Class Descriptions

Mental Health Policies and Service

SW636

Credits:	3
Prerequisites:	SW 530
Faculty Approval Date:	09/03/2014

Course Description

This course will cover the various mental health services and programs for adults, children, and youth, and the roles that social workers perform. Promotion, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services to the mentally ill, developmentally disabled, learning disabled, and substance abuse populations will be surveyed. Contemporary policy issues, legislation, ethical issues, controversies, social movements, and trends affecting services to those with mental illness and mental disorders will be discussed. The historical context of services and how the mentally ill have been historically stigmatized and conceptualized will be reviewed, so that students will be able to develop critical thinking about mental health services. The impact of differences in the key diversity dimensions such as ability, age, class, color, culture, ethnicity, family structure, gender (including gender identity and gender expression) marital status, national origin, race, religion or spirituality, sex, and sexual orientation will be examined , as these relate to various mental health policies and services. This course will also survey the various self-help, mutual aid, and natural/informal helping systems.

Objectives

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the historical context of mental health policies and services, and apply this knowledge in making a critical analysis of existing and proposed mental health systems. (Practice Behaviors 8.IP, 8.SPE, 8.CO, 8.MHS)
2. Identify the social work practitioner's role in mental health policies and services in relation to:
a) initiating and modifying policy and programs by providing professional activities, such as advocacy, public education, and service coordination.
b) applying the values and ethics of the social work profession to the mental health field, especially the rights of individuals regarding civil commitment, treatment, and social services.
(Practice Behaviors 2.IP, 2.SPE, 2.CO, 2.MHS, 8.IP, 8.SPE, 8.CO, 8.MHS)
3. Explain how public health concepts and epidemiological data are used in developing and changing policies and monitoring mental health programs. (Practice Behaviors 8.IP, 8.SPE, 8.CO, 8.MHS)
4. Identify and analyze the effects of oppression, discrimination, stigma, and other negative social influences on consumers of mental health services. (Practice Behaviors 4.IP, 4.SPE, 4.CO, 4.MHS, 5.IP, 5.SPE, 5.CO, 5.MHS)
5. Analyze current mental health policies, legal issues, delivery systems, service settings, target populations, and service approaches in relation to contemporary social work practice in mental health. (Practice Behaviors 8.IP, 8.SPE, 8.CO, 8.MHS)
6. Apply knowledge of the etiology of mental illness and other disabilities and the effects of psychiatric labels on the creation of programs for the prevention of illness and promotion of health in keeping with professional goals of social justice. (Practice Behaviors 5.IP, 5.SPE, 5.CO, 5.MHS)
7. Discuss typical ethical concerns related to mental health policies and services. (Practice Behaviors 2.IP, 2.SPE, 2.CO, 2.MHS, 8.IP, 8.SPE, 8.CO, 8.MHS)

Design

The instructor will utilize lectures, guided discussions, and may draw upon exercises, guest speakers, and field visits. References and required readings provide the basis for class discussion, exercises, and written essay assignments.

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 social 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.