Syllabus
Master of Social Work
SSWO 623: Affirming Social Work Practice Across Communities III
Credits - 3
Description
Lifespan Perspectives in Social Work Practice with LGBTQIA+ Individuals, Families, and Groups
This course focuses on affirming social work practice with LGBTQIA+ individuals across the lifespan, with particular attention to queer and transgender youth and their families, as well as LGBTQIA+ older adults. Students will examine developmental, relational, and systemic factors shaping identity, well-being, and access to care at different life stages. Topics include family acceptance and rejection, school and community contexts, aging-related concerns, caregiving, grief and loss, and the impact of historical trauma and invisibility on older LGBTQIA+ adults. Through case-based learning and applied practice strategies, students will strengthen their ability to support resilience, connection, and dignity across generations. The course equips practitioners with the skills needed to engage LGBTQIA+ individuals and families in affirming, developmentally responsive, and lifespan-informed care.
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:
- Demonstrates ethical and professional behavior.
- Advance human rights and social, racial, economic, and environmental justice.
- Engage in anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in practice.
- Engage in practice-informed research and research-informed practice.
- Engage in policy practice.
- Engage with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Assess individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Intervene with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
- Evaluate practice with individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Apply trauma-informed and developmentally responsive practice approaches when working with LGBTQIA+ youth across systems of care, including education, child welfare, and juvenile justice settings.
- Analyze the impact of family acceptance, rejection, and ambivalence on the well-being of LGBTQIA+ youth and identify effective, affirming family engagement strategies.
- Demonstrate clinical and ethical competence in addressing grief, loss, safety, and complex relational dynamics when working with LGBTQIA+ youth and their families and older adults.
- Integrate developmental theory and best practice frameworks to support the unique needs, strengths, and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth and their families and older adults.
- Assess and respond to caregiving, aging-related challenges, and ethical considerations affecting LGBTQIA+ older adults, including the impact of historical trauma, invisibility, and systemic inequities.
- Identify and navigate risks associated with working with LGBTQIA+ communities, including bias, discrimination, vicarious trauma, and systemic harm, while promoting safety and professional boundaries.
- Articulate principles of allyship, queer joy, and gender euphoria as essential components of affirming, strengths-based social work practice across the lifespan.
- Synthesize knowledge from other LGBTQIA+ practice sequence courses to reflect on personal and professional growth, and to articulate a coherent, affirming practice framework applicable to diverse client populations and settings.
Assignments
Discussions
There will be both whole class and small group discussions throughout the course to connect and learn from your peers.
Creative Assignments
In Week 2, you will create an original piece of work that reflects an aspect of the queer youth experience. You do not need to be an artist to complete this assignment. Your work can take many forms and examples are given in the assignment details.
In Week 8, you will intentionally center on Queer Joy, including experiences of gender euphoria, authenticity, self-expression, and belonging. As social workers and allied health providers, recognizing and uplifting Joy is not separate from our work. Rather, this is essential to affirming, strengths-based, and humanizing practice. For this assignment, students are asked to create an original piece of artistic expression that celebrates Queer Joy and/or Gender Euphoria. There are examples for you to consider in the assignment details and you are encouraged to choose a format that feels meaningful and engaging to you.
Case Study
In your small groups, you will work through a case study using the C.A.R.E.D. Framework. You will need to work with your group to find a time to meet to discuss your case study and come up with recommendations. Each group will select one person to make a copy of the template, and once complete, post to the Week 4 Whole Class Discussion: Case Studies forum. Every group member is expected to contribute in a meaningful way. If there are issues with group members not responding or contributing, please reach out to your instructor immediately.
Affirming Aging Resource Guide
In Week 5, you will be creating an Affirming Aging Resource Guide. This is not a typical research paper and will require you to create a visually appealing, real-world tool. This assignment invites you to step into the role of an advocate and educator by developing a practical resource guide for providers, organizations, or communities. You will also be sharing your Affirming Aging Resource Guide and have the change to give feedback to your classmates’ guides.
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
| Acknowledgement of Academic Engagement | 1 point |
| Week 1 Introduction to Instructor | 4 |
| Whole Class Discussions (Weeks 1, 2, & 5) | 12 points (3 at 4 points each) |
| Week 2 Creative Assignment: Queer Youth Experience | 5 points |
| Self Reflections (Weeks 3, 4, 6, 7, & 8) | 50 points (5 at 10 points each) |
| Small Group Discussions (Weeks 3 & 6) | 8 (2 at 4 points each) |
| Week 4 Small Group Case Study | 5 points |
| Week 5 Affirming Aging Resource Guide | 5 points |
| Week 7 Small Group - Erikson in Practice | 5 points |
| Week 8 Centering Queer Joy & Gender Euphoria | 5 points |
| Total | 100 points |
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 |
Schedule
Spring A Session Dates: January 13, 2027 – March 5, 2027
Week 1: Wednesday – Sunday
Week 2: Monday – Sunday
Week 3: Monday – Sunday
Week 4: Monday – Sunday
Week 5: Monday – Sunday
Week 6: Monday – Sunday
Week 7: Monday – Sunday
Week 8: Monday – Friday
All assignments are to be submitted by 11:59 P.M. E.T. on the last day of each week. No exceptions.
