SWK 3850 Social Work Practice II, Fall 2007

Professor:Stephen M. Marson, Ph.D., ACSW
Office: D. F. Lowry 322;  Phone: 521-6475 Inclement weather: (910) 521-6888
Office Hours: Monday By Appointment; Tuesday 4:00; Wednesday By Appointment; Thursday 1:30; Friday 8:00--11:00
Course Prerequisite: SWK 2000 and 3800
Course Description: A continuation of SWK 3800.  In order to enroll in this course, a student must have an acceptance letter from the chair of the department.
 
 

Table of Content
Assignments Course Outline NC Child Welfare Collaborative 
Attendance Policy Final Exam Plagiarism
Blackboard Usage (REQUIRED) Giving and Taking Portfolio Assignment
Bibliography Grades Program Objectives
Cell Phone Policy Late Assignments Reaction Papers
Child Welfare Scholars Required Text
Course Objectives Students with Disabilities

Program Objectives

  1. Apply critical thinking skills within the context of professional social work practice.
  2. Understand the value base of the profession and its ethical standards and principles, and practice accordingly.
  3. Practice without discrimination and with respect, knowledge, and skills related to clients’ age, class, color, culture, disability, ethnicity, family structure, gender, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation.
  4. Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and discrimination and the strategies of change that advance social and economic justice.
  5. Understand and interpret the history of the social work profession and its contemporary structures and issues.
  6. Apply the knowledge and skills of generalist social work to practice with systems of all sizes.
  7. Use theoretical frameworks supported by empirical evidence to understand individual development and behavior across the life span and the interactions among individuals and between individuals and families, groups, organizations, and communities.
  8. Analyze, formulate, and influence social policies.
  9. Evaluate research studies and apply findings to practice, and, under supervision, to evaluate their own practice interventions and those of other relevant systems.
  10. Use communication skills differentially with a variety of client populations, colleagues, and members of the community.
  11. Use supervision and consultation appropriate to social work practice.
  12. Function within the structure of organizations and service delivery systems, and under supervision, seek necessary organizational change.
  13. Use social work skills, values and knowledge within the context of our rural environment
Course Objectives  1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
  1. Identify knowledge and theories of groups, organizations and community development to assess interactions among individuals, families and other social systems. [Program Objectives: 1, 6, 7, 11]
  2. Demonstrate skill in using the planned change process at the organization, community, and societal levels. [Program Objectives: 6, 7, 8, 12]
  3. Recognize the role of social workers in empowering oppressed groups and impacting the eradication of oppressive situations and practices within organizations, communities, and society. [Program Objectives: 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13]
  4. Recognize the forms and mechanisms of institutional and structural racism, oppression, and discrimination and their impact on client systems. [Program Objectives: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13]
  5. Analyze social work values and ethical dilemmas as they relate to interventions at the organizational, community, and societal levels. [Program Objectives: 1, 2, 10, 12]
  6. Identify faith-based community values that coincide with or differ from those of the social work profession. [Program Objectives: 2, 12]
  7. Describe the obligations for and measures of accountability that an organization and its staff members have to clients, trustees, funders, regulatory bodies, and other organizations. [Program Objectives: 1, 8, 9, 11, 12]
  8. Describe how client and worker characteristics of age, culture, class, family structure, marital status, ethnicity, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation can interact with organization and community services with the potential of enhancing or impeding social and economic justice. [Program Objectives: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13]
  9. Demonstrate interpersonal skill and the ability to work collaboratively with professionals from other disciplines. [Program Objectives: 11, 12]
  10. Develop communication skills appropriate to client systems, colleagues, and community members. [Program Objectives: 1, 10]
  11. Identify appropriate practice-relevant technology within the context of organizational resources and facilities. [Program Objectives: 1, 8, 9, 11]
  12. Identify the appropriate use of social work roles with macro systems to include advocate, manager, broker, educator and evaluator. [Program Objectives: 6, 7, 8, 10]
  13. Develop an evaluation model for assessing evidence-based best practice within an organization or community. [Program Objectives: 6, 9]
COURSE OUTLINE/CALENDAR
Date of Lecture
Topic
 Course Objectives
Activities & Readings
Outcome Measures
Week 1 Introduction and overview of the course

The CASW Listserv

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Community Needs Assessment Assignment laid out

 

Film: The Radical Hillbilly Part 1

Transcript of film

 

Key Web Sites:
http://acorn.org/
http://www.acosa.org/
http://www.piconetwork.org/
http://www.ifconews.org/
http://www.irco.org/IRCO/

ReadAn Organic Model of Community Practice prior to our next class

Papers:
1) Book Review
2) Community Needs Assessment
Test 1
Week 2
August 28
Overview of generalist practice with organizations and communities.
    Review of generalist practice--definitions and knowledge base
    Values and ethics--personal, professional, and conflicts
    Working effectively within an organizational structure
    Appropriate use of supervision
    Social worker roles
    Critical thinking in social work
    Planned change process
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10

