SocW 311
Social Welfare Practice II

Course Description

This course continues a three-quarter practice sequence intended to introduce students to beginning knowledge, values, and skills of social work practice from a generalist perspective and to 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 require active listening and participation through informed contribution to discussion.

Course 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.
    
12. Understand person-environment assessment with specific focus on social network mapping and social support assessment.
    
13. Understand selected aspects of family and group level interactions.

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. Spring term will continue these themes with a greater emphasis on the knowledge and skills involved in organizational and community level social work practice.