1 SOCIAL WORK 502 Section 007 Organizational, Community, and Societal Structures and Processes Instructor: Floyd Robinson, LMSW Macro/Clinical Tel. No.: (313) 319-9867 cell (734) 677-1558 ext: 206 work Office Hrs: By Appointment Email: [email protected] 1. Course Description: This theory and research course is designed to support the foundation practice method courses, which are taken concurrently in the first semesters. The general focus of the course is to present the various processes, connections, and consequences that institutional structures and arrangements have on various communities and at risk populations that are served by the social work profession. Students will develop an understanding of key professional and theoretical foundations for practicing social work. This course will also introduce students to the curricular themes and PODS concepts (i.e. Privilege, Oppression, Diversity, and Social Justice) that are infused in the advance practice areas. 2. Course Content: The course uses the central social work values of social justice, multiculturalism, empowerment to generate a framework for the critical examination of theoretical perspectives of organizational, community, and societal structures and processes. The key theoretical foundations that will be discussed include: Social ecology, Structural theory, Risk/resiliency perspective Theories of poverty and political economy. Social exchange and social justice Organizational theory *In examining these theoretical foundations, students will explore the intersectionality of race, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, class, color, culture, ability, ethnicity, martial status, national origin, and religion, and how this intersectionality plays out in discrimination, oppression, and privilege.2 3.Course Objectives: Upon completion of the course, students will be able to: 1. Identify, describe, and discuss selected theoretical perspectives on organizational, community, societal structures, and processes. 2. Describe and analyze: a) The impact that organizational structures and processes have on practice settings. b) How community and societal structures and processes affect the client groups served by social service agencies. 3. Describe how (PODS) privilege, oppression, diversity, and social justice are manifested in the structures and processes of society, communities, and complex organizations. 4. Analyze how the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation affects their own life experiences, their relationship with colleagues and supervisors, and their relationships with agency clientele and community groups. 5. Identify major processes and contemporary manifestations of oppression, discrimination, prejudice, power, and privilege as they impact on populations-at-risk and vulnerable and oppressed groups by: a) describing barriers to organizational and community competency; b) identifying sources of intragroup and intergroup conflict stemming from cultural group membership; c) identifying the role of risk and protective social forces in relation to social problems and social/economic justice. 6. Apply professional values and ethics by: a) distinguishing differences among culturally sensitive, culturally competent multicultural, and ethno-conscious frameworks in social work, b) critically evaluating organizations, community, and societal structures and processes that seek to promote social and economic justice: 4.Course Design: The instructor will select required readings. Suggested references will be included for each session, along with a list of books related to this course. Selection of required readings and text will be made in coordination with instructors of other HBSE foundation course instructors. Classroom activities may include lectures, discussions, simulations, video/film, group projects, case analyses, etc. 5. Relationship of the Course to Four Curricular Themes:3 ♦ Multiculturalism and Diversity will be addressed throughout the course and in written assignments. ♦ Social Justice and Social Change will be covered in the empirical and theoretical literature that document socially just organizational, community, and societal structures and processes. Social change theories and strategies will be presented that demonstrate how we move toward a more socially just society. ♦ Promotion, Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation will be addresses through discussion of programs and systemic interventions to prevent stress and oppression of individuals, families, and groups, and enhance their quality of life and well-being. ♦ Behavioral and Social Science Research will be addressed through its inclusion in the description of the social environment and its impact on individuals, families, and groups. 6. Relationship of the Course to Social Work Ethics and Values: This course will address the ethical and value issues related to working with organizations, communities, and societal structures and processes. The NASW Code Ethics will be used to inform practice in this area. Examples of ethical and value related issues will include the social worker’s responsibility to promote the general welfare of society by preventing and eliminating discrimination, ensuring equal access to resources, expanding choices and opportunities for all persons, encouraging respect for diversity, advocating for changes in social policies, and encouraging informed participation by the public. In addition, issues related to organizations will be covered, such as preventing discrimination in the work place, improving agency polices and procedures, and increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of organizations. Required Texts The following books are required texts for this course. They are available for purchase at Ulrich’s bookstore. • Mullaly, Bob. (1997). Structural Social Work: Ideology, Theory, and Practice, 2nd edition. Toronto: Oxford University Press. • Payne, Malcolm. (2005). Modern Social Work Theory, 3rd edition. Chicago: Lyceum. • Hurst, Hurst. (2006). Living Theory: The Application of Classical Social Theory to Contemporary Life, 2nd edition. Allyn & Bacon. Assignments and Grading The overall grade for the course depends on the completion of two written assignments (midterm/paper), two in class quizzes, final and class participation: Assignments will be evaluated based on the following