SOCIAL WORK 4401
Theory of Social Work Practice
COURSE OUTLINE
INSTRUCTOR: CONNIE H. NELSON
Fall 2013/Winter2014
A COMMUNITY SERVICE LEARNING COURSE
CALENDAR COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course focuses on theory relevant to an integrated social determinants of health (population health) approach to social work practice and builds on the ecological-systems perspective with an emphasis on northern settings. Exposure to traditional helping approaches of First Nations peoples is integrated into the course. Application is made of complex adaptive systems theory to five helping systems: individuals, small groups and families with an emphasis on practice with communities and organizations. Examples are drawn from fields of practice including: child welfare, mental health, family service, education, addictions, corrections, health and aging.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To learn theoretical approaches to social work practice at the community level that shift the context from retribution to restoration through shifting the language: from problems to possibility, from fear and fault to gifts and generosity and abundance; from law and oversight to social fabric; from accountability to associational life.
To gain the practical knowledge base to engage in social work practice at the community level through community relationship building.
To gain knowledge in an emerging social work practice model – Contextual Fluidity based on complexity theory (complex adaptive system principles).
To gain greater awareness of how the social determinants of health impact on both physical and mental well-being and the implications for social work practice.
To understand the connections between the micro problems that individuals and families manifest and the macro problems that local and global communities face.
To develop the analytic skills to identify how ‘people seeking help’ is created by social, economic and political policies.
To gain experience and understanding in the use of liberating structures as the operationalization of complexity science in a social context.
To participate in a community service learning experience.
REQUIRED TEXTS
Block, P. (2010). Community: The structure of belonging. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
Lipmanowic, H. & zMcCandless, K. Liberating Structures. www.liberatingstructures.com
Mate, Gabor (2008). In the realm of hungry ghosts: Close encounters with addiction. Toronto: Vintage Canada.
Mikkonen, J. & Raphael, D. (2010). The social determinants of health: The Canadian facts. http://www.thecanadianfacts.org/
Westley, F., Zimmerman, B. & Patton, M.Q. (2006). Getting to maybe: How the world is changed. Random House Canada
ON-LINE RESOURCES
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jS0zj_dYeBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8Lsj_8l6H8
http://www.ted.com/talks/pam_warhurst_how_we_can_eat_our_landscapes.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsarnbvE5tw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEprrK3qvlM
Walkable and Livable Communities Institute http://www.walklive.org/
The new OACP Community Policing Model – why change? 2. The process of change. 3. Introducing the New Model. 4. New training at the Ontario Police …
http://www.wlu.ca/documents/45682/Ontario_Community_Policing_Model_NEW.pdf
Tamarack Institute http://tamarackcommunity.ca
Social Innovation Generation (SIG) http://sigeneration.ca
Caledon Institute http://www.caledoninst.org/
This short film explains what’s happening to Canada’s local food system and why we should all care. “where your food comes from?” Video. http://vimeo.com/5236966
Framing Poverty as a Complex Issue
http://tamarackcommunity.ca/g3s61_VC_2009f.html
Complexity –a conversation with Brenda Zimmerman
http://tamarackcommunity.ca/ssi8.html
Allen P. (2001). What is complexity science? Knowledge of the limits to knowledge. Emergence, 3(1), 24-42. http://journals1.scholarsportal.info.ezproxy.lakeheadu.ca/tmp/14098230699215943387.pdf
Byrne, D. (2001). What is complexity science? Emergence, 3, 61-76. http://journals1.scholarsportal.info.ezproxy.lakeheadu.ca/tmp/9880585442236840400
http://www.ted.com/talks/james_b_glattfelder_who_controls_the_world.html
This video is a great explanation of complex systems, as well as an application of complexity science to the global economy (or at least a small sliver of it). Highly recommended.
http://www.complexityexplorer.org/
There are a set of videos on this website that are part of a free online course.
Cleveland, J. (1994) Complexity Theory: Basic Concepts and Application to Systems Thinking http://www.in4c.net/materials
Berlow, E. Simplifying Complexity
http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_berlow_how_complexity_leads_to_simplicity.html
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Fall Term Paper: ………………………………………………….. ……. 20%
Fall Term Test ………………………………………………………………. 25%
CSL Participation and Reflection Paper …………………………………. 20%
Winter Term Test …………………………………………………………… 25%
Class Participation Journal …………………………………………… 10%
TOTAL ………………………………………………………………………100%
Note: Class tests will include questions based on required texts, class lectures, guest speakers and class discussions.
Due to availability some guest lectures may need to be held outside of scheduled class time.
DUE DATES
Weekly Class Participation Journal
E-mail to GA by midnight each Monday
October 28, 2013 Fall Term Paper
May be handed in by e-mail cnelson@lakeheadu.ca
November 25, 2013 Fall Term Test
March 31, 2014 Winter Term Test
April 7, 2014 Gathering Reflection Paper
For security protection, please ensure when corresponding by e-mail and for handing in assignments.
Fall Term Label e-mail subject headings and file attachments 13SOCWK4401 lastnamesubjectheading
Winter term Label email subject headings and file attachments 14SOCWK4401 lastnamesubjectheading
CLASS PROTOCOL
Laptops and I Pads are welcome for purposes of taking class notes.
Cell phones are not to be used during class time. Be sure that all cell phones are turned off during class time.
There will be one twenty-minute break at 12:30; and class will end at 14:20
All late papers will be docked five points each day unless approval was granted by the instructor for turning in a paper post deadline.
CLASS PARTICIPATION JOURNAL
At the end of each class, I encourage you to reflect on any of the following topics:
What were your contributions (gifts) to the learning environment today?
What did you learn about the role of associational relationship of social work practice today?
Block states that shifting our language is a transformative process? What shifts in language were discussed today that may be important to social work practice?
What did you learn from our guest speaker (when applicable)?
