The ideal companion for the first field/practicum experience, this text guides students through their placement while reinforcing the link between social work theory and practice. It includes detailed information on the field/practicum experience from start to finish. Topics covered include establishing a professional identity; working safely; making the most of practicum supervision; organizational issues; micro, mezzo, and macro social work practice; social work and the legal system; and terminating effectively from the practicum. To make the material more accessible, the book follows the progress of five students--Ben, Cameron, Corina, Lauren and Rosa--as they move through their own practicum experiences. Their real-life stories help spur discussion while allowing students to apply the knowledge, skills, and/or issues presented in the text. To further stimulate critical thinking and discussion, the text provides discussion questions and practice applications in each unit. Many of the applications were developed in conjunction with agency-based field instructors.