Syllabus

Master of Social Work

SSWO 564 Program Development and Community Practice – Summer A 2021

Credits - 3

Description

This course builds upon the foundation year and introduces students to the changing context of community and inter-organizational linkages across human service systems. Major content focuses on community and organizational needs assessment, community building, understanding and working in multi-system service environments. Client empowerment, collaborative relationship building across various system levels, including coalition building, and across problem areas and settings are emphasized. Must be enrolled in: Master of Social Work.

Prerequisites:

Successful completion of SSWO 522 Field Integrating Seminar/Practicum II

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

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of how to engage in effective program development and community practice utilizing community assets and participatory approaches that create change in a variety of settings and promote social inclusion. Program Outcomes #1 and #7 (All Assignments)
2. Develop a deeper understanding of the dynamic nature of community practice in collaboration with clients, systems and community partners the importance of possessing a diverse range of interpersonal skills as part of that process. 
Program Outcome  #7 (Final Paper)
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the intrinsic value of critical self-reflection in social work practice and develop skills in the reflective use of self. Program Outcome #4 (All Assignments & Discussion)
4. Apply a social work macro practice perspective to working within communities, organizations and its connection to micro and mezzo social work practice. Program Outcome #7 (class activities & discussions)
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the critical role policy development plays in program development and community practice and its implementation at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels through professional and persuasive oral and written communication, networking, organizing stakeholder collaboration, and other forms of activism. Program Outcome #7 (Final Paper)
6. Demonstrate the ability to engage in participatory community based assessments, evaluate current community efforts, identify gaps, and develop a methodology for evaluating program goals, objectives, and interventions as a way to identify and sustain efforts that promote social inclusion. Program Outcome #6 (Final Paper and Video Presentation)

Accreditation Standards Addressed: Council on Social Work Education Educational and Practice Standards (EPAS)

• Demonstrate Ethical and Professional Behavior (EPAS 1)
• Engage with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 6)
• Assess Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities ( EPAS 7)
• Intervene with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 8)
• Evaluate Practice with Individuals, Families, Groups, Organizations, and Communities (EPAS 9)

Assignments

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

• Readings and Multimedia: Online courses require different types of materials to enhance student understanding and knowledge of the course content. This includes websites, films, video clips, case studies, podcasts, and reading assignments.
• Discussions: The discussion forums require students to demonstrate a critical understanding and integration of the material covered. Please note the grade breakdown and the significance of discussion contributions.

Written Assignments:

You will identify a current social issue from which you will develop a program over the course of the semester. You will have an opportunity to discuss several pieces of program development in your assigned group leading up to the final assignment where the final program will be presented. You will also exchange peer feedback on the drafts of parts of the final assignment in a group forum.

Program Implementation: Vision, Mission, Objectives, Outcomes and Creating the Action Plan

In a Word document, you will write the following information about your envisioned program and attach it to the group discussion board for feedback.

• Provide the vision, mission, objectives, and outcomes of your program.
• Using the Action Plan template found on the Community Toolbox website, complete the action plan for your envisioned program.

Submit this to the group discussion forum in Week 6.

You will then review the groupmates’ vision, mission, objectives, outcomes, and action plans and comment using provided questions.

Your Envisioned Program Paper

This paper is a culmination of the online discussions and course activities. You will submit a paper at the end of Week 7 that clearly states (1) the community need the program seeks to address; (2) the vision and mission, goals, objectives, and outcomes; (3) the theoretical framework from the literature that support the rationale for the methods and strategies being proposed for this program; and (4) how the program will be evaluated.

The paper should be 6-8 pages in length. The final paper requires you to provide a full description of the program as well as all of the following: 

1. A clear identification of the community need that this program proposes to address and an identification of the community assets and participatory approaches that will be used address this need (don’t forget to include key stakeholders among these assets/approaches).
2. Briefly and clearly describe your envisioned program – the purpose of the program and what will be accomplished through the implementation of the program.
3. Clearly identify the vision, mission, values, goals, objectives and proposed outcomes. 
4. Discuss and cite evidence of the theoretical framework from the literature that supports the rationale for the methods and strategies being proposed for this program. This should flow from the “what has never been done” discussions.
5. Discuss how the program will be evaluated, including the measurable outcomes along with the criteria used to measure the performance on each outcome. Also, clearly identify the micro and mezzo social work practices being utilized in the evaluation methods and criteria used to measure performance.
6. Lastly, provide a clear discussion on the social work skills needed to develop and implement the program; what skills you currently have that will contribute to the development/implementation of the program; and what skills you will need to acquire in developing/implementing the program.

Video Presentation of Your Envisioned Program

On Friday of Week 8, you will submit the URL of your video that will provide a formal presentation of your program that is based on the final paper. This presentation should be created with the audience of a Board of Directors, community coalition or legislative body in mind. In the video presentation, you must include all of the following: 

1. Provide a brief overview of the community need that this program proposes to address and identify the community assets and participatory approaches that will be used to address this need.
2. Identify the vision, mission, values, goals, objectives and proposed outcomes. 
3. Briefly discuss the theoretical framework from the literature that supports the rationale for the methods and strategies being proposed for this program. 
4. Discuss how the program will be evaluated, including the measurable outcomes along with the criteria used to measure the performance on each outcome. Also, clearly identify the micro and mezzo social work practices being utilized in the evaluation methods and criteria used to measure performance.
5. Lastly, provide a clear discussion on the social work skills needed to develop and implement the program; what skills you currently have that will contribute to the development/implementation of the program; and what skills you will need to acquire in developing/implementing the program.

For the video presentation, you will create a 5-minute video to “sell” your proposed program. The intent of the video assignment is to provide a professional presentation as if you were in a board meeting “pitching” your program. So, for this type of professional presentation, you will be present in the video to deliver the presentation. 

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