Reading: Chapter 1 in text
 

Film: The Radical Hillbilly Part 2

Transcript of film


Mac Legerton's Lecture

Test 1
Week 3 Using micro skills in the macro environment 
  Verbal/Nonverbal behavior
    Empathy, warmth, and genuineness
    Communication skills
    Assertiveness in the macro environment
    Conflict and conflict resolution
    Working under supervision
1, 2, 10, 12 Reading: Chapter 2 in text Test 1
Week 4 Using group skills for organizational and community change 
    Networking and working with teams
    Planning and conducting meetings
    Using parliamentary procedure
    Managing conflict
 1, 2, 9, 10, 12

Reading: Chapter 3 in text
Test on Blackboard

Read: Finn's article on referral to self help groups (PDF file)

Test 1
Week 5

Understanding organizations
    Organizations, social services, and social agencies
    Organizational theories
    Social agencies as systems
    Viewing organizations from a systems perspective
    The nature of organizations
    The macro context of organizations
    Social Work organizations in national and international contexts
    Methods of management
    Working in bureaucracies
    Total quality management
    Common problems of social service organizations

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12

Readings: Chapter 4 in text 
Training for the Portfolio Project September 18

 

Book Report for The Long Hull due

Around September 20, to be discussed in class

 

Read: Harry Potter And The Half-Crazed Bureaucracy
 

Test 2
Week 6 Decision making for organizational change
Change in organizations
Beginning the change process
  The process of organizational change
    PREPARE
1, 2, 3, 4, 12, Reading: Chapter 5 in text Test 2
Week 7 IMAGINE – How to implement macro intervention: Change agency policy
    The planned change process and organizational change
IMAGINE – A process for organizational change
    Application of IMAGINE to macro intervention 
1, 2, 3, 12, 13 Reading: Chapter 6 in text
Test on Blackboard
Test 2
Week 8 Project Implementation and Program Development
  Initiating and implementing a project
    Program development
    A case example
1, 2, 3, 10, 12 Reading: Chapter 7 in text Test 3
Week 9 Understanding Neighborhoods and Communities 
    Social work roles in neighborhoods and communities
    Defining community and neighborhood
    The community as an ecological and social system
    Additional perspectives on the community
    Community resource systems
    Demographic development of communities
    Social stratification
    Community economic and political systems
    Power in the community
    Neighborhoods 
    Assessing communities and neighborhoods
1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 12, Reading: Chapter 8 in text Test 3
Week 10 Macro Practice in Communities
  Change in communities
    Perspectives on the community
    Beginning the change process
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

Readings: Chapter 9 in text

Slow moving pdf file.
Mitchell, C. M., & Beals, J. (1997).  The structure of problem 
 and positive behavior among American Indian adolescents: Gender and community differences.  American Journal of Community Psychology, 25(3), 257-288. 

Test 3
Week 11Test 3 Evaluating Macro Practice
  Overview of evaluation
    Definition of evaluation
    Purposes of program evaluation
    Key concepts in evaluation
    Problems and barriers in program evaluation
    Kinds of evaluations
    Stages in evaluation
    Ethics and values in evaluation
1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13 Reading: Chapter 10 in text
Test on Blackboard
Test 3
Week 12 Advocacy and Social Action with Populations-at-Risk
Defining advocacy, social action, empowerment, social and economic justice and populations-at-risk
    Populations-at-risk
    Advocacy
    Legislative Advocacy
    Social action
    Empowerment
1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 13 Readings: Chapter 11 in text Test 4
Week 13
 
Ethics and Ethical Dilemmas in Macro Practice
    Professional values and ethics in macro contexts
    NASW Code of Ethics
    Personal values
    Ethical issues confronting agency workers
    Ethical absolutism versus ethical relativism
    Ethical dilemmas
    Addressing an ethical dilemma
    Ranking ethical principles
    Ethical dilemmas in the macro contexts
1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Reading: Chapter 12 in text
 
Test 4
Week 14 Developing and Managing Agency Resources
    Working with the media
    Using technology in the agency
    Fund-raising
    Grants and contracts
    How to apply for a grant
1, 2, 3, 7, 11, 12, 13 Reading: Chapter 14 in text
Test on Blackboard
Final Exam

Final Exam: Go to http://www.uncp.edu/registrar/acad_info/Exam Schedule/exam_fall.htm for exam schedule

Required Texts:
Kirst-Ashman, K.K. & Hull,G. H. Jr. (2006). Generalist Practice with Organizations and  Communities.  (3rd edition) Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Horton, M.,  Kohl , J., and Kohl, H. 1997 The Long Haul: An Autobiography
About Computer Usage: Social work majors are required to have an email account to submit and receive assignments.  Students may apply for an account on Snappy (name of our computer) at no cost.  Merely complete the  "New User Account" form found at http://www.uncp.edu/ucis/accounts/.   To use and check email, go to http://webmail.uncp.edu/.
Assignments: Two assignments are required:

