Class Descriptions

Counseling and Advocacy for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth

SW726

Credits:	1
Prerequisites:	None

Pathway Associations

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

Course Description

This course will introduce and address issues of concern to social work practice youth that identify as Transgender, Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Queer or questioning, focusing on the basic knowledge, practice and advocacy skills it takes to become increasingly competent in providing social work practice and advocacy for people who are in these marginalize, yet highly resilient, groups. From a strength-based perspective, this course will focus on basic social work knowledge and understanding of youth that identify as TBLGQ including the social injustice and stigma facing these groups. Related to TBLGQ youth, key areas of focus include how to advocate, affirm, engage, assess and effectively practice in a culturally responsive manner, while exploring risk and protective factors within the contexts of school, home, health care, and communities. This course will also address self-exploration and ethical dilemmas for social work providers with TBLGQ youth.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1.Become conversant in affirmative practice principles with LGBTQIA youth and their families.
2.Understand basic social work knowledge to engage with LGBTQIA youth effectively, especially focused on checking our assumptions and growing the relational-cultural skills in questioning and commenting of joining, empathy, mutuality, and use of self.
3.Learn the history and progress of the LGBTQIA civil rights movement.
4.Be able to identify and assess the stresses and the strengths of LGBTQIA youth, families and groups toward resolution of presenting issues and problems of concern to social work.
5.Gain basic knowledge to analyze the economic, social, and health issues associated with the current socio-political impacts and health policy on LGBTQIA populations.
6.Understand LGBTQIA issues and practice engagement skills with youth, families, and communities.
7.Be able to assess ethical and culturally sensitive responses to LGBTQIA youth with specific awareness of the unique intersections of identity.
8.Be able to use current information about LGBTQIA youth to effectively advocate for clients across multiple domains including families, schools, and child welfare settings.
9.Learn some basics of empowering community organization models with LGBTQ youth, adults, and communities from examples provided in the class.

Design

This course is designed to be highly interactive and will rely on active participation from all members. We will draw on knowledge (research about LGBTQ youth and communities), theory (affirmative practice and empowerment practice models), and practice (reflexivity, strengths-based assessment) in order to inform a comprehensive approach to social work practice with LGBTQ youth, their families and communities. The course will provide real case examples and practice experiences that expand the critical interpersonal skills and ethical considerations necessary to engage effectively with LGBTQ youth, focus on advocacy within systems associated with social work (e.g., schools, child welfare and community organizations).

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.