Contacting Fieldwork Sites and Fieldwork Interviews
The AFWC and CEPSA are responsible for establishing relationships with fieldwork sites and developing the program’s fieldwork educators. In keeping with the program’s philosophy that fieldwork education is an extension of the academic program, efforts will be directed at developing a network of fieldwork facilities and fieldwork educators committed to working with this program to provide quality professional education.
Contacting Fieldwork Sites
Students are reminded not to contact fieldwork education facilities, including those with existing contracts, until they have been officially assigned and authorized to do so by the AFWC or CEPSA. Unauthorized contact prior to assignment could disrupt the placement process. If you have site-specific questions during the Level II exploration process, the IHP fieldwork team is available to assist you. This authorization will be granted once the assignment process for the fieldwork experience is complete and the fieldwork sites have been officially notified of the students’ names by the academic program. After being authorized, students must contact the site as instructed to confirm the timing and logistics of the placement.
New Site Development
To meet the needs of students, it is possible to develop new fieldwork sites under a limited set of circumstances.
If you're interested in discussing the possibility of new site development, please schedule a meeting with either the AFWC or CEPSA. If the IHP fieldwork team decides to pursue a contract with the new site, they will reach out directly the site. Students should not reach out to the site unless instructed otherwise by AFWC or CEPSA.
Students who initiate new site development will be obligated to proceed with fieldwork placement arrangements once the AFWC or CEPSA have initiated communication with the fieldwork facility and the contract affiliation process is underway.
Once the contract negotiation business has been initiated, all formal communication occurs directly between the IHP and the prospective fieldwork site. Students should not expect to be included in this legal business communication and negotiation.
Fieldwork Interviews
Many fieldwork facilities require a pre-placement interview to ensure that students understand the fieldwork expectations and the type of experience offered. For most circumstances, this interview is completed after the student has been assigned to the fieldwork site.
Increasingly, across the US, some fieldwork sites may require an interview to consider the student as a candidate for future placement. The interview serves to determine if proceeding with the placement is mutually acceptable and to confirm the fieldwork arrangements.
The interview may or may not be competitive in making a determination about selecting students for placement. The general purpose of the interview is for students and the fieldwork facility to clarify expectations, discuss qualifications, and explore the ‘match’. Sites have the right to not accept a student based on the interview. Typically, the fieldwork site coordinator notifies the AFWC/ CEPSA of their intention to accept or decline the student via email or by phone contact.
Likewise, should a student identify significant concerns about proceeding with the fieldwork placement based on the interview, students may submit a formal petition to the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator (AFWC) to consider a request to change the Level II fieldwork assignment.
Fieldwork Cancellations
Clinical sites retain the right to cancel a reservation for any reason. This may include changes in staffing, resource availability, or unforeseen circumstances that impact the site’s ability to provide an appropriate learning environment. If a cancellation is made before assignments the site will be removed from the monthly posting.
In the event of a cancellation after the student is assigned the IHP Fieldwork Team will then communicate this change to the affected student(s) promptly. The IHP Fieldwork Team will collaborate with our clinical partners to identify and secure a replacement site that meets the student's educational needs.
Every effort will be made to find a suitable alternative that aligns with the student’s placement preferences. However, flexibility may be required in terms of location and setting.
The IHP Fieldwork Team is committed to ensuring that each student completes their required fieldwork experience. We understand the significance of these placements in the students' educational journey and will diligently work to mitigate the impact of any cancellations.