SocW 310 Social Welfare Practice 1

Instructors for Spring 2008:

• Steve Wilson*

Course Description

This course begins a three-quarter practice sequence intended to introduce students to beginning knowledge, values and skills of social work practice from a generalist perspective and provide a foundation for subsequent practice courses and the practicum experience. Overall course content includes: introduction to roles, tasks, and functions of the generalist practitioner, knowledge and value bases of practice, problem-solving process employing various methods and strategies of intervention. Practice content also includes approaches and skills for practice with clients from differing social, cultural, racial, religious, spiritual and class backgrounds and with systems of all sizes.

Format: Class will meet once weekly and will consist of short lectures, small group discussion, simulations and role plays. The nature of the subject matter and the style of instruction requires active listening and participation through informed contribution to discussion.

Objectives

By the end of this three quarter course sequence, students are expected to be able to:

1. Define the generalist perspective in social work practice.
2. Understand and apply the value base and ethics of social work practice.
3. Understand the "ecological", "strengths", and "empowerment" perspectives in social work practice and research.
4. Understand the varied knowledge base (theory, research, practice wisdom) that informs generalist practice.
5. Identify the various roles (e.g., advocate, enabler, broker, advocate, educator and mediator) assumed by social workers at multiple levels of practice.
6. Demonstrate key skills in effective communication.
7. Understand the meaning of "use of the professional self" in generalist practice.
8. Identify the steps in the problem-solving process as illustrated through case material and be able to understand how to operationalize them at the micro-mezzo, and macro levels of practice.
9. Demonstrate understanding of cultural and human diversity issues and their implications for generalist practice.
10. Understand the sequential process of social work practice viewed from four perspectives: major objectives key worker tasks/skills client perspectives resources
11. Understand the potential of research as an important source of knowledge for practice, as well as a tool for evaluating its effectiveness. Underlying these specific objectives is the general goal of introducing students to the excitement of contemporary social work practice with an eye toward future career development. Winter and Spring term will continue these themes with a greater emphasis on the knowledge and skills involved in group, organizational and community level social work practice.

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