Letter from the Director of Field Education
 Letter of Instruction for Wisconsin Background Information Disclosure Form
 Wisconsin Background Information Disclosure Form
State Contacts for Out-of-State Criminal History
Student Field Unit Preference Form
Important Dates/Information for Field Students
Field Education Handbook
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To: Students Admitted to the School of Social Work
From: Field Education Office
Date: January, 2008
READ CAREFULLY VERY IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS and State background checks information
The State of Wisconsin, per the Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check Law, requires background checks of persons with responsibility for the care, safety, and security of children, patients, clients, and vulnerable adults under programs regulated, licensed, certified by, or registered with The Department of Health and Family Services. The Wisconsin Caregiver Background Check Law prohibits an entity (agency, etc.) from employing or contracting with any individual who has, or is expected to have, access to clients or patients, if that individual has been convicted of, or has pending charges for: 1) Crimes that serve as a permanent bar from employment in the care giving industry, 2) Crimes that the employer determines are substantially related to the care of clients served by the agency. NOTE: Information about the Caregiver Background Checks may be found at the Department of Health and Family Services website: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/caregiver/.
All students admitted to the School of Social Work must submit a State of Wisconsin Background Information Disclosure Form to the School of Social Work, granting the School permission to conduct the Wisconsin background check. The form and additional information can be obtained at this link: http://www.dhfs.state.wi.us/caregiver/. Please return the completed form with a check for $7.50 made out to: School of Social Work. The fee covers charges assessed by the State of Wisconsin for conducting the background check. Submit this as soon as possible, and no later than Friday, April 25, 2008, to the School directly (room 318) or mail to the Field Education Office, UW-Madison School of Social Work, 1350 University Avenue, Madison WI 53706. Don’t hesitate to contact the Field Office at (608) 263-4813 if you have any questions.
If you resided out-of-state for more than three months during the past three years, you are responsible for obtaining and supplying your out-of-state criminal background check records prior to starting your field placement. States use different terms, but the equivalent of a criminal history (arrests, convictions, and incarcerations) is what we require, so "criminal history" is the term you should use with out-of-state contacts. Contact information for states other than Wisconsin is available at: http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/sclist.asp. DO NOT have the other state send this information directly to the School of Social Work Field Office. Request they send it to you directly, and you can send it directly to the Field Office. The due date for out-of-state background checks is May 16, 2008. Contact the field office if you are unable to submit this by the due date.
If for some reason you are unable to obtain your out-of-state background check(s) records, you will need to provide a letter to the Field Office explaining this and provide documentation of your efforts. If the out-of-state background check is being submitted separately from the Wisconsin Background Disclosure, this should be clearly noted with an estimated arrival date and a reason for the delay. You should supply all out-of-state records directly to the Field Office. You may also contact the Field Office if you have any additional questions at (608) 263-4813 or bgarmstrong@wisc.edu.
International Students and returning Peace Corps Volunteers: Background checks are not required if you have arrived within the last three months from countries outside of the U.S.A.
When you are placed in an agency as part of your Field Education requirements, we will provide the agency with a letter indicating you have passed the background check. If your background check reveals information that may affect your ability to be placed in an agency (or work as a social worker after graduation), either the Field Office or your Field Faculty will contact you to discuss in detail the options available. Please be assured that the School handles all information it receives sensitively and confidentially.
IF FOR ANY REASON YOU ARE UNABLE TO SUBMIT THIS REQUIRED FIELD PLACEMENT PAPERWORK BY THE DUE DATE, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACTING THE FIELD OFFICE PRIOR TO THE DUE DATE.
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School of Social Work | 1350 University Avenue | Madison, WI 53706 | (608) 263-3660 Directions to School of Social Work Admin
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