THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANSCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORKSW 617, Section 002 Instructor: Debra MattisonDeath, Loss, and Grief Phone (W): 734-712-2920Fall, 2001 (H): 734-995-3517 (please call before 10:00 p.m.)Fridays: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 Noon OH: Please feel free to makeSEB 3001 appointments with questions orconcerns. Confidential messagescan be left at either phoneCourse DescriptionThis course addresses the theoretical framework of human loss and grief from a culturally andphilosophically diverse perspective. It seeks to provide information about why and how humansgrieve and how grieving is affected by type of loss, socioeconomic and cultural factors,individual personality and family functioning. Attention is focused on life span development andthe meaning of death and loss at different ages. Various types of loss are discussed from anindividual, family and socio/cultural perspective. The importance of understanding trauma andits relationship to grief and loss will be addressed. Coping and resiliency in loss are explored,emphasizing the diversity of human response and focusing on the significance of social groups inintegrating loss. The formation and practice of rituals, and diversity in religious and spiritualexperience as a component of coping with loss will be discussed.Course ObjectivesOn completion of this course, the student will be able to:1. Describe the implications for practice and policy of the changing patterns of death in the U.S.regarding age, sex, and minority group status.2. Describe the different meanings of death over time, and sudden death (including suicide,homicide, and disaster), for its impact on survivors, caretakers and society.3. Describe responses and reactions of the various caretakers (including social workers) to deathand their influence on medical treatment decisions regarding the patient.4. Describe the medical-ethical issues in death and dying.5. Describe the bereavement and grieving process.6. Describe the practical issues and problems that arise for families following death of amember.7. Describe the impact of racial, ethnic, and gender issues for the family and/or person facingdeath or bereavement.SW 617, Sec. 002 Debra MattisonFall 2001 - 2 -Relationship of the Course to Four Curricular Themes· Multiculturalism and Diversity will be addressed through the discussion of worker-clientdifferences and power/privilege differentials based on culture, ethnicity, race, gender, age,and social class. Social system and case examples, possible interventions, and readings willreflect this theme.· Social Justice and Social Change will be addressed through discussion of differencesbetween problems that are responsive to interpersonal practice interventions and those whichresult from poverty, discrimination, and disenfranchisement and require systemic as well asindividual intervention.· Promotion, Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation will be addressed throughidentification of ways to provide early intervention, guidance, and advocacy within systems,methods of preventing or mitigating later problems in loss and bereavement, and discussionof intervention theories and health care and social policies which support adaptive responsesto loss that enhance later adjustment.· Behavioral and Social Science Research will inform this course, especially current researchin the following areas: bereavement and complicated mourning attachment anddevelopmental requirements, response to trauma and maltreatment andresiliency/coping/adaptation.Relationship of the Course to Social Work Ethics and ValuesSocial work ethics and values will be addressed in this course using the NASW Code of Ethics.This course will increase awareness of the medical-ethical issues and decision making in deathand dying. In addition, students will evaluate ethical issues involved in death and loss, anddiscuss the impact of the social worker’s values and reactions to these issues.Class Norms1. Attendance and participation are expected.2. We will begin class promptly and resume class promptly after the designated break, based onmutually agreed upon times to be discussed in the first class session.3. Approximately one-half to two-thirds of the class will be didactic presentation by theinstructor or guest speakers. The remainder will consist of discussion and experientialactivities in which participation is encouraged and expected.4. Other norms which may be important to the class will be discussed and incorporated.SW 617, Sec. 002 Debra MattisonFall 2001 - 3 -Course TextsRequired:DeSpelder, L., & Strickland, A. (1998). The last dance: Encountering death and dying (5th ed.).Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Press..Worden, J. W. (1991). Grief counseling and grief therapy. New York: Springer PublishingCompany.Irish, D. P., Lundquist, K.F., & Nelsen, V. J. (Eds.). (1993). Ethnic variations in dying, deathand grief. Washington, DC: Taylor and Francis.Additional Readings:The amount of required text reading has been designed to provide you with a basic foundationwhile giving you freedom to individualize supplemental readings. YOU ARE EXPECTED ANDENCOURAGED TO DO LITERATURE SEARCHES AND ADDITIONAL READING INAREAS OF PERSONAL INTEREST AND IN ORDER TO COMPLETE YOURASSIGNMENTS IN A THOROUGH MANNER. Information and suggestions on referenceswill be provided in class. In addition, handouts may be distributed in class for reading.Relevant Journals and Organizations:OMEGA, Journal of Death and DyingBaywood Publishing26 Austin Ave. P.O. Box 337Amityville, NY 11701800-638-7819Illness, Crisis and LossSage PublicationP.O. Box 5084Thousand Oaks, CA 91359805-499-9774Death StudiesTaylor & Francis47 Funway Road, Suite GLevittown, PA 19057-4000800-821-8312Journal of Near Death StudiesHuman Sciences Press233 Spring StreetNew York, NY 10213-0196212-620-8000The Thanatology Newsletterc/o Health and Nutrition SciencesBrooklyn CollegeBrooklyn, NY 11210-2889718-951-5553Center for Loss & Life Transition3735 Broken Bow RoadFort Collins, CO 80526970-226-6050Bereavement Magazine5125 N. Union Boulevard, Suite 4Colorado Springs, CO 80918-2956719-266-0006Compassion Books477 Hannah Branch Rd.Burnsville, NC 28714828-675-5909www.compassionbooks.comCentering CorporationP.O. Box 46007230 Maple StreetOmaha, NE 68104402-553-1200Additional books and reference materials specific to class topics will be discussed throughout theterm.SW 617, Sec. 002 Debra MattisonFall 2001 - 4 -Assignments and Grading1. Readings are considered a