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Faculty Perspectives: Faculty advising doesn't end with graduation

By Betsey Norgard

Tony Bibus, associate professor of social work and director of the bachelor of social work program, understands how difficult it can be for a social worker in the field to connect with a licensed supervisor with whom they must work if seeking licensure. So, in addition to his teaching and advising current students, he volunteers his time to an Augsburg alum who needs a licensed clinical supervisor.

For nearly three years, Bibus and Iris Burlock, a 1994 master of social work graduate, have met regularly in a formalized supervisory relationship. Burlock is a child service worker for Hennepin County who is voluntarily seeking licensure as a social worker.

Burlock currently carries 31 cases (higher than the prescribed caseload of 20-25) of children with severe family problems - abuse, neglect, egregious harm, etc. Her role is to provide for the spiritual, educational, medical and other needs of the child in the best fashion. In almost all cases, this involves locating a new, permanent home, while often still trying to maintain ties with the biological family. She works in collaboration with other county service agencies and the courts.

While Burlock has an administrative and clinical supervisor in her county agency, Bibus offers a perspective that is "outside the agency box." He is an adviser with whom Burlock can discuss issues that arise in her cases.

"Our supervision tends to focus on some of the dilemmas that a practitioner can face in an agency setting, where there are rules and regulations - yet it's really important to be able to think through, 'How can we carry out our code of ethics within agency capacities for children and families?'" asks Bibus, "and also remain within the protocol, as prescribed by the county," adds Burlock.

In addition to the specifics of certain cases, their discussion also includes how larger ethical issues transfer to other cases. They constantly exchange interesting articles, and update each other on new training and changes to the law. The supervision includes a set of objectives and goals that the two update annually.

Bibus finds that his supervisory relationships are mutually beneficial and help to keep his social work curriculum tied to the field. "It's so important for us as faculty members to keep fairly formal connections with our alums and other practitioners in the field," he says. For example, during Interim, when Bibus taught a course in child welfare and the law, he drew on Burlock's experience and resources at Hennepin County.

Keeping in touch with alums also expands the network of Augsburg graduates in the field who can provide supervision and practicum or field work experience to current students.

Bibus was recently appointed by Gov. Jesse Ventura to a four-year term on the Minnesota Board of Social Work, which oversees licensure of social workers and regulates their professional conduct.

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