Children in Crises

Catalog description

The overall goal of this course is to equip students with appropriate theoretical frameworks and information for understanding the needs and issues involved in serving children at risk. The purpose of this course is to investigate the impact of trauma and stressors on the lives of preschoolers, children and adolescents. The objectives include providing an examination of empirical research findings on the nature and etiology of various risk factors. Students will learn to assess familial and societal factors that contribute to and ameliorate risk from a General Family System theoretical perspective. Developmental crises, situational crises and crises of loss will be addressed. Current prevention and intervention strategies will also be explored toward the goal of strengthening families to provide nurturing and supportive environments for children.