, developed structured remote placement and supervision policies, and created outside supervision models for students in areas without on-site social workers.

Agency field instructors are qualified professionals who mentor and supervise students throughout their practicum placement. Werner said her program has invested heavily to support and train agency field instructors and students through ongoing professional development that focuses on topics such as trauma stewardship, disability equity, intercultural communication, neurodiversity and justice-centered clinical practice.

Werner said the UM Field Education Program is rooted in relationships, community partnerships and accessibility.

“In the 2024-25 academic year alone, our program supported 259 undergraduate and graduate social work practicum students,” she said. “They collectively contributed more than 126,000 hours of service across 206 agencies in Montana, the Rocky Mountain West and nationally. And about 30% of those students were placed in rural or tribally affiliated communities.”

Werner said the award reflects the dedication, creativity and commitment of an exceptional field education team, including Assistant Directors of Field Education Katie Karas, Jen Barile, Sarah Fielding and Kimmie Garner; administrative and support staff member Tomas Hernandez; adjunct field liaisons; outside supervisors; agency field instructors; and community partners across Montana and beyond.

“Most importantly, the award reflects the students we have the privilege of working alongside every day,” Werner said. “They are the heroes, and their commitment to serving their communities and creating positive change is what continues to inspire and motivate this work.”

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Contact: Katharina Werner, UM clinical associate professor, School of Social Work director of field education, 406-243-5589, katharina.werner@umontana.edu; Dave Kuntz, UM director of strategic communications, 406-243-5659, dave.kuntz@umontana.edu.