1THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK Course #: SW 360K AFR 374 WGS 340 Instructor: Dorie Gilbert, PhD. Unique #: 64000 35205 48345 Office #: SSW 3.130H Semester: Spring 2006 Office Hours: Wednesday 10-11am Tuesday 2-3 pm Meeting Time: Tuesday / Thursday 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Office Phone #: 471-8229 Meeting Place: SSW 2.118 E-mail: [email protected] SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES I. Course Description This course is designed to provide an overview of historical and contemporary issues facing African American families and children. Social service delivery to African American families and communities is emphasized. This course is an upper-division, social science elective and is open to BSW students as well as other majors and graduate students. Topics covered will include: * African Heritage and Cultural History * Impact of Racism & Oppression * Africentric Social Work Practice & Theories * Health and Mental Health Care & Disparities * Gender Issues and Relationships * Faith-based and Community interventions * Family Patterns and Parenting * Socialization in African American Families * Education and Employment * Social justice and vulnerable populations * Housing and Community * Adolescent Development & Racial Identity II. Course Objectives By the end of the semester, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate an understanding of African American family structures and dynamics from a social systems perspective. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of the historical background of African American families and its impact on contemporary family life. 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the psychosocial dimensions of African American families. 4. Identify specific social issues facing African American males and females. 5. Identify and describe the variety of life styles among African Americans and the situational determinants of different family forms and patterns of adaptation. 6. Identify barriers facing specific African American populations, including persons with disabilities, the elderly, women, gays and lesbians. 7. Critique the treatment of African American families in American scholarship. 8. Demonstrate an understanding of the major problems facing African American children and families today. 9. Demonstrate an awareness of value dilemmas and policy initiatives that differentially affect African American families and diverse social service providers. 11. Promote social justice by recognizing and identifying ways to address discrimination against African Americans and other oppressed populations. III. Teaching Methods Lectures, class discussion, reading assignments, small group discussions and presentations will be utilized to achieve course objectives. Guest lecturers and films will provide supplementary learning resources. Lectures are designed to supplement readings. Students are expected to come prepared to each class and participate in discussions of assigned readings and of supplementary material presented in lectures.2 IV. Required Readings Social Work Practice with African American Families – Required reading packet. available at Abel’s Copies ( 472-5353) and on reserve at the Social Work Learning Resource Center. V. Course Requirements 1. Attendance, Preparation, Contribution, Reflection (10% of grade) Students are expected to attend all class sessions and actively participate by raising questions and issues in all class discussions and exercises. Students are expected to be prepared to respond to the instructor’s discussion questions. Participation includes balancing speaking with listening to the ideas of others. Students will be asked to complete reflection papers at end of each session. 2. Midterm Examination (20% of grade) All students are expected to complete an in class midterm. The exam will contain a combination of objective and essay questions. 3. 15 Brief Critical Thinking Papers (15%) These will be assigned as homework and will focus on the main themes of the selected week’s class readings. Papers are required to be 1-3 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12-font, and adhere to APA 5th edition journal format. Papers will be due at the beginning of the class on the day the selected assigned readings will be discussed. 4. Research Paper and Presentation Research Paper (25% of grade) Presentation of Paper in panel format (5% of grade) Students will be required to write an 8 – 10 page research paper that will focus on African American families’ life experiences or issues faced by some African American families. Papers are required to be typed, double-spaced, 12-font and adhere to APA 5th edition journal format. Papers should include personal reflection or experience with the chosen topic. Students will be responsible for turning in a paper proposal that identifies the paper topic, specific issues they plan to cover and how they will go about researching their topic. Students are expected to research the paper topic beyond class readings using professional journals and publications as primary sources. Paper Proposal Due: February 6th Research Paper Due: May 3rd 2. Final Examination (25% of grade) The exam will contain a combination of objective and essay questions and will primarily cover content covered since the midterm and may contain selected questions from the midterm exam. Grading and Weighting of Assignments Attendance, Contribution & Reflection 10% Critical Thinking Papers 15% Midterm exam 20% Research Paper/Panel Presentation 30% Final exam 25% ____________________________________________________________________ Total 100% Quality of writing, grammar, organization and adherence to APA format will e considered in evaluation of all written assignments. Grades will be assigned as follows: * EXTRA CREDIT: There will be 3 opportunities for extra credit (worth 5 points toward your final). The extra credit opportunities will involve participation in community and university forums. GRADING SCALE A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-693VI. Class Policies 1. Students are expected to attend class, participate in class discussions and in assigned experiential or observational activities, and be present for examinations on the dates scheduled. Failure to attend class regularly will result in a lower grade for the course. After