Social Work

Program Director: Dr. Mark Lynch

Established at Saint Francis University in 1974, the Social Work major provides a general education as well as career preparation.

The primary educational objective of the Social Work Program is to prepare its students with the competency, practice skills, ethics and knowledge base for entry into generalist social work practice at the beginning professional level. Further, the program seeks to assist students in understanding social welfare as a system of social institutions that has been developed to meet human needs. Based on a strong foundation of courses in the arts, social sciences, natural sciences, math, and the humanities, the social work curriculum is conceived as a broad orientation to the human and helping services which will enable the student to: seek employment in the field of social work upon graduation; continue one’s education on the graduate level in social work; the behavioral sciences or one of the numerous areas of human services; and/or support social and economic justice through service and citizenship participation.

There are opportunities for employment in such areas as individual therapy, group therapy, community organization, family counseling, foster care and adoption services, child welfare, public welfare, hospital and home nursing social services, mental health and mental retardation programs, programs for the elderly, school social work, drug and alcohol programs, and community action programs.

The Saint Francis University Social Work major is accredited for the baccalaureate degree in social work by the Council on Social Work Education. The program has been accredited since 1974. Upon graduation, majors are eligible for regular membership in the National Association of Social Workers. Students graduating from the social work program are also able to receive advanced standing in MSW programs throughout the country.

Students and other interested individuals should consult the Social Work handbook for detailed information on program policies and standards, located on the program’s website.

The Field Instruction sequence provides the practice experience to prepare students to work with individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities served by both governmental and voluntary programs. It constitutes an integral component of the total curriculum, reinforcing and integrating the entire curriculum. Some current cooperating senior Field Instruction agencies are as follows:

Aids Intervention/Home Nursing Agency
Alternatives Community Resource Program
Altoona Base Services Unit MR Program
Altoona Hospital Drug and Alcohol Program
Altoona Hospital Social Services
Altoona Hospital Crisis Center
Appalachian Youth Services, Education Program
Blair County Children and Youth Services
Blair County Commissioner’s Office
Blair County Community Action Program
Blair County Head Start Program
Blair County Mental Health
Blair County Senior Service

Blair Family Solutions
Cambria County Children and Youth Services
Cambria County Community Medical Center
Cambria County Juvenile Detention Shelter/Emergency Care Facility
Cambria County Office on Aging
Cambria County Probation Bureau
Cambrian Hills, Treatment Center
Career Services - Saint Francis University
Catholic Charities, Altoona
Cedar Manor Treatment Center
Community Support Alternative Program
Conemaugh: Aloysia Hall

Conemaugh Counseling Associates
Conemaugh Neuropsychiatric Unit

Conemaugh: New Visions Drug and Alcohol Rehab
Dorothy Day Center - Saint Francis University
Early Intervention Center, CCCMHC
Early Interventive Services
Ebensburg Center
Emergency Shelter Project, Inc.
Exceptional Children Intermediate Unit 8, Duncansville Office
Family Services of Blair County

Federal Correctional Institution: Loretto, PA
Garvey Manor
Hillview Care Center
Health South Rehabilitation Hospital
Human Services
Intermediate Unit 08, Social Services, Ebensburg Location
Johnstown Board of Public Assistance
Kids Read
Laurel Crest Manor
Lutheran Social Services, Allegheny Lutheran Social Ministries
Mom’s House
Nason Hospital
Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Institute
Professional Family Care Services
Rosemary House
S.K.I.L.L.S. of Central PA, Inc.
Teen Link
Teen Shelter

Torrance State Hospital
Upward Bound Program - Saint Francis University
Valley View Nursing Home
Veterans Administration Medical Center, Altoona, Pa.
Veterans Home
Windber Hospice
Women’s Help Center, Johnstown
Y.E.S. Youth Agency (Community Action), Altoona, Pa.