Social Work Practice with Children and Adolescents

Catalog description

This course provides an opportunity to develop best practices in social work assessment, engagement, and intervention with children, adolescents, and their caregivers. There is a particular emphasis on utilizing a developmental, trauma-informed, culturally-responsive, and strengths-based approach. Students will develop an understanding of the impact of social injustice, oppression, and racism on children and families at-risk, and employ social work practice skills to facilitate growth, empowerment, and well-being. Students will have the opportunity to develop mastery in understanding the theoretical knowledge and practice skills within the leading evidence-based psychotherapies, such Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Functional Family Therapy, Parent Management Training, Solution-Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, etc. Affirming practice strategies with neurodivergent, non-binary, and LGBTQI+ youth will be developed. Collaborative engagement with critical systems of care (public schools, child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health) will be explored.