Health Equity and Disability Justice in Social Work Practice

Catalog description

This course addresses the macro, mezzo and micro contexts and factors that influence the lived experiences of individuals and families navigating health care systems. Macro content addresses the implications of health disparities and the social determinants of health, and theoretical frameworks for understanding disability, on social work practice – inviting students to consider their role in advancing health equity and disability justice as direct practitioners. Mezzo content evaluates the challenges and benefits of interprofessional collaborative practice and examines the dynamic role of social workers in health care and other interprofessional settings. Micro content explores the lived experiences of individuals managing chronic illness and/or disability, as well as individuals and families facing acute medical crises and/or life-threatening illness. The foundational components of the liberation health model of social work practice are introduced and evaluated. The course moves from theory to application, addressing strategies for applying the liberation health model to social work practice in health and mental health care settings. Formerly offered as SWEL 5390.