Club staff members with Carrie Booker, MSW, Executive Director and Field Instructor

The BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF POPLAR BLUFF is an after-school program for school-aged youth, ages 5-18, in Poplar Bluff and the surrounding community.  We currently operate three sites, Elementary Unit (grades K-4), 5th & 6th Grade Center and Teen Center.  We have a variety of programs we offer in six core areas:  Health & Life Skills, Career & Education, Sports, Fitness & Recreation, Character & Leadership Development, The Arts, and Technology.  Included in these areas are such programs as:  Smart Moves (Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco resistance); Power Hour (homework & tutoring), Keystone/Torch Clubs (leadership), and NetSmartz (internet safety) and many more.
 
THE FIELD EXPERIENCE FOR THE BSW CANDIDATE:  BSW students have the opportunity to help develop any of these six core areas or branch out to offer new options to youth and their families.  You may know of or have created your own programs such as a bullying program or other risk reduction course that we could mend and mold to fit a variety of ages.  Family and community outreach is an area that we are greatly interested in developing.  A BSW student may take the role of a community coordinator and focus on developing relationships with parents and other community agencies.  The opportunities for a BSW student at the Boys & Girls Club of Poplar Bluff could almost be whatever your interest area and age group may be and we can focus on developing programs in that area.

WHAT STUDENT’S SAY:  “My [field education] site has been wonderful for me.  The Boys and Girls Club has given me the opportunity to learn a lot about myself and my abilities.  It is a place that not only gives you the experience of working with youth, it also offers the opportunity to expand on [one’s] ability to work on the macro level.  This is an area that I have had some reservations about, but after what I have learned at Boys and Girls Club I am beginning to believe in myself more.  My field supervisor has been very instrumental in assisting me in developing these skills.  She has a way of supervising without standing over your shoulder but is there when you  need guidance.  When we discuss my weak areas she is very tactful and informative without making me feel [bad] personally.  This is one thing I really admire about her skill as a supervisor and director.  It is my belief that because of her style of supervising the staff is very cooperative with each other and willing to step in and make sure everything is successful for the children.  Overall I would recommend this site for anyone who has interest in working with youth on a mezzo- and macro-level.  As I stated before, this experience has given me the opportunity to learn more about myself as well as enhance areas of social work skills that will make me a more effective social worker for my community.”

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"My overall experience at the Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff was quite fun.  Although it seemed to get off to a slow start, the whole experience was very rewarding.  I have found that working with the children takes much time, patience and energy; however, I received much more out of this experience than I ever expected. 

The joy that I have gotten out of working with the children cannot be put into words.  The ability to empower such an influential part of the future is truly gratifying.  However, I did not anticipate the amount of time that it would take for the kids to trust me. Once trust was built, the kids were eager to cooperate and do things together.

Working between the three different facilities made it hard to create bonds with a variety of club members.  Because I spent most of my time at the 5th and 6th grade center and Teen Center, I formed many relationships with these members. 

I find it very hard to terminate my services at this time because of the bonds that I have formed with all of the members. I have learned so much about myself through this experience and I will continue to look back upon this experience as enjoyable and enriching.”

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