 1) On the first day of class, students will be given a book review for The Long Haul. The directions for this assignment can be found at http://www.uncp.edu/home/marson/Personal/Syllabi/385_book_review.html

2) On the second day of class, Students will be trained in the basic data collection process encompassing both Quantitative and Qualitative.   The final product will be a community assessment addressing the political and economic structure of southeastern North Carolina coordinating by Center for Community Action in Lumberton. The assessment will include an emphasis on how and why social policy effects rural poverty.  The final product will be pulling together everyone's section of the report into a single product.   The final product will be used in a larger community assessment to improve education and influence local, state and national social policy.   The cover page must look like the sample within this hot link.  Tape recorders will be required for this project.   If you do not have a tape recorder, contract Warren Love [910 521-6355 or 521-6254] at the Media Center.

Cell Phone Policy: Students are not permitted to conduct phone conversations during class time.  Students are not permitted to have cell ring during class time.   Students who use conduct a phone conversation or allow their phones to ring during class time will be drop 10 points on the next quiz or 5 points for their final exam.
Attendance Policy: Attendance and class participation are critical to the learning and integration of materials. Therefore, the Social Work Department has implemented the following policy. There are no excused absences.  A student will fail the class upon the seventh absence for day classes and the fourth absence for evening class (for three hours courses). Students are therefore encouraged to be mindful of absences and make every effort to be in attendance. Students are expected to have read assigned material prior to the class. Students are also expected to participate in class discussion, exercises, “minute” papers, and any Blackboard discussions that may be announced.  Students are considered in attendance only if present for the entire class. Arriving late or leaving early is disruptive will be dealt with by the instructor.  Attendance will be used as a criterion in determining the final grade.  (Present 1 point; Tardy 1/2 point; Not present 0 points)  For more details see “Class Attendance” in The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
Grading Components Scale:  All homework, quizzes, final exam and reaction papers 35% , class participation and attendance 5%, Community Needs Assessment 35%, Book Report 25%. Reaction papers are summary of closed reserve readings. All reaction papers will receive a grade, but late reaction paper will not be accepted and will count as an automatic F. All reaction papers are due prior to reading day and MUST be submitted by e-mail. No paper copies will be accepted.  If you need assistance, email.  The grading scale is outlined below and is in the Student Social Work Handbook:

A 92-100
B 82-86
C 72-76
D 62-66
A- 90-91
B- 80-81
C- 70-71
D- 60-61
B+ 87-89
C+ 77-79
D+ 67-69
F 0-59
Giving and Taking Help
The practice of social work includes two important concepts: “process” and “outcome”. Outcome is the degree of success in achieving a goal. Process includes the hard work and elf-discipline a social worker employs in achieving a goal. The social work faculty feel that the “process” is as significant as the “outcome”. When one student assists another by sharing projects, term papers, book reports, reaction papers and other assignments, the benefit of the “process” are usurped.  The student who recycles the assignments is denied the opportunity to enhance his/her self-discipline and work habits. Simply stated, Don’t share your work with other students. The social work faculty considers such behavior as cheating a violation of the NASW Code of Ethics and a violation of the Student Honor Code. Students have the responsibility to know and observe the UNCP Academic Honor Code..
Plagiarism
The Social Work Program does not permit plagiarism   All students enrolled in SWK courses are required to use the APA citation style, anyone caught plagiarizing automatically receive an F.  You will loose points on assignments if you do not use APA citation style. APA manuals can be purchased in the bookstore. There is a copy on closed reserve in the library. Also refer to the Library resource for APA . You may also get help from University Writing Center hours during the spring semester are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Friday. For an appointment, stop by the Writing Center, Dial 131, call 910.521.6168, or email writing@uncp.edu.
Students With Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments is requested to speak directly to Disability Support Services and the instructor, as early in the semester (preferably within the first week) as possible. All discussions will remain confidential. Please contact Disability Support Services, DF Lowry Building, 910-521-6695.
Child Welfare Waiver Students: Child Welfare Scholar's assignment are required to have their Community Needs Assessment assignment focus on child welfare.   Students will set this up individually with the professor.
Portfolio Assignment: The Community Needs Assessment document is required as part of your portfolio.
Blackboard Usage:
Although SWK 3850 is not designated as a Blackboard course, Blackboard is used under two circumstances.   First, if the course is cancelled or the professor is unable to attend class and cannot find a replacement, lectures and assignments will be posted on Blackboard.  Second, depending on the nature of the course, some quizzes will be posted on Blackboard.   Under most circumstances, students will be given a three day window of opportunity to compete the quiz.  If a student is kicked off Blackboard during a quiz, he/she is required to immediately email (steve.marson@uncp.edu or smarson@nc.rr.com) or call the instructor (521-6475). All students are required to completed the Blackboard Orientation.
Bibliography: Frequently cited during course