How do we get social work interns paid? In this episode, we chatted with Jess Riley, BSW, and Jacqueline Guan from Payment for Placements (P4P), a grassroots movement fighting to make paid internships the norm for social work students. Jess and Jacqueline share their organizing journeys, the realities of advocating for paid placements, and the larger impact this issue has on equity and access in our profession. We dig into how they've built momentum on their campuses, what strategies have worked to shift institutional mindsets, and how social workers everywhere can support this cause.

Takeaways from this episode

• How field funds and legislation are being used as creative solutions to support interns
• The challenges of building relationships with underfunded agencies and shifting long-standing norms
• Why collaboration with faculty, admin, and NASW is key to creating systemic change
• How chapters can build momentum through petitions, protests, and policy work
• How a culture of underpayment starts with unpaid internships and how we push back

Mentioned resources & transcript

• Check out the affiliated blog post for the full list of resources mentioned in this episode and the unedited transcript. 

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