Dear Readers,

We are excited to publish the first issue of our newly renamed journal, Applied Learning in Social Work Education (ALSWE). The change marks a new chapter in our journal’s evolution, and reflects our continuing commitment to promoting research and knowledge exchange among social work educators. ALSWE will build on the legacy of Field Educator by continuing to focus on fostering dialogue and disseminating social work research that we hope inspires innovation and change.

We will continue providing a platform for diverse voices, critical research, and reports on advances in practicum learning. We will focus on the most pressing issues facing students and educators, such as paid placements, student well-being, and transformational approaches to student learning. We encourage you to check out ALSWE’s web page for more information about changes to the journal: alswe.simmons.edu

We are mindful of the context in which the new journal’s launch takes place. Social work education is facing historic challenges created by the current administration’s executive orders. These orders have and will have a direct impact on students and the communities social workers serve. As educators and social workers, we must remain strong and take action. NASW encourages us to focus our response strategically on five action areas: supporting threatened populations; contacting lawmakers; calling out hate and bigotry; giving money to groups pushing back; and, practicing self-care. Also, CSWE is providing guidance to schools through its accreditation specialists. ALSWE encourages our contributors and readers to submit reports on your program’s response for publication in the journal’s “Notes and Reports” section. As educators and social workers, we must remain strong and take action grounded in social work values and ethics.

In closing, we would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to our readers, contributors, and reviewers for your continued support. The success of Field Educator has been built on the strength of your contributions, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration under our new name, Applied Learning in Social Work Education.

Suzanne Sankar, MSW

Executive Editor

Applied Learning in Social Work Education