SW 512 - Generalist Soc Work Prac III

Credits: 3

“This course will continue a presentation of the knowledge, values, and skills needed to enhance the well-being of people through generalist social work practice. Specifically, this will present a survey of the knowledge, values, and skills needed to enhance the well-being of people through generalist social work practice. We will focus in particular on what is often called macro practice: working with organizations, communities, and other large social systems around issues grounded in social justice. We will consider the roles of social workers both within communities and organizations, and as practitioners working in support of communities and organizations of which they are not members. Content includes skills such as defining issues, collecting and assessing data, identifying potential interventions, selecting and implementing appropriate courses of action, and using appropriate research to monitor and evaluate outcomes. We will devote particular attention to vulnerable populations within community and organizational settings will be included in course content, with a focus on working with people who are living in urban and rural poverty, racial and ethnic minorities, women, LGBTQ+ people, and others who are oppressed and otherwise affected by discrimination. Emphasis will be on critical thinking and problem solving, using available data and working with community partners to identify opportunities for change, and planning, implementing, and evaluating interventions. This course also includes the Foundations for Interprofessional Communication course with students from this class and students from the Decker School of Nursing and Health Sciences and the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. This interactive course will help students prepare to provide effective care through synchronous and asynchronous learning activities, including: small group discussion on professional roles within a care team, problem-solving activities for team building, principles of patient-centered care, and an examination of the social determinants of health (SDOH), including their impact on clients and the care team in the provision of services. Offered: spring only. “