What was Susan McFarland’s role in helping Albert deal with this client’s situation and with his questions and concerns about it? What was the role of the field faculty, including Dr. Soto, the field director from the university?

Question

Albert Mendoza was a baccalaureate social work intern at Crime Victims Center, an agency serving crime victims. His client, Carlos Hernandez, was a Mexican immigrant who sought both financial assistance for medical care and counseling for his family after they were assaulted in their home. Carlos was unable to communicate in English, and Albert had difficulty with his limited Spanish language proficiency. Albert began to suspect that Carlos was in the country illegally. He worried that he didn’t know the law about services available to illegal immigrants, specifically the Crime Victim’s Compensation funds. The agency did not have another Spanish-speaking worker, and Albert, a new social work intern, had primary responsibility for the case.

Answer 1

The appropriate role of Albert’s supervisor was education for the intern. The supervisor was in a position to teach the student the policy guidelines for service delivery. Additionally, the supervisor would teach Albert advocacy for his client both within the agency and within the social service delivery system.
If the supervisor responds to Albert’s dilemma by saying he should report Carlos to the authorities, or responds by denying services to Carlos and his family, Albert might consult with field faculty, such as a field liaison, or the director with whom he has had conversation about the placement. Field faculty can clarify the role of the intern, the ethical responsibilities of the intern, and the interface between the two.