1 EASTFIELD COLLEGE SOCIAL SCIENCE DIVISION SPRING 2012 Special Problems of Youth 2012SP-SCWK 2305-4400 3 Credit hrs. Instructor: Cheryl Shannon-Sanders Contact Information: Office: C201 Phone: 972-860-1046 (Office) 972-365-8758 (Cell) Email Address: [email protected] Hours available: By appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course examines the particular problems of youth and their implications for social service workers delivering services to this population. Topics include youth participating in social institutions of both a preventative and rehabilitative nature and issues related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and their effects. Required Text: At-Risk Youth: A Comprehensive Response, McWhirter, et. al, 4th ed., Brooks & Cole, 2004. DEVELOPMENTAL COURSES: The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a statewide program designed to ensure that students enrolled in Texas public colleges and universities have the basic academic skills needed to be successful in college-level course work. The TSI requires assessment, remediation (if necessary), and advising of students who attend a public college or university in the state of Texas. The program assesses a student’s basic academic skills in reading, writing, and math. Passing the assessment is a prerequisite for enrollment in many college-level classes such as English 1301/1302, History 1301/1302, Math 1414, etc. Students who do not meet assessment standards may complete prerequisite requirements by taking developmental courses in the deficient area and passing them with a grade of C or higher. In some cases retesting will also be required. It is up to each student to be aware and informed about requirements that are subject to change. Additional information is available from the TSI Office. https://www1.dcccd.edu/cat0910/admiss/tsi.cfm?loc=4 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Develop an understanding of the challenges and the factors impacting on at-risk youth with a view toward providing services to them based on evidenced based models and practices of intervention .2 COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the completion of this course, students should be able to: 1. Describe a broad range of adolescent behavior which constitutes at-risk behavior. 2. Assess at-risk youth. 3. Develop a plan of action which addresses the child’s needs. 4. Describe ethical and cultural issues crucial to the delivery of services to the at-risk youth population. GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE: 1. Please read all textbook material as assigned in the syllabus, and review all online materials. 2. Complete all online activities to reinforce your understanding of the course material, and be better prepared at exam time. 3. Participate in required course discussions. 4. Stay current with course assignments and discussions. Good time management is an essential skill for successful completion of this course. 5. Make sure all written assignments are submitted as a Microsoft Word doc. 6. Make sure all written assignments are submitted in ecampus and uploaded as an attachment. EVALUATION / GRADING CRITERIA: *Class Participation: You need to read all assigned lessons & chapters. Note that being prepared to answer discussion questions is another way to ensure your attendance and attention to the text. You should have text read the dates indicated on the course schedule below. Discussions count for attendance/participation grade. Assignments: Complete papers/projects as assigned in online activities. Adolescent Interview: You will be required to interview an adolescent and make observations about the responses to that interview. Movie Assignment: You will be required to watch 2 movies and analyze the characters in the movie based on theories presented in your reading and discussions online. You must provide an assessment of the movie by answering the questions provided. Questions are provided in the Content Folder. Choose 2 from the movies listed below: • Ordinary People • White Oleander • Precious • Antwon Fisher Self-Reflection paper: You must provide a self-analysis paper detailing major milestones of your own adolescence. This is NOT a research paper. It is a reflection on your own adolescent history, so no references or citations are necessary. Answer the following questions: What are three (3) defining moments of your adolescent development? Describe your feelings, thoughts, and/or behaviors during these moments? What would you tell your adolescent self about choices and the outcomes of those choices? Any tips, advice, or specific solutions you would give yourself to help you through any of those three defining moments?3 NOTE: Your papers should be free of spelling and grammatical errors. Assignments and Exams: These will be located in your "CONTENT" folder. Mid Term Exam: There will be a mid-semester exam covering the first portion of your textbook. This will also include any pertinent information discussed in class. Final Exam: There will be a final exam at the end of the semester covering the remaining chapters and any pertinent information discussed in class. GRADES AND POINTS: 90-100 = A 80-89 = B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D 59 0r below = F Attendance : lO% Adolescent Interview : 20 % Movie Assignments : 20 % Self-Reflection Paper : 15 % Midterm Exam : 20 % Final Exam : 15 % Total lOO COURSE OUTLINE: Week Date WEEK of Unit Topic Chapter 1 1/17 1 Orientation Assignment Due 1/19 Review Syllabus Intro to At-Risk Issues/Levels of Risk for Youth 1 2 1/23 Legal and Ethical Issues 3 3 1/30 Environmental and Economic Issues Movie Assignment 1 – DUE 2/3 2 4 3 2/6 2 The Role of Family in At-Risk Youth 4 5 2/13 Influence of School and Education on Youth Adolescent Interview DUE 2/17 5 6 2/20 Individual Characteristics of High-Risk and Low-Risk Children & Youth 6 7 2/27 3 Why Do Children Drop Out of School 7 8 3/5 Midterm Exam DUE 3/9 9 3/19 Substance Use 8 10 3/36 Teen Pregnancy 94 11 4/2 Youth Suicide ReflectionPaper Due 4/6 11 12 4/9 4 Juvenile Delinquency and Gang Violence/ School Shooters 10 13 4/16 Settings and Approaches to Prevention 12,13 14 4/23 5 Peer Intervention Programs Movie Assignment 2 DUE 4/27 1111/114/2222222222**2222222DUE\11/25* 1111111111111111111/25*11 14 15 4/30 Family-Based Programs and Services 15 16 5/7 Final Exam DUE 5/10 LATE ASSIGNMENTS STATEMENT: All assignments are due by 7:00 p.m. on the date indicated on the course