Abstract
This two-year study examined whether an experiential learning course (N = 3) can effectively train Bachelor of Social Work students (N = 61) to provide substance misuse prevention services and make a quantifiable impact on their campus and surrounding community. The results showed that the course effectively trained students to engage in prevention activities with a 97% cumulative class average and an 80% pass rate for engaged students on an internationally accredited prevention exam. The course also produced several significant outputs such as collecting 7.6 tons of garbage from the local community, distributing public health materials to over 7,000 students, and saving a community member’s life through the administration of Naloxone for an overdose. Overall, implications from the study suggest that social work academic programs can utilize experiential learning to effectively train students to engage in substance misuse prevention while also producing significant and measurable outcomes for local communities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 304-312 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Funding
Students participated in a wide range of ELC projects relevant to local campus and community needs. These activities ranged from creating and distributing public health social marketing materials around the university and running campus late night events, to distributing Narcan at college bars and hosting campus and community drug take-back days. The selection of activities was influenced each semester by class size, course schedules, student schedules, and instructor availability. Finally, the ELC was funded through the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addictions and through the Ball State Immersive Learning Program. This funding allowed student members to purchase coalition supplies such as trash tongs for community clean-ups, food and drink supplies for public events, inflatable costumes and disc jockey equipment for social marketing efforts, and coalition branding materials such as t-shirts and hats. This study was funded by Ball State University Provost’s Immersive Learning Grant # 18772511 And the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration # 20-0527. The work was supported by the Ball State University [18772511]; Indiana Family and Social Services Administration [20-0527]. This study was funded by Ball State University Provost’s Immersive Learning Grant # 18772511 And the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration # 20-0527.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Ball State Immersive Learning Program | |
| Ball State University Provost’s Immersive Learning | 18772511, 20-0527 |
| Ball State University | |
| Indiana Family and Social Services Administration |
Keywords
- Addiction
- education
- experiential learning
- immersive learning
- prevention
- social work
- substance misuse
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Rehabilitation
