Political Social Work
SW640
| Credits: |
3 |
| Prerequisites: |
SW509 |
Pathway Associations
Course Description
This course will introduce students to political social work, which is social work practice, theory, and research that focuses on the use of policy and politics to create social change. Students will gain an understanding of how politics impacts their lives as well as the lives of those served by social workers on both a micro and macro level. This course will prepare students for work in political settings, such as on advocacy and electoral campaigns, as staff for elected officials, and running for office themselves. Students will develop practice skills for policy advocacy and engaging with policymakers, influencing policy agendas, and empowering clients to become politically engaged. Students will critically examine the role of social workers in politics throughout history and the ethics that govern practice in political settings. Finally, students will develop a political engagement plan to facilitate their continued involvement.
Objectives
Describe the history of political social work and the field’s engagement in social and political action (EPAS 1, 2, 5);
Describe political social work theories and current research (EPAS 4, 5);
Identify the five domains of political social work and strategies to make change in a variety of practice settings (EPAS 1, 4, 5);
Apply social work research-practice, engagement, assessment, intervention, and evaluation skills to political settings (EPAS 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9);
Describe the ethical responsibility of social workers to engage in political social work and explore methods to manage ethical dilemmas (EPAS 1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
Develop skills to engage in electoral, advocacy, and voter engagement campaigns (EPAS 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9);
Apply skills for political engagement to advance social, economic, and environmental justice (EPAS 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9);
Explore careers in political social work and develop a personal plan for engagement (EPAS 1, 2, 5)
Design
This course will use multiple methods including but not limited to: lectures, demonstrations, case studies, readings, guest speakers, discussions, written assignments, individual and group exercises. The course will be offered primarily in person with the possibility of a flipped-class or hybrid structure.
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.
Issues related to privilege, oppression, diversity, and social justice will be explored through a political lens. This course will focus on providing students with the tools to advance social justice through engagement in policy and politics. Students will gain skills to engage marginalized groups and those typically excluded from the political process in making change in their communities.
Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Education Description
ID/IPE content in SW 640 supports students to understand and value the importance of interprofessional and interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork in Social Work practice across a variety of populations, settings and roles.
Inclusion of ID/IPE content is supported by and directly relates to:
CSWE core competencies 1 ,4, 6, 7, 8,9 competencies
https://www.bu.edu/ssw/files/2016/07/CSWE-2015-Competencies.pdf
University of Michigan 5 IPE Core Competencies: (Values/Ethics, Roles and Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, Teams/Teamwork and Intercultural Humility)
https://interprofessional.umich.edu/about/ipe-competencies-at-u-m/
This pathway required-course intentionally integrates interdisciplinary or interprofessional practice content including:
CSWE Competencies addressed in this course are: #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 ,9
IPE Core Competencies addressed in this course are: Values/Ethics, Roles/Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, Teams/Teamwork, and Intercultural Humility
ID/IPE content that will be addressed and evaluated in the following ways:
1. Interdisciplinary and/or interprofessional practice are required content areas in the course with integration of relevant required readings, class lecture and discussion including:
Engagement in political change efforts through the course assignments will require students to work collaboratively with community members and with individuals across disciplines.
In-class activities and discussions will highlight the importance of staying grounded in social work ethical frameworks and how the ethical frameworks from other disciplines may conflict with our own.
2. Students will be encouraged to actively contribute from their experiences, field placement practice, knowledge of readings, etc. to considerations of the impact of interdisciplinary and interprofessional care related to diverse populations and settings.