About the Practicum
Gateway to Hope offers two MSW practicum tracks designed to provide students with meaningful experience in both direct service and community-based social work.
Both tracks provide opportunities to learn about breast healthcare, health equity, social determinants of health, community engagement, patient navigation, resource coordination, and nonprofit program operations.
Students will receive training, supervision, and opportunities to work alongside experienced social workers and other members of the Gateway to Hope team.
Students may indicate their preferred track during the interview process. Placement will be based on student interests, learning goals, organizational needs, and available opportunities.
Track 1: Community Engagement & Outreach
Primary Focus
This track is designed for students who are interested in community engagement, outreach, health education, partnership development, and health equity, while still gaining experience working directly with patients.
Students in this track will spend the majority of their practicum supporting Gateway to Hope’s community-facing work. This may include developing relationships with healthcare providers and community organizations, participating in outreach events, supporting educational activities, and helping connect people to breast healthcare resources.
Potential Responsibilities
Community Outreach & Engagement
- Support outreach efforts with healthcare providers, community organizations, schools, faith-based organizations, and other community partners.
- Help identify communities and organizations that may benefit from Gateway to Hope services.
- Participate in health fairs, community events, resource fairs, tabling events, and educational presentations.
- Represent Gateway to Hope professionally at community events and build awareness of available services.
- Assist with planning and coordinating community outreach activities.
- Help develop outreach materials, presentations, and educational resources.
- Support efforts to increase awareness of breast cancer screening, treatment support, and available community resources.
Community Partnerships
- Research potential community partners and referral sources.
- Help maintain information about community organizations and referral partners.
- Participate in community coalition meetings and professional networking opportunities.
- Observe and support relationship-building with healthcare and community partners.
- Help identify gaps in available services and resources.
Patient-Facing Experience
- Assist with patient outreach and follow-up under supervision.
- Support patients in identifying community resources and services.
- Participate in patient navigation activities appropriate to the student’s level of training.
- Observe or assist with intake and psychosocial assessments when appropriate.
- Document patient interactions and referrals in Salesforce following training and organizational procedures.
Research & Resource Development
- Research community resources related to transportation, food access, housing, financial assistance, mental health, healthcare, and other social needs.
- Help maintain and update Gateway to Hope’s internal resource guide.
- Identify emerging community resources and opportunities for collaboration.
- Support research related to health equity and barriers to breast healthcare.
Track 2: Patient Services & Navigation
Primary Focus
This track is designed for students who are interested in direct patient services, patient navigation, case management, psychosocial support, and healthcare social work, while also gaining experience representing Gateway to Hope in the community.
Students in this track will spend the majority of their practicum working with patients and supporting patient-centered services. Students will also participate in community-facing activities such as health fairs, resource fairs, tabling events, and outreach activities throughout the practicum.
Potential Responsibilities
Patient Intake & Assessment
- Assist with initial patient intake and assessment under appropriate supervision.
- Gather information about medical, social, financial, emotional, and practical needs.
- Learn how social determinants of health can affect access to breast healthcare.
- Observe and participate in psychosocial assessments based on the student’s experience and learning goals.
- Assist with identifying patient needs and developing appropriate next steps.
Patient Navigation & Case Management Support
- Provide administrative and logistical support to patient navigators and social work staff.
- Assist patients with identifying and accessing community resources.
- Support coordination of services such as transportation, food assistance, financial assistance, housing, healthcare, and mental health resources.
- Conduct appropriate patient follow-up under supervision.
- Help track referrals and follow-up needs.
- Maintain accurate and timely documentation.
Salesforce & Data Management
- Receive training on Salesforce and its use in patient navigation and program operations.
- Assist with documenting patient interactions, referrals, and services.
- Support data entry and quality improvement activities.
- Learn how patient data can be used to evaluate programs and improve services.
Psychosocial Support
- Learn about the emotional and social impact of a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
- Observe or support appropriate patient-centered conversations under supervision.
- Learn about coping strategies, mental health resources, caregiver needs, grief, and other psychosocial concerns.
- Connect patients with appropriate community and behavioral health resources.
Community Engagement
- Participate in health fairs, resource fairs, community events, and tabling opportunities.
- Represent Gateway to Hope and educate community members about available services.
- Participate in outreach activities with healthcare providers and community organizations.
- Attend community meetings or coalition meetings when appropriate.
Resource Development
- Research resources related to patient needs.
- Help maintain and update Gateway to Hope’s resource guide.
- Identify new community resources that may benefit patients.
Learning Opportunities for Both Tracks
- Learn about healthcare social work and patient navigation.
- Develop skills related to health equity and social determinants of health.
- Gain experience working with individuals affected by breast cancer.
- Learn how nonprofit organizations deliver direct services and engage communities.
- Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings.
- Attend community coalition meetings and professional development opportunities.
- Learn how Salesforce is used to support patient services, program management, and data-informed decision-making.
- Participate in program evaluation and quality improvement activities.
- Develop professional communication and collaboration skills.
- Receive supervision and mentorship from experienced social work professionals.
- Explore the intersection of direct patient services, community engagement, and systems-level change.
Practicum Requirements & Details
Education
Master of Social Work student with a strong interest in healthcare, community engagement, health equity, patient navigation, or social services.
Commitment
Two-semester practicum commitment required.
Location
The practicum is primarily virtual for students outside the St. Louis Metro area. Remote students will participate virtually with support and supervision provided through digital platforms. Students located in the St. Louis Metro area may have access to the Gateway to Hope headquarters in Maplewood, Missouri, as appropriate to their practicum experience.
Community-Based Work
Both tracks may require participation in community events, health fairs, resource fairs, tabling events, meetings, and other activities outside of the student’s primary work setting.
Travel Reimbursement
Gateway to Hope will reimburse eligible travel expenses related to required practicum activities, including approved travel to community events and other organizational activities. Specific reimbursement procedures and mileage requirements will be reviewed during on-boarding.
Technology
A loaner laptop computer will be provided for the duration of the practicum.
Stipend
A financial stipend is available for students in both practicum tracks. Stipend details will be discussed during the interview process.
Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for MSW students who are curious, compassionate, dependable, and interested in learning how social work can improve access to healthcare.
The ideal student will:
- Demonstrate a commitment to serving diverse communities.
- Be interested in health equity and reducing barriers to healthcare.
- Communicate professionally and respectfully with patients, families, colleagues, and community partners.
- Be comfortable learning new technology and documentation systems.
- Demonstrate strong organizational and time-management skills.
- Be willing to learn, receive feedback, and ask questions.
- Respect patient privacy and maintain confidentiality.
- Be comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.
- Have an interest in either direct patient services, community engagement, or both.
Gateway to Hope recognizes that students bring different interests and career goals to their practicum experience. Our two-track model is designed to provide students with meaningful learning opportunities that align with their professional interests while contributing to our mission of improving access to breast healthcare.
How to Apply
Please send a cover letter and resume/CV to program@gthmo.org.
In your cover letter, please indicate:
- Which practicum track interests you most:
- Track 1: Community Engagement & Outreach
- Track 2: Patient Services & Navigation
- Why you are interested in completing your practicum with Gateway to Hope.
- What you hope to learn during your practicum experience.
- Any relevant experience in healthcare, community engagement, advocacy, social services, or patient support.