Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSW 522 – Foundation Practicum Seminar II – Spring 2016

Credits - 4

Description

Social Work Practicum/Seminar II (SSW 522) is the second of a two-semester, sequenced course designed to provide students with a supervised foundation practice experience in a social service agency/organization. The practicum includes experiential learning in social work skills for multi-level and multi-sector practice in a specialized setting. The seminar introduces the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, the World Health Organization’s Definition of Health and the International Federation of Social Workers’ Policy Statement on Health into discussions of how resource equity, social justice and universal health and healthcare across the life span effects work with client systems. Students complete 560 hours in the agency/ organization setting over two semesters (SSW 520 & SSW 522). Each student receives a minimum of 1 hour of weekly, individual field instruction from an MSW level social worker. Students are expected to abide by The Code of Ethics of the National Association of Social Workers in their practice with clients and agencies/organizations. The seminar provides students with an opportunity to discuss and reflect on professional social work issues from their practicum experience regarding assessment, specific interventions with client systems and the application of practice theories. Students use the seminar to monitor their own learning experience and their progress in attaining their professional goals with respect to people’s membership in groups and communities (urban, regional and rural) distinguished by class, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, and culture while honoring each person’s individuality.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

School of Social Work Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the UNE SSWO will demonstrate knowledge, skills, and leadership in the following:

1. Practice social inclusion to enable people, populations, and communities to fully participate in society, enhance human bonds in the context of cultural diversity and ensure improved quality of life and equitable resource distribution. EPAS Competencies 2 & 3
2. Engage in culturally-informed relationship building, being respectful of the complexity and diversity of contexts and circumstances. EPAS Competencies 3 & 6
3. Utilize theories of human behavior, social systems and social inclusion when offering interventions with people and their environments. EPAS Competency 8
4. Promote ethical reflection, critical consciousness and shared decision-making based in social work values and with consideration of the broader contexts of the world in which we live. EPAS Competency 1
5. Balance the roles of helpers, activists, and advocates through collaboration with communities to build healthy and sustainable resources. EPAS Competencies 2, 5, & 6
6. Engage as critical consumers and producers of research as it relates to assessment, intervention and evaluation of clinical and community practices. EPAS Competencies 4, 7, 8 & 9
7. Practice person-centered and collaborative community partnerships across diverse settings. EPAS Competency 6

Upon completion of SSW 520/522 students will be able to complete the learning objectives for Competencies 1-9 at the Advanced Year level.

Competency # 1 – Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior

Intern understands the value base of the profession and its ethical standards, as well as relevant laws and regulations that may impact practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

Learning Objectives

• Makes ethical decisions by applying the standards of the NASW Code of Ethics, relevant laws and regulations, models for ethical decision-making, ethical conduct of research, and additional codes of ethics as appropriate to context.
• Uses reflection and self-regulation to manage personal values and maintain professionalism in practice situations.
• Demonstrates professional demeanor in behavior; appearance; and oral, written, and electronic communication.
• Uses technology ethically and appropriately to facilitate practice outcomes
• Uses supervision and consultation to guide professional judgment and behavior

Competency #2 – Engage Diversity and Difference in Practice

Intern understands how diversity and difference characterize and shape the human experience and are critical to the formation of identity.

Learning Objectives

• Applies and communicates understanding of the importance of diversity and difference in shaping life experiences in practice at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.
• Presents themselves as learners and engage clients and constituencies as experts of their own experiences.
• Applies self-awareness and self-regulation to manage the influence of personal biases and  values in working with diverse clients and constituencies.

Competency #3 – Advance Human Rights and Social, Economic, and Environmental Justice

Intern understands that every person regardless of position in society has fundamental human rights such as freedom, safety, privacy, an adequate standard of living, health care, and education.

Learning Objectives

• Applies their understanding of social, economic, and environmental justice to advocate for human rights at the individual and system levels.
• Engages in practices that advance social, economic, and environmental justice

Competency #4 – Engage In Practice-informed Research and Research-informed Practice

Intern understands quantitative and qualitative research methods and their respective roles in advancing a science of social work and in evaluating their practice.

Learning Objectives

• Uses practice experience and theory to inform scientific inquiry and research.
• Applies critical thinking to engage in analysis of quantitative and qualitative research methods and research findings.
• Uses and translates research evidence to inform and improve practice, policy, and service delivery.

Competency #5 – Engage in Policy Practice

Intern understands that human rights and social justice, as well as social welfare and services, are mediated by policy and its implementation at the federal, state, and local levels.

Learning Objectives

• Identifies social policy at the local, state, and federal level that impacts well-being, service delivery, and access to social services.
• Assesses how social welfare and economic policies impact the delivery of and access to social services.
• Applies critical thinking to analyze, formulate, and advocate for policies that advance human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice.

