Social Work Field Education Using a Student-Centric Digital Platform

In an effort to adapt to a new, safe, socially-distant, and remote reality, more and more behavioral health services are being delivered via telehealth. There are significant benefits to providing e-health that are highly aligned with social work’s mission to reduce inequities and increase evidence-based mental health resources. With a focus on project-based and work-integrated learning, BUSSW has partnered with Eleos Health to deploy software that leverages human-centered AI to assist in training students in this cutting edge and critical new modality. This collaboration with Eleos Health and its HIPPA-client, student-centric, behavioral health digital platform brings together academics, measurement and evidence-based training in one holistic solution. Powered by therapy-specific voice analysis and artificial intelligence, the platform produces actionable clinical insights and also auto generates administrative and student assessment reports.

This pilot will involve approximately 20% of BUSSW students across all platforms (Charles River Campus, Off Campus and Online Program) both locally and nationally. These students will represent a diverse group of social work graduate students who are in  clinical and macro majors, and are enrolled in field education. Students will engage in this software through completing role play assignments that are required for MSW courses. In addition to assisting with building students’ competence in the nine competencies required by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), this software will provide analytical assessment data for the school in  curricula strengths and practice challenges.

Statement from the Assistant Dean:

“The collaboration and support received from DL&I to bring this partnership to fruition has been an incredible journey. The work of Eleos is groundbreaking and requires a visionary perspective to see all of the capabilities this software can bring to our Master Level Social Work Program and many other programs university-wide. The team at DL&I and the BUSSW field education team understood the opportunity this vision presented and are  thrilled to move forward in partnership with our faculty on implementation. We are excited about the alternative learning opportunity this opens up for many of our students to further master social work frameworks and philosophies.” - Denita Johnson, BUSSW- Assistant Dean for Field Education

In the News:

• BUSSW Field Ed Team Adopts AI-Assisted Telehealth Training in Pilot Project

Project Team & Partners

Denita Johnson, LMSW

Project Team denita@bu.edu

-- Please select a member -- Denita Johnson, LMSW, Project Team Terese Romano, LICSW, Project Team Office of Distance Education, BU Metropolitan College, Partner Emily Helter, Partner Eleos Health, Partner

• Denita Johnson, LMSW Project Team
• Terese Romano, LICSW Project Team
• Office of Distance Education, BU Metropolitan College Partner
• Emily Helter Partner
• Eleos Health Partner

Denita Johnson, LMSW, Assistant Dean for Field Education at BU School of Social Work, has an extensive career spanning over 20 years in practice, leadership, and management in the social work profession. Denita was the Assistant Director for Field Education Charles River and Off-Campus Programs,…Read More

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Denita Johnson, LMSW

Project Team denita@bu.edu

Denita Johnson, LMSW, Assistant Dean for Field Education at BU School of Social Work, has an extensive career spanning over 20 years in practice, leadership, and management in the social work profession. Denita was the Assistant Director for Field Education Charles River and Off-Campus Programs, the Director of the Worcester Off Campus Program, and a field education coordinator for Boston University School of Social Work. Denita joined BUSSW through the BU/Wheelock Merger, in which she was the Director of Field Education, MSW and BSW programs at Wheelock College-School of Social Work. Prior to Denita’ s work in field education, she worked for the University of MS-Child Welfare Training Academy and was the Director of Clinical Training for the MS Department of Child and Family Services. Denita has always had a vision of innovation, quality, and service, and displays this through her dedication and commitment to continually seeking opportunities to motivate individuals and enhance programs.