SW 393R3 Fall, 2000/Glaser T H E UN I V E R S I T Y O F T E X A S A T AU S T I N S C H O O L O F S O C I A L W O R K Course Number: SW 393 R3 Instructor’s Name: George Glaser, MSW LMSW-ACP, BCD Unique Number: 61195 Office Number: 3.122-A Semester: Fall, 2000 Phone and e-mail: 476-7700 (ofc) (preferred) 791-7075 (digital) [email protected] Meeting Time/Place: Monday Office Hours: Monday 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SW 2.112 T H E O R I E S A N D M E T H O D S O F F A M I L Y I N T E R V E N T I O N I. Standardized Course Description This course is a seminar for students in the Children and Family Services concentration, or for students desiring a basic understanding in models and methods of family intervention. The content includes methods for assessment of families and an overview of several different models of family intervention with a focus on intervention skills and techniques. II. Standardized Course Objectives By the end of the semester, the student should be able to: 1. Compare various theoretical approaches of working with the family as a system, including understanding the impact of the ecological and social environments in which families live. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of similarities and differences among theories and their theoretical perspectives, value bases, and gender critiques. 3. Integrate and demonstrate the application of procedures, techniques, and methods from different family intervention models. 4. Understand and integrate research information on the effectiveness of empirically based practice for different family interventions on problems frequently seen in practice such as: chemical dependency, child abuse, severe mental disorders and behavior problems. 5. Demonstrate skill in applying knowledge concerning multi-level policies and their impact on interventions with families of diverse culture, socioeconomic background, race, sexual orientation, and ability. III. Teaching Methods This class provides development of theoretical knowledge and skills. Family practice models are taught through a combination of lectures, demonstrations of the practice interventions in each model, small-group exercises, videos, role-simulations, and class discussions. 1SW 393R3 Fall, 2000/Glaser IV. Required Texts and Materials Brock, G.W. & Barnard, C.P. (1998). Procedures in marriage and family therapy (3rd Ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Franklin, C. & Jordan, C. (1999). Family practice: Brief systems methods for social work. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole. Shields, Patricia M. (2000). Step by Step: Building a Research Paper. Stillwater, OK: New Forums Press. Required readings are available in paper packet and/or CD (Adobe Acrobat) format at Speedway Printing, Dobie Mall, Lower Level; 478-3334. One course packet and the recommended readings are on reserve at the Social Work Learning Resource Center. V. Online Materials I have copies of the syllabus, advance study questions for the readings, and grading criteria online for review and retrieval purposes. In addition, you will find a family therapy bibliography focusing on ethnic issues with links to family therapy resources. All documents are in HTML or Adobe Acrobat format (pdf files), and can be found at http://www.utexas.edu/depts/sswork/eclassroom/glaser/. I recommend using the free Adobe Acrobat Reader application (available at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html) instead of the Acrobat Browser plug-in. I find it convenient to communicate with the class by e-mail. Please send me a message at [email protected] with your e-mail address so I can compile a class mailing list. VI. Course Requirements Your grade for the course is based on the following three items. Promptness in completing assignments affects the grades for the Literature Review and Family Interview projects (see Class Policies, Section VII). The Final Course Grade will be calculated as follows: Grading System: Class Participation 33.3% 90 - 100 = A Literature Review of Model 33.3% 80 - 89 = B Family Interview 33.3% 70 - 79 = C 60 - 69 = D Below 60 = F To obtain an “A”, students must present above-average work. A grade of “B” is given for average work. Completion of the minimal class requirements will be rewarded with a “C”. Literature Review of Model Each student will develop a 16-22-page literature review on one family therapy model presented in class. The literature review should concentrate on three main areas: 1) Theoretical basis of the model; 2) Assessment procedures and treatment techniques used in the model and; 3) Research and empirical support 2SW 393R3 Fall, 2000/Glaser for the model. A suggested outline for the literature review is below. All literature reviews are due by October 23, but I will accept them early. I. Theoretical basis of the model.............................................................4 - 6 pages a) Theory b) Key Constructs c) Major Assumptions II. Procedures and techniques used in the model..........................................6 - 8 pages a) Operationalize and specify assessment methods b) Operationalize and specify behavior change procedures c) Operationalize and specify techniques utilized III. Research and Empirical support for the model.........................................6 - 8 pages a) Research supporting theory and constructs of model. (Be specific and quote studies) b) Research supporting clinical effectiveness of the model. What research supports the efficacy of the model with families? What group is the model effective with? When is the model most effective? Be specific! Review and summarize studies of research effectiveness. Considerations in writing your literature review: 1. Students are required to develop their papers using an organizational tool called Step by Step: Building a Research Paper. (see required texts) 2. The literature review is to be a formal professional paper. 3. Write in the third person, avoid using I or we. 4. Review and rewrite at least four times before considering your paper finished. 5. Proofread and correct final copy. Typos, grammar, etc., will be considered. 6. Adhere to APA style Family Interview Conduct an audio or videotaped interview with your parent(s) and/or grandparent(s) exploring their lives and experiences, with a focus on their development as a family. Explore the emotional and contextual history of their relationship development from a