Course Description
A continuation of General Practice of Social Work I. Generalist practice principles applied to various family types and groups treatment. Issues related to gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age as they affect family functioning over time and in community contexts.
Athena Title
General Practice of SW II
Non-Traditional Format
Learning teams, which promote critical thinking, research, writing and discussion skills, and which require extensive work out of class, will be used.
Prerequisite
SOWK 5524 and permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
This course is the second in a three-course sequence focusing on practice methods in social work. The class will incorporate direct social work practice, theory, and skills with human behavior content. Theories of individual development and family systems will be emphasized. Also, methods of interventions, assessment, and practice based on strengths will be studied. Important concepts of discussion in the course will include client-worker relationships, empathy, empowerment, transference and counter transference. Practice in relation to families as a system and issues related to diversity will also be explored during the course. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), The University of Georgia School of Social Work seeks to provide equal access to students with disabilities. Students who have a disability and/or need specific accommodation and supports for inclusion in all aspects of the course should notify the instructor during the first week of the term or prior to the beginning of the course.
Topical Outline
By the end of the course students should be able to do the following: 1) Clarify social work roles in practice with individuals and families and identify appropriate roles in varying practice situations; 2) Develop multi-level assessment skills and interventions with diverse individuals and families, using the strengths- based perspective; 3) Apply eco-systems theory to work with individuals and families; 4) Adapt assessment, service planning, case management and selected interventions to account for client diversity; 5) Use various explanatory theories to identify human needs and characteristics; 6) Form and sustain a professional helping relationship characterized by empathy, concern for others, acceptance of differences, expectations, genuineness, and congruence; 7) Engage a client in exploring a problem, completing a multidimensional assessment, planning and carrying out strategies that facilitate change, terminating services and evaluating the effectiveness of the process. In order to achieve this outcome, there is an assumption that integration will occur between practice and theories of human behavior; 8) Provide students with the knowledge to understand small group development and the dynamics of group interaction; 9) Provide students a framework for assessing the need for the use of a group; and 10) Provide students with an understanding of group development, group processes, and the leadership skills essential for effective use of group interventions.