Integrating social work and public health education: a clinical model

In Florida, the need for clinically oriented social workers with expertise in planning and evaluating maternal and child health programs has led to the establishment of a joint master of social work and master of public health degree program. This program has a clinical social work concentration combined with a public health concentration in maternal and child health content, administration, and research design. The philosophy and development of the program, the course content and degree requirements, the field placement content, issues regarding student acceptance and advisement, faculty appointments, and program directions and goals are discussed. Descriptions of both the social work and public health programs that operate the joint-degree curriculum and the differing perspectives are outlined as well as skills that students obtained through their participation in the program.