SOCIAL WORK 784: Social Work Practice IV: Family Practice in a Community Context
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Course Description
This course is the second of two concentration practice courses and emphasizes social work practice with families. Grounded in the Community Based Family Practice (CBFP) concentration, practice with families is contextualized within community recognizing the centrality of support systems. Social work practice concepts are taught from a theory base building from the ecological/systems, empowerment, social learning theory, and social construction theories. Practice models, including strength based, cognitive behavioral, role, anti-oppression, and risk and resilience, provide a frame. The knowledge and skills for models of practice with diverse families and populations at risk are critically applied. Practice application in small towns and rural communities is highlighted.
Practice models will be assessed through a critical multicultural lens. A strong emphasis on evaluating the impact of oppression and unequal access to resources. Institutional racism, sexism, homophobia/heterosexism, poverty, alienation, and other oppressive conditions play a role in shaping the lives of clients.
Educational Objectives
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1.critically assess the resources and needs of families within the CBFP frame;
2.apply a diverse range of family practice models within the social work context, including narrative practice, strength based practice, family preservation, solution focused, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems models;
3.use a knowledge of social support support systems (groups, organizations, local resources) to strengthen families and the resources available to families;
4.synthesize and apply models of practice with diverse families, recognizing the support needs of populations at risk;
5.recognize and utilize the resources available in the community, particularly rural communities and small towns, to strengthen families;
6.utilize social work models to evaluate own practice;
7.apply models of direct social work practice with families which are congruent with the NASW Code of Ethics and the principles of social and economic justice.