Prevention and Promotion

Catalog description

This course introduces students to strategies, models, and methodologies used in the prevention of mental health and psychosocial problems and promotion of competence in individuals, families, and communities. The course emphasizes the importance of problem definition in the development of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies and examines how definition of problems guides the focus of prevention programming. Prevention strategies discussed include consultation, psychoeducational interventions, and empowerment. Attention is given to such issues as community violence, delinquency, adolescent pregnancy, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS, with special attention given to needs of historically underserved and oppressed populations. Topics include: defining social problems targeted for prevention; origins, rationale, and need for prevention; fundamental concepts and models of prevention; the social context of prevention; prevention strategies and exemplary programs across the lifespan; program evaluation; and empowerment, community mobilization, self efficacy, and social change. Required for students in Applied Community Psychology Specialization; open to others.