Term Paper Objectives: Assure that each student by the end of the semester will

be able to demonstrate the ability to research, interpret, and report information

related to a specific field of social work practice, in grammatically correct APA

(American Psychological Association) format.

Purpose: Students will gain 1) insight into a particular field of social work service

2) skills in literature search methods 3) skills in the use of the APA format 4)

understanding of values and ethics that impact a social worker in this particular

field of service 5) knowledge to describe in detail a specific field of practice, the

target population, and practice methods.

• Select one field of service. Some examples of fields of service are Alcohol

and Substance Abuse, Disabilities, Child Protective Services, Family, Youth

and Children, Counseling, Community and Neighborhood, Criminal Justice,

Family Services, Grant Writer and Administrator, International Social Work,

Medical, Mental Health, Older Adults, Pregnancy and Parenting, and School

Social Work.

Be Sure to Answer These Questions in Part I of the Term Paper

• What field of social work service interests you?

• Why does this field of service interest you? (2 paragraph maximum)

• Drawing from the literature, describe in detail the following:

1. What does the research state about this specific field of service?

2. What is the target population?

3. What are the practice methods that social workers use in this field?

Indicate micro and/or macro practice methods.

• Choose at least 1 book on the selected topic and 3 professional social work

or social service journal articles for your bibliography. You can also use

journal articles from other related professions such as psychology,

psychiatry, nursing, pediatric, education, and government sources.

• Magazines, newspaper articles, and textbooks may be used to supplement

the above bibliography requirements (excluding the class text).

• Attach one page only from the journal, book, or article, showing the page

where the research was obtained. If using a book, include a copy of one of

the pages that you quote directly.

• References must be from the U.S.A. and no more than 6 years old.

• Journal articles from websites are accepted providing they end in .gov or .NASW

• Expand upon the target population

1. Are there barriers to service for the target population?

2. What are the presenting problems?

3. What are the environmental causes of problems?

4. Include information regarding the age ranges, gender, and socioeconomic

statuses of the target population.

5. What are the other pertinent factors, individual or societal?

6. What are the values and ethical issues for social workers?

• What is the anticipated income for social workers in this field of service?