December 17th, 2024
The University of Alabama School of Social Work (SSW) proudly announces that Dr. Coy Stout will officially join the school’s Office of Experiential Programs team as the Washington DC Program Faculty Liaison on January 3, 2025. In this pivotal role, Dr. Stout will oversee the School of Social Work’s esteemed Washington DC Practicum Education Program, which offers both Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) students an unparalleled opportunity to complete a semester-long practicum in the nation’s capital.
Dr. Stout will be integral in coordinating and serving as the point of contact for all program activities, including managing experiential and cultural immersion experiences for participating students. Additionally, he will match students with practicum agencies, serve as their supervisor and liaison, and teach practicum integrative seminars. His role also involves recruiting practicum agencies, assisting with program orientation, and contributing to fundraising efforts and program development.
As a former student in our DC program in 1994, Dr. Stout completed his own internship at the Whitman-Walker Clinic. Today, his distinguished thirty-year career in direct and macro practice has focused on finding solutions to improve access to care, prevention, and treatment for individuals with life-threatening conditions.
Of the more than 600 schools of social work in the United States, The University of Alabama’s School of Social Work stands out as the only institution outside the Washington metro area to offer such a unique and competitive program. Students are selected for the program through a rigorous application and interview process, and graduates often go on to build impactful careers in areas such as public policy, public health, direct services, and private practice.
Participants in the Washington DC Practicum Education Program have completed placements in prestigious agencies and organizations, including:
- Office of the Vice President of the United States
- White House Executive Office
- United States House of Representatives
- Child Welfare League of America
- Veterans on the Rise
- Foster Care & Adoption Caucus
- Future Caucus of America
- Congressional Coalition for Adoption Institute
- Washington Leadership Program
Students in the program also benefit from rich cultural and professional immersion experiences, including:
- Tours of the White House and Capitol Building
- National Museum of African American History and Culture visits, featuring discussions with curators like Lonnie Bunch
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum visits, including survivor panel discussions
- Networking events with Washington DC alumni
- Leadership and professional development sessions
Dr. Stout’s extensive network within the Washington DC community (including connections with key organizations, leaders, and alums) positions him to create even more meaningful opportunities for our students. His leadership will further solidify the program’s reputation as a national model for experiential learning in social work education.
With the addition of our new Washington DC Program Faculty Liaison, Dr. Coy Stout, the School of Social Work and it’s DC Programs Team aims to expand its footprint in Washington, DC, and continue its mission of developing social work professionals who create legendary change.