Social Work Methods - Individuals

Catalog description

The primary focus of this course is to introduce students to direct practice with individuals. Strength based strategies, which value client self-determination while helping clients to obtain their highest functioning level, are an important underpinning of ethical social work practice and as such must be presented and understood by social work students if they are to become successful change agents. This course will provide an introduction on client engagement, assessment, goal setting, intervention and termination processes in challenging practice environments and within a multicultural perspective. The course will be framed within the nine competencies and practice behaviors as outlined by the Council for Social work Education that are appropriate for an advanced level course. Course Objectives and Format Methodology based upon the Core Competencies and Practice Behaviors of Social Work Education 1. Demonstrate the knowledge of social work ethical and professional values the social service delivery system to be able to make an informed decision about entry into the field of social work. 2. Identify how the social work generalist practitioner advances human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice within a micro and macro practice with individuals. 3. Describe the types or forms of human diversity (e.g. culture, gender) encountered in social work practice and describe principles and guidelines for responding to human differences. 3. Define the roles and functions of social work practice to engage and evaluate individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities. 4. Develop the ability to understand the multiple methods used by generalist social workers with systems of all sizes. 5. Employ in understanding how the social work generalist practitioner engages in diversity and difference in practice with individuals. 6. Apply empowering practices and ways of working collaboratively. 7. Identify and describe key social work values, knowledge, principles, and skills within an ethical framework as defined in the NASW Code of Ethics. Cognitive Methods Students will effectively and discriminately classify, synthesize and convert knowledge and understanding gained from course readings, lectures, videos/digital content, and guest lectures into informed class participation and reflective class assignments. Affective Methods Students will examine and challenge their value assumptions as they attempt to analyze contemporary theories of human development. They will explore practical implications of their values and the prevailing social values within this culture as they relate to the provision of social work. This will be achieved through class discussion and as such it is essential that students participate in class. Experiential Methods Students will experiment with various analytical and practice skills as they relate to theory and research methods in small and large group experiences, discussions and a variety of class presentations.