Working with Children/Youth

Catalog description

qThis elective course will examine the issues of professional practice in child welfare that will enable students to bring skills and knowledge to bear in assessing and intervening in situations involving children and families. The student will become familiar with a range of both public and private child welfare services and approaches. The legal, social, and psychological ramifications of protective services, foster care, adoption, and permanency planning on children will be discussed. This course will promote the application of culturally competent practice as well as examine roles with special populations in the field of child welfare practice. We will critically examine current child welfare policies and practices, including child abuse and neglect, while reflecting upon the influence of historical events and persons. This course will explore the history and legal framework for the contemporary child welfare system; identify trends in child maltreatment and the organization of services; and identify current reform efforts and debates in policy, programs and practice. Attention will be given to the legal foundation for child welfare practice including federal and state of Pennsylvania laws that affect child welfare decisions. Innovative and creative intervention strategies designed to preserve families and to promote service integration will be presented. Culturally sensitive adaptation of these models will be addressed, along with the need to build partnerships and community collaboration to successfully deliver services to children and their families.