SW8152
Download as PDF
SW 8152 - Social Work Practice Methods: Families and Groups (3 Cr.) Online may be available
Course description
The purpose of this course is to prepare students for beginning social work practice with families and groups with a focus on engagement and assessment. The course is designed to develop conceptual understanding and skills in social work practice while working with families and groups. The course employs several orienting perspectives to aid the students’ understanding of the profession, its values, its knowledge base, and its skills. Orienting frameworks that govern this course include ecological and problem-solving models as well as strengths-based, culturally-humble, anti-oppressive, trauma-informed, and evidence-informed approaches to social work practice.
After completing the SW 8151 Social Work Practice Methods: Individuals and Systems, this course builds on the ecological-systems theoretical framework and focuses on the micro/mezzo-processes of families and groups within their ecological context of unique sociopolitical, economic, and institutional influences. It draws upon the knowledge, values, and skills in assessment, interviewing, and initial contracting.
The first half of this course focuses on family-centered social work practice, and the second half of the course focuses on the group as a unit for social work practice. Social Workers practice with families and groups in a wide range of settings, including health care, child welfare, mental health, gerontology, schools, rehabilitation, and criminal justice. The principles, approaches, models, and skills learned in this course are applicable to practice in a variety of public and private agency settings.
This course emphasizes the integrated approach with the cultural and structural diversity of families, the family as an intergenerational system, and the resiliency and contextual behavior of family members. Family-centered practice stresses situational context and is therefore consistent with a person-in-environment perspective. Students learn relationship-building skills that equip them to conduct interviews, manage family membership dynamics, build rapport, and enhance motivation. Students learn how to apply ethical principles, such as facilitating self-determination, in order to pursue equity, social justice, and empowerment for families and groups with knowledge that practice occurs within a context of diversity.
The second half of this course is on direct practice with groups, highlighting the current status and historical background of group practice in social work. Conceptual frameworks for working with groups emphasize an integrated approach. Utilizing group dynamics and resources for mutual aid is elaborated. Diverse models of group work, development processes and sequences, leadership skills, multi-cultural composition, and involuntary membership are discussed.
After completing the SW 8151 Social Work Practice Methods: Individuals and Systems, this course builds on the ecological-systems theoretical framework and focuses on the micro/mezzo-processes of families and groups within their ecological context of unique sociopolitical, economic, and institutional influences. It draws upon the knowledge, values, and skills in assessment, interviewing, and initial contracting.
The first half of this course focuses on family-centered social work practice, and the second half of the course focuses on the group as a unit for social work practice. Social Workers practice with families and groups in a wide range of settings, including health care, child welfare, mental health, gerontology, schools, rehabilitation, and criminal justice. The principles, approaches, models, and skills learned in this course are applicable to practice in a variety of public and private agency settings.
This course emphasizes the integrated approach with the cultural and structural diversity of families, the family as an intergenerational system, and the resiliency and contextual behavior of family members. Family-centered practice stresses situational context and is therefore consistent with a person-in-environment perspective. Students learn relationship-building skills that equip them to conduct interviews, manage family membership dynamics, build rapport, and enhance motivation. Students learn how to apply ethical principles, such as facilitating self-determination, in order to pursue equity, social justice, and empowerment for families and groups with knowledge that practice occurs within a context of diversity.
The second half of this course is on direct practice with groups, highlighting the current status and historical background of group practice in social work. Conceptual frameworks for working with groups emphasize an integrated approach. Utilizing group dynamics and resources for mutual aid is elaborated. Diverse models of group work, development processes and sequences, leadership skills, multi-cultural composition, and involuntary membership are discussed.
Minimum credits
3
Maximum credits
3
Is this course repeatable?
No
Grading basis
AFV - A-F or Audit
Lecture
Requirements
013790
Fulfills the writing intensive requirement?
No
Typically offered term(s)
Every Spring