Module 1: Affirming Clinical Practice with LGTBQIA+ Youth Across Systems of Care
Week 1
Acknowledgment of Academic Engagement Quiz
Overview and Learning Materials
Assignments:
- Introduction to the Instructor
Discussions:
- Whole Class Discussion: Introductions and A System Snapshot – Mapping the Experience of LGBTQIA+ Youth
Week 2
Overview and Learning Materials
Assignments:
- Creative Assignment: The Queer Youth Experience
Discussions:
- Whole Class Discussion: Share Creative Assignment (Ungraded)
- Whole Class Discussion: Systems, Safety, and Self-Determination
Module 2: Working with Families of LGBTQIA+Youth: Engagement, Family, Acceptance, and Ethics
Week 3
Overview and Learning Materials
Assignments:
- Self Reflection 1
Discussions:
- Small Group Discussion: Introductions and Family Perspectives
Week 4
Overview and Learning Materials
Assignments:
- Self Reflection 2 (Complete Small Group Case Study before completing Self Reflection 2)
Discussions:
- Small Group Case Study
Module 3: Affirming Practice with LGBTQIA+ Older Adults and Caregivers
Week 5
Overview and Learning Materials
Assignments:
- Affirming Aging Resource Guide
Discussions:
- Whole Class Discussion: Share Affirming Resource Guide (Not Graded)
- Whole Class Discussion: Aging, History, and Affirming Practice with LGBTQIA+ Older Adults
Week 6
Overview and Learning Materials
Assignments:
- Self Reflection 3
Discussions:
- Small Group Discussion: Aging in Silence – Systems, Safety, and Affirmation
Module 4: Personal Risks, Allyship, Queer Joy, and Professional Integration
Week 7
Overview and Learning Materials
Assignments:
- Self Reflection 4
Discussions:
- Small Group Discussion: Erikson in Practice
Week 8
Overview and Learning Materials
Assignments:
- Self Reflection 5
- Centering Queer Joy & Gender Euphoria
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Social Work page
UNE Libraries:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Brightspace.
- Social Work Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/social-work/
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their student success team member and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week
Phone: Mon-Fri: (207) 602-2487
After Hours/Weekends: 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
Career Ready Program
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Policies
Essential Academic and Technical Standards
Please review the essential academic and technical standards of the University of New England School Social Work (SSW): https://online.une.edu/social-work/academic-and-technical-standards-une-online-ssw/
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Artificial Intelligence Use Policy
The MSW program acknowledges that using generative AI can be both helpful and potentially harmful in scholarly writing. It is unclear at this time what the impact of AI use might have on the ability to be published or engage in scholarly platforms. In alignment with UNE’s stance on AI use, the Program encourages students to acclimate themselves to ethical and appropriate use of AI. Students are required to disclose the use of AI for all assignments in the program during submission through citation (in alignment with many scholarly publications and CSWE) and publication notes. Assignments in the MSW program that require the use of generative AI will be labeled as such, with specific instructions. The use of AI for discussion posts is never permitted (including, but limited to, Grammarly) as discussion forums are meant to mimic live conversations. Students who are suspected of generative AI use, without citation, will be asked to have a conversation with their instructor to discuss AI use and to share their process and/or demonstrate their process. Failure to do so will result in a zero on the assignment.
Publication Note Example: Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the writing process. Please outline the tool used (name, version, company), purpose, and confirm human review.
Graduation Requirements
Students with less than a GPA of 3.0 will be placed on academic probation. Students must successfully complete all courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 prior to graduation and fulfill all curriculum requirements.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Confidentiality Statement
Student and faculty participation in this course will be governed by standards in the NASW Code of Ethics relating to confidentiality in sharing information from their placement sites and practice experiences. Students should be aware that personal information they choose to share in class, class assignments or conversations with faculty does not have the status of privileged information.
Late Policy
Individual Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction from the total points per day for the late submission. After three days, the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% per day grade reduction from the total discussion grade. Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Group or Partner Assignments: Assignments that require partner or group work are expected to be turned in on time. Late group or partner assignments will not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the course faculty. If you are having difficulties connecting with your partner or group members, it is your responsibility to connect with the course faculty for support. If a group member or partner does not complete their section of the project by the deadline, they will receive a 0. This will not impact the other group members/partner’s grade.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Attendance Policy
6- to 8-week courses: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
10+ -week courses: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your Enrollment and Retention Counselor if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. Tuition charges may still apply. Students are strongly urged to consult with Student Financial Services, as course withdrawals may affect financial aid or Veterans benefits.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.