This course will present knowledge and critical skills to prepare for social work practice in school settings. The topical areas will include: a brief overview of educational programs and legislation in the United States for individuals of all ages and their families; school social worker assessment tools and services for educational institutions at the pre-K elementary, and secondary levels; assessing and responding to issues of economic and social discrimination in ways that center justice and educational access; laws, policies, and practices related to determination of qualification under special education rules within multi-disciplinary teams and response to intervention, multi-tiered models; and advocating for the right to education of oppressed and special populations (including children and youth with mental, physical, and emotional disabilities, TLBGQ youth, and diverse racial, socioeconomic, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds). Students will learn comprehensive, multi-tiered and culturally relevant assessment protocols and techniques relevant to school based social work practice. SW 626 is one of two electives meeting School Social Worker Specialization requirements.
Pathway Elective For
- Children, Youth, and Families
Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Describe historical and ongoing individual, family, and system/organization assessments/evaluations with the goal of improving student social-emotional, behavioral, functional, and academic outcomes.
- Identify student strengths and resiliency factors in order to diminish educational and developmental risks.
- Evaluate standardized assessment protocols to conduct comprehensive assessment and evaluation for students, families, and schools.
- Conduct assessments of the impacts of trauma on student behavior and educational outcomes.
- Select appropriate assessment tools for normative development, comprehensive school climate or culturally responsive practices, and special education evaluation.
- Compare similarities and differences between clinically-based definitions of psychiatric disorders and eligibility for educational support and services as indicated under the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and Michigan Administrative Rules for Special Education (MARSE).
- Analyze and apply advocacy strategies for policy and best practices at individual, school, district, community, and state levels to provide appropriate services to students and families, and to assure equal access to educational opportunities. .
Design
This course will use a variety of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, PowerPoint presentations, group exercises, case material, role plays videos, guest presenters, and seminar techniques.
Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)
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.