Vision and Scope of Spitzer Department of Social Work
The Spitzer Department of Social Work has, since its inception in 1982, expressed its dual commitment to training social workers of the highest professional standard, and to community involvement with the diverse population groups of the Negev region. Thus, in addition to the under-graduate and post-graduate training programs, the Department has initiated a variety of programs of advanced and specialized training and enrichment for social workers coping in the field with problems unique to the region and also conducts research which enables professionals in the field to improve the services they provide to their clients.
The undergraduate training program is a three-year one at the end of which students graduate with a BA in Social Work. The training combines academic with practical fieldwork studies. The academic and theoretical courses are given within the framework of the Department whilst the fieldwork is conducted in 50 social welfare services in the Negev. In their first year students learn in the field for one day a week, in the second year this placement is for two days a week and by the third year they spend three days a week in the field. This enables them to study the profession whilst performing social work functions under supervision. The first cohort of students graduated in 1985, and since then 19 cohorts have graduated. In addition to its professional training courses, the Department also offers social welfare courses in the general studies track of the University. Students who study at the Sapir Regional College for their first two years may then transfer to the Ben-Gurion University campus to complete their final year.
In 1995 the Council for Higher Education gave permission for the Department to inaugurate a post-graduate MA program. The first MA students registered in 1996. This Program aims to train skilled social workers who will provide in their turn innovative and quality services to the residents of the Negev and who will be able to apply, develop and provide research and evaluation. In addition to the general MA track with its specializations in clinical, family and group work, the Department also offers a post-graduate course in expressive arts therapies to social workers working with multi-cultural populations. The Department accepted its first internal PhD students in 1998 and now has 20 Doctoral candidates supervised by members of the Department.
The Spitzer Department is active in promoting and encouraging a wide variety of special projects, which serve a far-reaching range of residents of the South. Amongst these are the Beer-Sova restaurant for the needy; the Eye-health project serving mainly the Ethiopian population; drug-prevention courses and research; women's health promotion and prevention programs and a transcription service for researchers in collaboration with disabled persons. Just a few of the special courses offered are professional re-training programs for new immigrants and Bedouin with academic backgrounds in other fields; and courses in group leadership, courses for directors of project for pre-school children in the Arab sector; pre-academic enrichment course for young Bedouin women who want to study social work; courses for probation officers and welfare officials in Youth Laws.
The Department is named after Jack and Charlotte Spitzer who have responded to the needs of the people of the Negev through the Department in many generous ways.