Competency #6 – Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Intern understands that engagement is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Learning Objectives

• Applies knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks to engage with clients and constituencies.
• Uses empathy, reflection, and interpersonal skills to effectively engage diverse clients and constituencies.

Competency #7 – Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Intern understands that assessment is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Learning Objectives

• Collects and organizes data, and apply critical thinking to interpret information from clients and constituencies.
• Applies knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the analysis of assessment data from clients and constituencies.
• Develops mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies.
• Selects appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies.

Competency #8 – Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Intern understands that intervention is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice with, and on behalf of, diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.

Learning Objectives

• Critically chooses and implements interventions to achieve practice goals and enhance capacities of clients and constituencies.
• Applies knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies.
• Uses inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes.
• Negotiates, mediates, and advocates with and on behalf of diverse clients and constituencies.
• Facilitates effective transitions and endings that advance mutually agreed-on goals.

Competency #9 – Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities

Intern understands that evaluation is an ongoing component of the dynamic and interactive process of social work practice and communities.

Learning Objectives

• Selects and uses appropriate methods for evaluation of outcomes.
• Applies knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in the evaluation of outcomes.
• Critically analyzes, monitors, and evaluates intervention and program processes and outcomes.
• Applies evaluation findings to improve practice effectiveness at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels.

Assignments

A variety of learning activities are designed to support the course objectives, facilitate different learning styles, and build a community of learners. Learning activities for each module include the following.

Readings and Multimedia

There are two recommend texts in this course. While there are not prescribed readings from these texts, you are required to read and utilize throughout the course. Your instructor may integrate and suggest readings throughout the modules. We recommend that you utilize the Bibliography extended readings. Additional readings in the modules will be introduced as the forms and supporting documents needed for completion. There are a few videos presented as learning material, but the majority of videos in this course are student-created each week.

Discussions

Each week you will engage in weekly video assignments and discuss some of your peers’ field experiences. You will also post one self-care tip that you are employing and discuss amongst your classmates. There are several optional discussion boards in this course that you may utilize to ask questions about a specific assignment. Midway through the course, you will have discussion opportunities about being a mandated reporter in your state and what the laws require. We recommend that you utilize the Bibliography extended readings to integrate into your discussions and assignments.

Writing Assignments, Projects, and Assessments

There are several assignments in this course, which are all tailored around strengthening your field internship and experiences. These assignments will be collaborative with your field instructor and seminar instructor and there will be plenty of time for review, comment, and submission. These will be highlighted throughout the course along with several reminders and prompts to get started. All of your assignments (including all of your forms) must be submitted via the assignment link and not via email. Any assignments (including all of your forms) submitted through Send Email or email will not be accepted.

Grading and Feedback

Feedback will be provided within the assignment submission tool. Due Dates: Due dates for all learning activities are provided in the Course Schedule.

Grading Policy

The School of Social Work uses the following grading system for all courses with the exception of field education courses. Students are expected to maintain a “B” (3.0) average over the course of their study. Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must have an overall GPA of 3.0 in order to receive their Master’s Degree.

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignment	Point Value	Percentage of Grade
Video Assignment (Due Wednesday by 11:59p EST)	24 points (3 points x 8 videos)	24%
Weekly response to all videos (Due Sunday by 11:59p EST)	30 points (2 points x 15 weeks)	30%
Weekly self-care (Due Sunday by 11:59p EST)	16 points (1 point x 16 weeks)	16%
Conversations about Endings	2 points	2%
Re-Introduce Yourself to the Class and Share Your Internship Goals for the Term (Due: Module 1)	1 point	1%
Re-submit Learning Contract	1 point	1%
Module 2-16 Mandated Reporting Video Assignment	6 points	6%
Field visit scheduled (Due by: Module 5)	1 points	1%
State/County Licensing Assignment	2 points	2%
Self Assessment	4 points	4%
Field Visit Completed (Due: Modules 6-n12)	2 points	2%
Determine your Advanced Year Concentration assignment	2 points	2%
Process recording (Due: Module 12)	3 points	3%
Field Evaluation submissionn(Due: Module 15)	6 points	6%
Total	100 points	100%

Grade Scale

Grade	Points Grade	Point Average (GPA)
A	94 – 100%	4.00
A-	90 – 93%	3.75
B+	87 – 89%	3.50
B	84 – 86%	3.00
B-	80 – 83%	2.75
C+	77 – 79%	2.50
C	74 – 76%	2.00
C-	70 – 73%	1.75
D	64 – 69%	1.00
F	00 – 63%	0.00