Field-Based Training/Mentoring
The Social Work Mentor model is the newest program sponsored by the Central Academy. The mentor plays an important role in providing direct practice skills to social workers, supervisors, agencies, children, and families. Three counties in the region now have a Social Work Mentor on site.
Mentors assist Social Workers by:
- Identifying areas needing improvement within SW.
- Developing ways to set goals and assess productivity.
- Conducting performance reviews.
- Assisting in the transfer of learning process.
- Providing project plans and setting goals for social workers.
- Providing social workers with information necessary to perform their tasks.
- Providing an objective viewpoint on case situations.
- Encouraging professional growth and development.
The Mentoring Model link below provides access to the model adapted and in use at this time in Merced County. The model was written and developed by Estella F. Saldivar, Central Academy's first mentor. Any of the material is available for use, and would need to be adaped to the county's specific processes. Any items adapted should issue credit to the author.
The Central California Training Academy played an important role in the development, support and evaluation of mentoring activities for California counties. Partnering with the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC) the CCTA assisted with the development of the mentoring materials that support the Standardized Core Project for California Childe Welfare workers. There materials, including agency implementation guides are available at CalSWEC Mentoring.