Teaching From the Heart

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Keywords:

foster care, social welfare, policy practice, empathy

Abstract

Most social work instructors come to teaching with a wealth of practice experience. This experience allows us to actually teach what we know, using our experiences in the field to provide a more colorful illustration for our students. This essay describes the profound effect my experience as a foster parent has had on not only my teaching, but also my relationship with the students at my regional comprehensive university in the southeast United States. Using specific examples from my experience with children placed in my home, this paper discusses how my teaching about social welfare policy and empathy has been changed.

Author Biography

Stephanie Saulnier, Eastern Kentucky University

Stephanie Saulnier, MSW, CSW is Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Social Work, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, KY (859-622-8467, stephanie.saulnier@eku.edu).

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Published

2025-12-28

How to Cite

Saulnier, S. (2025). Teaching From the Heart. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 31(4), 71–79. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/2123

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