Social Work, Disenfranchised Communities, and the Natural Environment: Field Education Opportunities

Minority and lower socioeconomic communities face disproportionate exposure to the growing threat from natural environment hazards such as toxic waste. The author places an expanding field of social work practice in the context of the profession's historic commitment to social welfare, justice, and equity. She describes specialized knowledge, the application of social work skills, ethical issues, and strategies for integrating environmental equity into practica training in a framework for field education. In addition, she examines opportunities for social work educators and students to contribute to the resolution of environmental hazard, across multiple intervention levels, for foundation and concentration practica.