Class Descriptions

Social Work Practice with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) Individuals and Communities

SW614

Credits:	3
Prerequisites:	None

Pathway Associations

Community Change
Global
Interpersonal Practice	Elective (Host)
Mgmt & Leadership
Policy & Political
Program Evaluation
Older Adults	Elective
Children & Families

Course Description

This course will introduce a variety issues facing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) clients and communities at the micro, meso, and macro levels. This course will build on basic skills and knowledge of interpersonal practice, policy advocacy, and community organizing to focus on how to best serve LGBTQIA2S+. Issues which are of greater concern, or for which services and in some cases, knowledge, are lacking for these populations will be covered, including: history of the LGB/T movement, identity versus behavior, the process of coming out, social stigma, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, experiences of discrimination and victimization (both interpersonal and systemic), healthcare (including mental health), sexuality and relationships, family development and parenting, lack of inclusion in research and evidence based practice, community organizing, impact of policies, and ways to work towards resistance and resilience. This course will closely focus on different skills needed for working with these specific issues, in addition to basic knowledge of these individuals across the life span and communities.

Objectives

Students will evaluate their own values, attitudes, and biases regarding the LGBTQIA2S+ populations through interactive solo and group activities, and self-reflective papers on their experiences and positionalities.

Students will create ways in which issues surrounding these populations and communities might be integrated into their current and future social work practice by conducting a literature review on a sub-area of interest to their own work and practice.

Students will synthesize what they have learned about these populations and communities that can be applied in their practice by conducting field placement, organizational assessment, policy analysis, or treatment plan creation regarding an area of their own interest.

Design

Class format will include lectures, case studies and vignettes, videotapes, role-plays and interactive discussions.

Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)

The entirety of this course is PODS focused in that it examines how privilege and oppression exist around heterosexual/cisgender individuals and how that plays out onto LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. It also uses an intersectional lens to look at diversity within these communities, including around race, disability, immigration status, age, and more. Students will be challenged around their own biases as well as to look at interpersonal, institutional, and ideological biases and barriers for these individuals and communities, as well as think about how they can advocate for change.

This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of theories, practice and/or policies that promote social justice, illuminate injustices and are consistent with scientific and professional knowledge. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will support students developing a vision of social justice, learn to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice, work toward social justice processes, apply intersectionality and intercultural frameworks and strengthen critical consciousness, self-knowledge and self-awareness to facilitate PODS learning.