Teaching Social Work Students about Environmental Justice through Innovative Social Action Initiative

Overview: Every year, (University Name)'s social work curriculum includes annual initiatives designed to build students' capacity to create a just society. This year's initiative has the theme of environmental justice, and virtual activities are designed to mobilize students to work together to craft and implement social action projects.Proposal text:

Background:
Social workers contribute their voices to those of their clients, share information for a more informed and just society, and raise awareness of injustices and the urgent need for change. Taking part in social action is a critical social work skill; social workers acquire these skills by active participation in initiatives that purposefully promote social justice. The (University Name) School of Social Work curriculum includes a yearly, school-wide social action project focused on one pressing social justice theme. All (University Name) social work undergraduate and graduate students participate in required social action learning activities during each academic year in which they are taking field courses. Students collaborate in small student-led group projects. This year's social action theme is environmental justice.

Methods:
In 2019, (University Name) developed the annual group project educational model to facilitate impactful and far-reaching experiences that cultivate student empowerment and active learning through virtual collaboration and instructional support. First, students select their top choices from lists of topics and activities. Students are then assigned to small groups with similar interests. Groups then use technology-enhanced collaboration to independently plan and complete small projects where a topic is addressed through the chosen social action method, with efforts credited as hours for field courses. Faculty, staff, and community partners record informational videos and provide other materials to educate students about the topics and activities. Classroom instructors are provided with a vetted compendium of optional learning activities and assignments. Students are encouraged to discuss social action activities and learning with field instructors and liaisons. Students also write a short reflection to process their experiences. The IRB reviewed and granted exempt status to this comprehensive evaluation model that includes a voluntary pre- and post-student self-assessment of social action interests and skills, as well as intentions and comfort with environmental justice work.

Results:
A total of 430 students enrolled in the social action initiative in 2022, of which 243 (57%) completed the voluntary self-assessment. The students were organized into 61 groups addressing environmental justice topics and social action formats. Using guest expert presentations, video lessons, articles, and other resources, students learn about specific environmental justice issues and create social action projects that practice advocating alongside diverse groups and calling in key stakeholders.

Conclusion:
Through these experiences, faculty and students learn about the health and mental health impacts of environmental injustice on individuals and communities, the disparate harms to diverse groups of people, and how social work can promote social progress. The School collects stories about students’ experiences and any social action multimedia created by groups. The School collaborates with community partners and university leaders to ensure the visibility of student work and to elevate their voices. Through leveraging student learning experiences to drive real impacts, the social action initiative mobilizes hundreds of students working together to increase awareness, practice change and policy reform, for environmental justice.