UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK SPRING 2008 SW 5095 Special Topics A Problem based Approach To Clinical Assessment and Intervention TUSDAYS 9 00 11 50 A M Chemistry 153 INSTRUCTORS Kathy Heltzer Mike Raschick OFFICES In SW Office Suite 220 BohH Hall PHONE EMAIL Kathy 726 8935 kheltzer d umn edu Mike 726 7642 mraschic d umn edu OFFICE HOURS Kathy by appointment Mike I m usually available from 10 30 a m to 7 p m every day except Wednesdays It s preferable to call ahead for an appointment in order to ensure I m in Course Topic Description Beginning with complex case situations and having you draw on knowledge and skills that best address these situations you will follow cases from initial assessment through intervention and termination This nationally cutting edge approach is based on the premise that one of the most effective ways of teaching advanced SW practice is to begin with a difficult real life practice problem and to have you somewhat autonomously draw on whatever information and skills they need to effectively address the problem Course objectives outcomes The primary course objective will be to teach you how to find and apply cutting edge evidence based knowledge and skills in addressing complete clinical case situations As such you will learn how to effectively seek out information and knowledge about clinical best practices and to skillfully apply this information and knowledge to assessment diagnosis and intervention 1 Expected outcomes and evaluation methods OBJECTIVES Students will be able to 1 Accurately diagnose complex mental disorders 2 Identify what constitutes sound clinical practice research 3 Effectively search for best best practice interventions for complex clinical social work problems 4 Demonstrate effective clinical social work interviewing skills OUTCOMES Students will EVALUATION Apply the DSM Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to accurately diagnosis complex mental disorders 1 Apply research knowledge and skills to critique clinical practice research 2 In relationship to specific case situations you will apply research knowledge and skills and practice knowledge to identify interventions that are best supported by reliable research and practice evidence Effectively apply the principles of effective internet and database searches to seek out interventions that are best empirically supported for treating clinical social work clients Presented with complex case scenarios you will formulate the most accurate DSM diagnoses Skillfully apply principles of effective clinical interviewing from social work literature to complex case situations 1 Given examples of different clinical research studies you will identify which are most empirically sound and explain why 2 Presented with complex case scenarios you will identify the best empirically supported interventions to address the particular problem s facing clients Presented with complex case scenarios you will use internet and scholarly databases to identify the best empirically supported interventions to address the particular problem s facing clients Presented with complex case scenarios you will demonstrate skillful interviewing and interventions skills in class case presentations TEACHING LEARNING METHODS The course s teaching method will primarily involve your working in rotating groups of 5 students to address complex case scenarios that they will each group will design Groups will be responsible to find cutting edge information about assessment intervention and termination to the particular case situation and as well as to role play case meetings interventions with clients Groups will share their work with each other during the course of the semester including having 3 formal group presentations during the course of the semester 2 The primary role of Kathy and Mike will be to provide consultation to you about finding and applying the most effective approaches to the cases you re working on COURSE EXPECTATIONS Class Participation You can earn as many as 10 points for participation in class small group discussions Examples of behaviors that will earn 8 10 points are Being actively engaged in class and small group discussions and projects Regularly making thoughtful contributions to class and small group discussions and projects that are grounded in knowledge about best practices Demonstrating good critical thinking skills in class and small group discussions and projects Make class and small group contributions that are respectful to other students points of view and that serve to effectively engage them Attendance Due partly to the length of each class and the scope of things covered each week your attendance at all class meetings is required unless there are emergencies or other critical conflicts Except for emergencies absences should be approved by the instructors ahead of time In order to gain some of the content of missed class makeup written assignments will be required They will be designed the major topics covered during the missed class If you miss a class it will be your responsibility to contact Kathy or Mike about the topic of your makeup assignments Unless other arrangements are made makeup assignments are due one week after the missed class If makes ups are not timely and satisfactorily completed you may receive an N for the semester Incomplete Policy Although incompletes are generally discouraged they may be granted in exceptional circumstances When they are granted the following guidelines will be applicable 1 All assignments for an incomplete must be completed by the end of the semester following the class 2 If you do not complete and have Kathy or Mike sign the Request for Incomplete Form you may receive a grade that reflects credit or points lost for work not completed 3 If the incomplete is not made up by that time the end of the following semester you may receive the grade they have earned up to that point in the class 4 It is your responsibility to complete the form requesting an incomplete as well as to get my signature on the form and to submit a copy of the signed copy of it to Rita Ohman the Department s Student Support Assistant and to one of the course instructors You should also keep a copy for your records The deadline for doing this is the last class meeting of the semester 5 If you do not complete and fully process the Request for Incomplete Form by the deadline you may receive the grade earned thus far in the class 3 Assignments 1