Preparing students for ADEI praxis: a case study of a practicum preparatory lab

Social work curricula have evolved to include anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) as a critical lens for working with community members across the micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice. However, the research to support best practices for teaching ADEI praxis is minimal. Consequently, the unclear guidance translates into students being unprepared for anti-racism praxis in their practicum settings, which may result in them being harmed, as well as being the perpetrators of harm. To address this gap, one school of social work developed a pre-practicum lab for generalist practice in its Master of Social Work program. In this Lab, students learn the cornerstones of reflection, self-awareness, self-regulation and how to engage within a practicum environment using an ADEI lens. This paper describes the state of ADEI in social work education, the development, and design of the Lab in response to the situation, its implementation, and implications for social work education.