Kansas Wesleyan and Saint Francis to partner on new degree

Qualified social workers in Kansas are in short supply, so Kansas Wesleyan University and Saint Francis Community Services have decided to partner in an effort to bring new professionals into the field.

To help strengthen the field of social work in Kansas, KWU president Matt Thompson and Saint Francis president and chief executive officer Father Robert Smith announced Friday a partnership between the two institutions to develop a Bachelor of Science in Social Work program that also will provide field experiences throughout a student's course of study.

Smith said the new program will be designed so students will have multiple observation and practicum opportunities built into the curriculum to help prepare them for the challenges of the social work field after graduation.

"Social work is a rapidly growing field, and the demand put on social workers are extreme," he said "We'll all be stronger if there are more well trained social workers out there."

Saint Francis has agreed to underwrite the initial hiring of a Director of the Social Work Program and a Director of Internships position at KWU, while the university will begin to pursue accreditation for the program through the Council on Social Work Education.

Although accreditation is a three year process, the first students may be accepted into the program by the fall of 2018.

Thompson said KWU and Saint Francis not only will work together to develop internships for KWU social work students but in other related areas such as nursing, addictions counseling, psychological services and management of not-for-profits.

"What impresses me as well is they don't want a relationship (with us) as it just relates to social work, but across all of the institution," he said. "(Students) can grow and learn through internships, volunteer work and the opportunity to work with them after graduation. This is a chance to grow and be a part of the wonderful things Saint Francis does."

Since its founding 72 years ago, Smith said Saint Francis has been singularly focused on how it can join with communities in addressing and offering hope and healing in the lives of traumatized and at-risk children and their families.

"And today, the majority of the way we do that is through the gifts of people who have been educated and trained as social workers," he said. "This will help strengthen our community. In the long term, we believe it will help strengthen Saint Francis. But ultimately, it will help strengthen the lives of those given into our care."