Social Work Practice with At-Risk Children & Youth This course provides a bio-psycho-social

Catalog description

developmental perspective on a range of childhood disorders as they are classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Ed Text Revised. (DSM-V- TR). It provides an in-depth study of the etiology, course, prognosis, and resolution of major psychological and psychiatric conditions that are encountered by children, with an emphasis on a family and system approach to the conceptualization and treatment of such conditions. The DSM-V will serve as a backdrop and context for presenting and studying these conditions. A developmental-systems (Marsh and Barkley, 1996) approach will guide the theoretical and philosophical framework of this course as the students become familiar with DSM-V diagnostic criteria for childhood psychopathology and the empirical and epidemiological data that supports each diagnosis. The course will look at internalizing and externalizing childhood disorders that social workers are likely to encounter in various settings of practice (e.g., schools, hospitals, community centers, adoption agencies, ACS and DSS agencies). The students will learn to consider issues such as adaptations, age appropriateness, clusters, and patterns of symptoms and behaviors that are instrumental in the process of differential diagnosis. The cultural context will play a major role in understanding these conditions and the differential validity, to the extent to which it exists, in the assessment and treatment of children. Pre-requisites: SWK 601, 602, 611, 612, 613, 621, 622, 701, 702 and 798 OR must be active in the Advanced Standing Social Work student group.